To start the New Year, Brooklyn hosted the Rockets on Thursday evening. Early on, it was a competitive game. However, the Rockets quickly took control and never looked back.
In the end, the Nets lost 120-96 to Houston. The team is now 10-21 in 2025-26, 13th of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. On Thursday, Brooklyn was without two key starters. Terance Mann and Egor Demin were out. Rookies Drake Powell and Danny Wold started vs. the Rockets. Established SG Cam Thomas came off the bench once again. After the game, Thomas was asked if it was “frustrating” coming off the bench. Thomas responded, “No comment.”
Cam Thomas has not started a game since returning from injury
Cam Thomas when asked if it was frustrating coming off the bench during tonight’s shorthanded loss:
“No comment.” pic.twitter.com/d84kpGB2lr
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 2, 2026
Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas started the first eight games of the 2025-26 season. Against the Pacers on November 5, Cam Thomas suffered a hamstring injury. The 24-year-old was forced to miss 20 consecutive games for the Nets. Thomas made his return on December 27. In that game, he played 19 minutes and scored 30 points in a 123-107 win vs. the Timberwolves.
Since he’s been back in the lineup for the Nets, Cam Thomas has come off the bench. It’s a role that Thomas has had to accept. Against the Rockets on Thursday, the Nets were without two key starters. That would have been the perfect opportunity for Cam Thomas to be given an opportunity to start. However, head coach Jordi Fernandez allowed rookie Drake Powell to start at SG vs. Houston. Powell played 25 minutes and finished with eight points.
Jordi Fernandez on Cam Thomas’ performance tonight:
“Good scoring punch with the minutes that he’s playing… Obviously, his superpower is his scoring, but once again, I need better defense, I need better playmaking.” pic.twitter.com/OAeW5wXY1z
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 2, 2026
Cam Thomas played 23 minutes off the bench for the Nets and scored a team-high 21 points. After the game, reporters asked Thomas if it was “frustrating” coming off the bench for the short-handed Nets. His response was simply, “No comment.” Thomas clearly has thoughts on not starting, but smartly chose not to air it out via the media.
Brooklyn’s head coach, Jordi Fernandez, spoke about Cam Thomas performance with the media after a loss to the Rockets. Thomas’ scoring output was up to standard. Fernandez said, “But once again, I need better defense, I need better playmaking.” Defense has never been Cam Thomas’ calling card in the NBA. To be a key rotational player for Jordi Fernandez, defensive effort comes first. That plays into why Thomas did not start Thursday vs. the Rockets. If Brooklyn doesn’t trade Cam Thomas by the deadline, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.
