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The Nets did good within the 2021 NBA Draft taking Cam Thomas, the Summer time League’s co-MVP and main scorer, at No. 27 and Day’Ron Sharpe, the main offensive rebounder amongst rookies, two spots later.
So, the picks look higher three weeks after the Draft than they did that evening … and that’s at all times a very good signal. How’d they wind up Brooklyn? What was the method like? In an interview with the 2 19-year-olds, Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung requested about that in addition to how a lot they’re trying ahead to the NBA season and enjoying with a few of their idols.
First issues first: the 2 take a look at themselves as steals of the Draft. Can’t blame them!
“I feel they obtained two steals within the draft,” Sharpe mentioned of his new staff. “They obtained an all-out scorer, after which they obtained a tough, hustling huge man who will anchor the paint and play arduous, seize rebounds.
“I feel we go effectively collectively, feed off one another. I’m gonna set screens, he’s gonna shoot, or he’ll shoot, I’ll get the rebound, throw it again to him so he may shoot it once more. I really feel like we’re a very good tandem.”
“They didn’t actually anticipate me there at No. 27,” mentioned Thomas. “It was only a steal, actually.”
Certainly, the Nets had each on their radar early. In Sharpe’s case, since center college!
“My agent was telling me, ‘The Nets, they love you. We may get a exercise there.’ So I labored out for them, I confirmed them I may shoot. They already knew I may rebound, as a result of one of many scouts, B.J. [Johnson], he’s been watching me since center college and I didn’t even know that!” mentioned Sharpe of the Nets Director of Participant Analysis — and the scout who pushed Nicolas Claxton in 2019. “He preferred my sport, so that they introduced me in, had good interviews. So we have been a very good match.”
Their pursuit of Thomas was rather less dramatic, possibly as a result of most mock drafts had him passed by as early because the late teenagers and solely two of the 15 mocks we monitor had him falling round the place the Nets picked. In reality, he had been invited to the Draft Inexperienced Room, that space of the ground at Barclays Middle the place prime picks await phrase from Adam Silver.
“My first exercise for them was a personal exercise. It labored out rather well, and so they saved involved with my agent,” mentioned Thomas. “After which I had a late, late interview like a day or two earlier than the draft. I felt just like the match was there, however they didn’t actually anticipate me there at No. 27.”
However he was and the Nets who had him so much increased pounced.
Each gamers mentioned they’re very happy to have been chosen by Brooklyn, partly due to the superstars they’ll be figuring out with.
“I do know, proper? It’s loopy,” Thomas informed Sprung. “Even earlier than I obtained to the league, I used to be like, ‘I wanna play with James Harden’ when he was in Houston as a result of he was enjoying with the ball in his palms and getting all these assists, catch-and-shoot threes for all the fellows. To have the ability to really play with him in Brooklyn now, I can’t wait.”
“I by no means thought I used to be gonna play with KD, Kyrie, and Harden on the similar time,” added Sharpe. “However I don’t actually give it some thought, for actual. I’m simply going daily. So after I see them and it occurs, it occurs.”
Neither have had a lot if any contact with their new teammates. Sharpe mentioned he DM’d KD. “I used to be like ‘let’s go get this ring.’ And he was like, ‘for certain!”
Thomas famous that Bruce Brown, DeAndre Jordan, Jevon Carter, Nic Claxton all confirmed up in Las Vegas to cheer them on, including, “It was huge for them to come back out to observe us and be there.”
Within the meantime, the 2 have hooked with Nets assistant coaches, Thomas with Ryan Forehan-Kelly; Sharpe with Tiago Splitter.
And the interview wouldn’t have been full with out Thomas speaking about his huge second, the game-winner vs. the WIzards per week in the past. What separates him when the second arrives, Sprung requested.
“I really feel like my confidence makes me totally different as a result of I’m not afraid to take any shot, plus I do know my teammates believe in me to hit these pictures as a result of they know my talent set and my capability on the court docket to place the ball within the hoop,” Thomas mentioned. “My confidence actually separates me to make these sorts of performs.”
What lies forward for the 2, who flip 20 this fall? We’ll know quickly sufficient, however what followers know already about them already has to get them excited.
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