Cam Thomas issued a public apology on Twitter for his comments after the Brooklyn Nets’ win over the Chicago Bulls. The emerging guard insensitively said “no homo” during a postgame, courtside interview.
In his apology, Thomas said he was simply "being playful" and did not intend to cause offense.
“I want to apologize for the insensitive word I used in the post-game interview. I was excited about the win and was being playful. I definitely didn't intend to offend anyone, but realize that I probably did. My apologies again. Much love.”
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The NBA has been very strict against players using offensive and derogatory words. Over the years, players such as Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert and Nikola Jokic have been penalized for anti-gay slurs.
Cam Thomas’ comments were jokingly directed towards his new teammate Spencer Dinwiddie, who was part of the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks.
After failing to reach an agreement for a contract extension with the Nets, Kyrie Irving asked for a change of scenery before the trade deadline. “Uncle Drew” was rumored to be targeting the LA Lakers for a reunion with former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate LeBron James.
Nets owner Joe Tsai, however, was reportedly unwilling to let him go to the Lakers. Instead, the franchise agreed to the Dallas Mavericks’ offer of Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and picks.
In his first game back as a Net, Spencer Dinwiddie had 25 points to help Cam Thomas carry the team to victory over the star-studded Bulls.
As for Cam Thomas, he may have just been having fun, but he will likely receive some sort of punishment from Commissioner Adam Silver.
Cam Thomas emerging as Kyrie Irving’s replacement
The biggest winner in the Kyrie Irving trade has been Cam Thomas. He has shown, at least in the last few games, that the Nets have a gem on their hands.
Since Kyrie Irving's move to Dallas, Thomas is averaging 38.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The sophomore guard is shooting 49.5% from the field, including a blistering 48.4% from behind the arc. The Brooklyn Nets are 2-2 during that span.
Cam Thomas showed signs of what he could do even in his rookie year. There was no question that he could get buckets, but the Nets felt like he needed to work on the other parts of his game. He had to toil for months in the G League to improve his game and earn a spot in the NBA.
This season, Thomas complained that he wasn’t getting enough playing time. The Brooklyn Nets had a loaded backcourt featuring Irving, Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Patty Mills. With “Uncle Drew" out and Simmons hardly scoring, Thomas finally had the perfect scenario to strut his stuff.
After Irving’s trade, the Nets followed it up with another franchise-altering move. They agreed to a blockbuster deal with the Phoenix Suns to move Kevin Durant.
As such, the team could depend on Cam Thomas to propel its rebuild after Durant and Irving's departures.
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