Few players can boast a legacy like James Harden’s. Despite never securing an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a> title, the Los Angeles Clippers star has left a lasting imprint on an entire generation of young players, many of whom are now rising through the league. Among them is Cam Thomas, a key figure for the Brooklyn Nets, who credits Harden, especially during his <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets">Houston Rockets</a> days, for shaping his own style of play.



“I really patterned my game after James when he was in Houston,” Thomas shared during an appearance on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis. “Just watching-like, I really tried to pattern my game after him a little bit but still take stuff from him.”



Thomas emphasized how <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">Harden</a>’s game influenced his development, particularly his scoring techniques. “I really tried to pattern my game after James: the ball in his hand, the step-back threes, all the iso moves,” said the 23-year-old guard.



Cam had the opportunity to see Harden’s influence up close during their brief time together in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/brooklyn-nets">Brooklyn</a>. Harden joined the Nets in late 2020 and stayed for just over a year, coinciding with Thomas’s rookie season. However, the two didn’t have much time together, as Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers before the conclusion of that campaign.



Despite their limited time together, Thomas had already absorbed enough from Harden’s game to improve his own. “Before I even got here, I was already tapped in with watching James and knowing all his moves and stuff,” he explained. ”So yeah, that’s definitely someone I’ve studied and looked at to take things from.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241208_BUS_288477_Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-1024x576_b585de88.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Cam Thomas #24 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles against James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 20, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. " class="wp-image-288480" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/07203812/Cam-Thomas-James-Harden.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cam Thomas #24 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles against James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 20, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. </figcaption></figure>



<h2>Harden isn’t the only star Cam Thomas learned from</h2>



In the same conversation with Draymond Green and Baron Davis, Cam Thomas also reflected on the other stars he had the chance to play with during his early years with the Brooklyn Nets, and what he admired of them. On Kyrie Irving, Thomas noted, “Kai, just his patience offensively. I mean, he don’t let nobody speed him up. I really try to take that, just not letting nobody speed me up, getting to my spots and just be able to make the shot at my spot.”



As for the other superstar on the Nets, Kevin Durant, Thomas admitted it was a bit more challenging to learn from the future Hall of Famer. “You can’t really learn much from K, because he’s like, seven feet, doing what he do. So it’s kinda hard to learn from him. I just watched like ‘Oh, K, that’s tough.’”


 

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<h2>Cam Thomas competing with the best</h2>



Playing alongside such high-caliber stars as James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant gave <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cam-thomas">Cam Thomas</a> a rare opportunity to refine his game. Now, at 23 years old, he’s showing the fruits of that experience. The 2024-25 season has so far been the best of his career, as he’s averaging 24.7 points per game (17th in the league), along with 3.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Thomas’s impressive play is solidifying his place as one of the rising stars in the NBA.

NBA News: Brooklyn star Cam Thomas makes something clear on James Harden's stint with the Rockets

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NBA News: Nets guard praises James Harden’s impact, highlights key difference with Stephen Curry

NBA News: Brooklyn star Cam Thomas makes something clear on James Harden's stint with the Rockets - Bolavip US

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Both James Harden and Stephen Curry entered the league during the 2009-10 season—Harden with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Curry with the Golden State Warriors. While their careers have taken vastly different paths, the two players share one thing in common: they’ve both left an indelible mark on the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA,</a> each bringing their own signature style. Now, Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has drawn an intriguing distinction between the two.



“I think Steph really changed the way teams wanted to play the game of basketball,” Thomas said in an appearance on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis. The 23-year-old praised Curry’s transformative influence on the game, particularly in terms of shooting and team dynamics.



“Shooting threes, moving around without the ball, I think Steph really changed the way teams around the league tried to play,” <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cam-thomas">Cam</a> explained. “Steph really changed team culture. Everybody wants to shoot threes now. If you can’t shoot threes, you can’t play.”



However, Thomas went on to highlight a key difference between Curry and Harden, noting that many young players grew up aspiring to emulate Harden’s style. “I think we really gravitated toward James because James was doing the isos. Like breaking people down one-on-one, scoring the 40s and 50s,” Cam explained.



