Cam Thomas re-injured his left hamstring in Thursday’s 116-110 highway loss to the Chicago Bulls and can miss the rest of the 2024-25 common season, the Nets introduced on Saturday.
Thomas suffered two prior strains to the identical hamstring this season, which compelled him to overlook 13 straight video games from Nov. 27 – Dec. 27 and 24 straight video games from Jan. 4 – Feb. 26.
“Disappointed,” head coach Jordi Fernandez stated. “You know, we feel for him. Obviously, it’s not something that we wanted. And we’ll support him, support him through rehab because he’ll be back. Obviously, having him around is going to be good for him, good for us. But unfortunately, you don’t want your best scorer to go.”
Thomas sustained the damage on his ultimate shot try towards the Bulls, a step-back 3-pointer from 26-feet with 9 seconds left, in accordance with Fernandez. It’s unclear if Thomas will want a particular process to help in his restoration.
“We’ll do what’s best for him and we’ll help,” Fernandez stated. “We’ll work with him and his group, and we’ll get him back healthy, which is the most important thing.”
Thomas averaged 24 factors, 3.3 rebounds and three.8 assists throughout 25 appearances in his fourth season as a professional whereas capturing 43.8% from the sector, 34.9% from 3-point vary and 88.1% from the free throw line. He recorded a career-high 10 assists in Brooklyn’s latest loss to Chicago.
The 23-year-old might be a restricted free agent this summer season, that means he can negotiate with different groups, however the Nets have the correct to match any provide sheet he receives and might retain him in the event that they select. He completed eight begins shy of assembly the “starter criteria,” so his qualifying provide might be price $5.9 million as a substitute of $8.7 million.
“Cam’s been great for the group,” Fernandez stated. “He’s worked every single day. He’s built relationships. We all know his superpower is being a very good scorer. He’s done a good job with his efficiency, his playmaking… We’ll go through the summer together. We have a plan in place, and that plan is going to be to be a team that wins consistently and we’re going to get there together.”
HAYES RETURNS TO LONG ISLAND
Killian Hayes’ 10-day contract with the Nets, which was initially agreed to on Feb. 20, expired on March 1. The 23-year-old returned to the workforce’s G League affiliate on Lengthy Island Friday evening, ending with a career-high 38 factors, 5 rebounds and 6 assists off the bench towards the Memphis hustle. He knocked down eight 3-pointers and shot 60% from the sector.
If the Nets need Hayes again with the massive membership — which can be thought of with Thomas out for the remainder of the season — they need to give him one other 10-day contract or signal him to a regular NBA deal. He averaged 9 factors, three rebounds and 5.2 assists in six video games with Brooklyn, together with 5 straight begins after D’Angelo Russell was sidelined due to a proper ankle sprain.
SOCIAL MEDIA SUCCESS
Whereas the Nets could also be struggling on the courtroom, they’ve continued to surge within the social media panorama. It was introduced on Friday that Brooklyn surpassed the NFL’s Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to change into the No. 1 American skilled sports activities workforce in general TikTok likes at 151.8 million.
The Golden State Warriors, the most-followed workforce within the league on TikTok with 6.2 million followers, have the second-most likes within the league and simply over 84 million, in accordance with Alyssa Meyers of Advertising Brew. Brooklyn nonetheless has a High 5 following with 2.8 million.
