Brooklyn Nets rookie Cameron Thomas anointed himself the best scorer entering the NBA draft and the 27th overall pick proved that on Thursday in a thrilling victory over the Washington Wizards.
Thomas drained the game-winning shot in the sudden death, double-overtime period to send the Nets to the 84-81 victory. He finished the contest with 31 points, three rebounds and three steals on 10-of-23 shooting from the field in 33 minutes.
His 31 points were the sixth-most in the Las Vegas Summer League this year.
He hit the game-winner in amazing fashion, too. With the shot clock winding down, Thomas briefly lost control of the ball. He picked it up and then hit the stunning shot fading to his left off of one leg to narrowly avoid the shot-clock violation.
Afterward, Thomas said he just wanted to give his team the win.
“That’s what big-time players do!” Thomas said to Monica McNutt of ESPN. “Big-time players make plays. I wanted to win so bad I wasn’t going to let my team lose.”
YESSIR @24_camthomas
🎥 | @NBASummerLeaguepic.twitter.com/DyfjlnO7NC
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) August 12, 2021
Following his 31-point outburst, Thomas is now averaging 24 points, 2.3 assists and 1.7 rebounds in three summer league games with the Nets. He currently ranks fourth in scoring among all players, and leads all rookies to this point.
Thomas said previously that he wants to bring scoring and energy to the Nets next season off the bench. Based on what the Nets have seen so far in Las Vegas, Thomas could very well bring that to the team.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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