Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. came to the Nets with the goal of showing what he can do when thrust into a role that requires him to do more than what he did with the Denver Nuggets. However, Porter also got to see plenty of matters transpire behind the scenes and he was asked about what’s going with his former teammate Cam Thomas.
“I know that when it comes to putting the ball in the hoop and making tough shots, he’s one of the best. But… in the NBA, it’s a lot more to the NBA and sticking around than just that,” Porter said of Thomas during a recent appearance on the “Road Trippin’ Show” podcast. Porter only spent about half of the 2025-26 season around Thomas, but he was able to see enough to explain what could have led to Thomas’ uncertain NBA future at this time.
“For Cam, I think he was frustrated with a lot of things. Also, his personality because even my brother said back in the EYBL days when they were playing in high school, Cam was just a certain type of way,” Porter continued on Thomas. “Just real quiet, stuck to himself, always had his headphones in listening to [artist NBA] Young Boy every day and all he wanted to do is hoop. He don’t really socialize.”
Thomas came into this season after unsuccessful contract negotiations with the Nets last summer led to him taking his one-year, $8 million qualifying offer (QO) with the likely hope of making himself more money this season. Thomas looked like he was on his way to another solid season as he averaged 24.4 points per game through the first seven games of the season before injuring his left hamstring in a Nov. 5 matchup against the Indiana Pacers.
After returning to Brooklyn’s lineup towards the end of December, Thomas was relegated to a bench role that he didn’t thrive in as he averaged just 12.8 points per game while shooting 39.8% from the field. Thomas was eventually waived by the Nets during the February trade deadline and played 18 games for the Milwaukee Bucks before being waived.
Porter is one of many players that acknowledge Thomas’ ability to score the basketball and Thomas’ numbers over the past few seasons in Brooklyn speak for themselves. However, with Thomas seemingly still looking for his next NBA home, a veteran like Porter understands what it takes to remain in the league beyond just ability and he was able to shed some light on that.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. speaks on relationship with Cam Thomas
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
