While the comparison between Cam Thomas and a young Devin Booker may seem far-fetched at first glance, it’s not that far-fetched. Sure, Booker had already had a 70-point performance at age 20, but Thomas had a series that was almost as impressive.
In February 2023, the Brooklyn Nets guard became the youngest player in NBA history to record three consecutive 40-point games. In October of that same year, he recorded the most bench points in a season opener in history. Those feats aren’t a 70-point explosion, but they still mean Thomas is on the verge of becoming one of the league’s leading scorers. He may already be in that conversation now.
The eventful scoring nights aren’t the only thing that connects the guards. Booker picked up the game a bit quicker than Thomas, but their progression over two seasons is very similar. From 2015 to 2017, Booker saw his points per game average jump from 13.8 to 22.1 with nearly identical efficiency numbers. Thomas’s average in 2022-24 has jumped from 10.6 points to 22.5 points, also with nearly identical efficiency numbers. When you look at their stats on paper, the comparison is scarily accurate.
Booker’s stat production was largely due to the Phoenix Suns’ lack of competitiveness leading up to the 2020s. The Nets haven’t been the epitome of excellence since Thomas entered the league, but the franchise’s new direction allows for optimism that his numbers will translate into success much more quickly than Booker’s.
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