He continued to praise the impact of the Los Angeles Clippers star. “James really changed the individual play. The isos, the handles, the stepbacks, the foul drawing, just all that stuff.” Thomas said. “I think James really changed the individual skill of how players wanted to play the game.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241201_BUS_283733_james-harden-2-1024x576_4cb834c5.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-280068" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/james-harden-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers walks back during a 102-99 Clippers win at Intuit Dome</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Harden and Curry: Marking an era in the NBA</h2>



Over the past 15 years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/stephen-curry">Stephen Curry</a> has been instrumental in shaping the modern NBA, leading the Golden State Warriors to four championships and reaching two additional Finals appearances. Not content with his remarkable accomplishments, Curry entered this season with one goal in mind: a fifth NBA title. These achievements have firmly established him as one of the most successful players of his generation.



On the other hand, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a>‘s career has been defined by individual brilliance rather than team success. Despite his exceptional play, Harden has only reached the NBA Finals once—back in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where they were defeated by the Miami Heat in five games. Since then, Harden has failed to return to that stage, first with the Houston Rockets, then the Brooklyn Nets, and most recently with the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, at the age of 35, he continues to chase that elusive Finals appearance with the Los Angeles Clippers.


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<h2>The future of the NBA after Harden and Curry</h2>



“James and Steph are the two, for our generation, for the young guys, the one and two,” Cam Thomas said in his conversation with Draymond Green, acknowledging the lasting impact both players have had on the league over the last decade and a half. However, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/brooklyn-nets">Brooklyn Nets</a> guard made it clear that the next generation is ready to take the reins. “Credit to those guys for changing the game, but it’s our time now, for sure.”

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NBA News: Nets guard praises James Harden’s impact, highlights key difference with Stephen Curry - Bolavip US

Not every young player can be like <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-ambitious-lebron-james-makes-lakers-one-big-request-20220810-0026.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James</a>, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/michael-jordan-magic-johnson-and-paul-pierce-react-to-bill-bussells-passing-20220731-0019.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Jordan</a>, or even <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/portland-star-damian-lillard-points-out-the-mentality-problem-that-ails-most-kids-aiming-for-the-nba-20220806-0032.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Damian Lillard.</a> For some, it takes some time before they prove why they made it to the league in the first place, while others seem ready out of the gate.
That’s why fans and analysts should think twice before calling young players busts. Even Kobe Bryant and John Stockton needed time before stepping over and putting together Hall of Famer careers.
With that in mind, we’ll take a look at three young players that were expected to make a bigger impact in their<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/5-nba-rookies-to-shine-in-the-nba-2022-23-season-20220718-0033.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rookie season,</a> hoping they take a step forward and silence their critics in their second year in the league.
<h2>NBA News: 3 Second-Year Players Looking To Bounce Back In 2022-23</h2>
<h3>3. Jonathan Kuminga</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220814_BUS_197547_jonathan_kuminga_1.jpg_22993414_c2c57f60.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Jonathan Kuminga – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Jonathan Kuminga’s athleticism is off the charts, and he did have some interesting passages in his first season. However, some expected him to have a more significantrole, and he averaged roughly 9.3 points per game.
The Golden State Warriors will be thinner at both forward spots next season, and Kuminga will likely take as many minutes as his body can handle. So, expect him to put up somewhere near 15+ points and 6+ rebounds per game on nearly 50% shooting.
<h3>2. Jalen Suggs</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220814_BUS_197547_jalen_suggs_x1x.jpg_22993414_4916f969.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Jalen Suggs- Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Jalen Suggs drew comparisons to Jason Kidd during his days in Gonzaga, and some deemed him the best playmaker in his class. Unfortunately, he struggled with offensive inefficiency and injuries throughout his rookie campaign.
The Orlando Magic will now have a secondary playmaker in Paolo Banchero. That should take plenty of pressure off Suggs’ shoulders and get him more open shots. If he stays healthy, we’re looking at 8+ assists per game in year two.
<h3>1. Cam Thomas</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220814_BUS_197547_cam_thomas.jpg_22993414_3bedcff9.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Cam Thomas- Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Some claimed that Cam Thomas could be the biggest steal of the Draft. He’s a gifted scorer that can create his shot from all three levels, and even Kevin Durant has had plenty of praise for his God-given talents.
The Brooklyn Nets will put the ball on his hands more often in year two, especially with Durant out of the picture. He shot a horrid 27% from the floor. We expect his efficiency and scoring averages to trend up to 16+ PPG as he gets more touches.

cam thomas

NBA News: Brooklyn star Cam Thomas makes something clear on James Harden's stint with the Rockets

NBA News: Nets guard praises James Harden’s impact, highlights key difference with Stephen Curry

NBA: Jalen Suggs and second-year players that will bounce back in 2022-23