Thomas said Durant was like a “big brother” to him, working out together on the court and getting mentored off it. Even with Durant’s Nets situation in a state of flux, Thomas says, they still talk regularly. Thomas added that Irving has taught him to “stay levelheaded no matter what you’re going through,” while encouraging Thomas to continue to work hard when he was not playing or was in the G League during his rookie season. “They have no reason to help me, but for them to take me under their wing, and talk to me, take me in, I feel like I have to cherish that the rest of my career because I was only a rookie last year, 19, 20 years old,” Thomas said. “So for them to believe in me like that and trust me, and look at me as one of the guys, is great. So, I’ll definitely cherish that.”