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When James Harden watches Cam Thomas, he sees a few of himself — besides the Nets rookie is extra superior than he was coming into the NBA.
“Clearly Cam was a a lot better scorer than I used to be popping out of school,” Harden stated on Thursday.
The 6-foot-5 Thomas, a one-and-done first-round choose (twenty seventh total) out of LSU, scored 21 factors in his preseason debut Sunday, after shining throughout summer season league. Thomas was the co-MVP in Las Vegas, sharing the honors with Kings level guard Davion Mitchell, and has picked up in coaching camp the place he left off.
On the finish of Thursday’s follow, Thomas was working with Harden and Kevin Durant, two famous person scorers he’s hoping to at some point emulate. Thomas has impressed Harden not simply along with his offensive ability set, but additionally along with his work habits.
“It’s simply uncommon you get these guys who can simply get a bucket in any kind or trend,” Harden stated of Thomas, who averaged 23.0 factors final season in his one 12 months of school. “However he’s younger, he learns, he listens and he works his butt off. As a younger man, that’s all you’ll be able to ask for.”
Harden could be very excessive on newcomers DeAndre’ Bembry, James Johnson and Jevon Carter, three defense-minded gamers who ought to assist the Nets off the bench.
“These guys are undoubtedly bringing one thing to the workforce that we didn’t have final 12 months, and that’s versatility as a wing and as a degree guard,” Harden stated.
Head coach Steve Nash preferred what he noticed from ahead Paul Millsap within the preseason opener towards the Lakers. Milsap, a 6-foot-7 veteran who joined the Nets in early September, had 10 factors, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 18 minutes.
“He does loads of issues and provides loads to our workforce and I feel a bit little bit of versatility offers him a barely completely different profile,” Nash stated.
Nash declined to say who will play in Friday’s preseason sport at Barclays Heart towards the Bucks. Within the opener, Harden, Durant, Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin, Joe Harris, Patty Mills and Johnson have been all held out. Nash did say you possibly can anticipate a number of of them to play, like Johnson.
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