22YO Cam Thomas Finds Elite Company in Lakers Legend After Blistering Start To Season

The talent in the NBA is at an all-time high, and that is becoming increasingly apparent. However, the sheer magnitude of the talent at hand might not be fully clear. But, a simple example is in studying the trajectory of Cam Thomas. Despite coming in as a relative unknown, he is quickly establishing himself as a premier bucket-getter in the Association. Even though he came in without much fanfare, he has had a remarkable start to the season.

His start to the 2023-2024 season has been so explosive that it is on pace with one of the greatest players the league has ever seen.

Is Cam Thomas in the same vein as the most dominant player in NBA history?

When the 1992 NBA Draft came around, Shaquille O’Neal was the surefire bet to go number 1. Therefore, the Orlando Magic‘s selection was unsurprising, to say the least. However, O’Neal very quickly became the face of the franchise.

Moreover, he was legitimately considered one of the best players in the league from Year 1. Due to his unrivaled peak, he is part of an unfathomable record. That record still stands to this day. However, rather unceremoniously, Cam does land in second place on the list.

Due to his explosiveness as a scorer, the Brooklyn Nets stalwart is a guaranteed bucket. However, the sheer scale might be unprecedented. With three straight 30-point outings to begin the year, Thomas is second on the list of the youngest players to achieve such a feat since O’Neal.

But, the sheer expectations vs result curve is a testament to the talent in the league today. Despite being a low-key addition to the Nets team as the 27th-pick, he is cementing his spot on the roster. Moreover, he’s cementing himself as a threat throughout the league.

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However, the numbers don’t fully justify the meteoric rise Thomas is presenting. One, that has Nets fans envisioning a potential new Big 3.

Is Cam’s run the new Linsanity?

Throughout the course of NBA history, the league has seen some anomalous performances. Whether it be role players on a hot streak or random peaks, players sometimes bely their relative standing. The most iconic of such runs was the one Jeremy Lin enjoyed in the early 2010s. As a part of the New York Knicks, Lin became the focus of the offense and went on a remarkable run. The run was so unstoppable that the NBA fraternity termed it “Linsanity”. His outstanding output put him in line for the most points in his first 3 career starts in NBA history.

However, Cam’s run feels less lucky than others.

During the previous season as well, he had a run of three straight 40-point games, the most in NBA history. This year, after an elevation to the starter spot, his averages of 33.0 ppg are the highest for any starter in league history. Even though the sample size is small and relatively skewed, the inclusion is more of a testament to his rise than a detriment to his case.

With historical numbers under him, the question now becomes: is it sustainable? If yes, what heights can Cam truly reach?

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