Draymond Green was in awe of the “Kobe-like” player who lit the Warriors on fire

The Golden State Warriors were one of the better teams in the Western Conference early in the 2024-25 season, but suffered a 128-120 loss to the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Monday. During the game, the Warriors faced an offensive barrage from Cam Thomas, who received high praise from Draymond Green after the game.

On an episode of Draymond Green’s podcast “The Draymond Green Show,” the Warriors forward detailed how Cam Thomas put on a “Kobe-like” display in the Nets’ big road win.

“The strategy was that we were going to double him no matter where he landed on the floor,” Green said. “We used him twice. It came from a handoff, we double-teamed it. When he fell off a ball screen, we double-teamed him. And when I realized that the strategy wasn’t going to work, I was completely trapped, me and Moses Moody.”

“And I thought, ‘Ah yeah, we got him close to the sideline. He’s about to turn the ball over.’ This man stopped and fired,” Green continued. “I almost fouled him because I still get trapped. I was still closing the trap and he just stood up and fired. I thought, ‘Oh! Oh no! He is different! It’s like Kobe!’”

Cam Thomas is having a career year for the Nets

Cam Thomas finished Monday’s game with 23 points against the Warriors. He shot 6 of 11 from the field, 3 of 7 from the three-point line and a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line. He also added three rebounds and an assist.

It was a very special start to the season for Thomas, who put his name in the conversation for the league’s best player award. However, the Nets will have to find their way over the next few weeks as Thomas is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

But before that, it was easy to understand why Green praised him so much. In the Nets’ first 17 games, Thomas averaged 24.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 46.1 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from the three-point line and 86.6 percent shot from the free throw line.

His points, assists, field goal percentage and three-point percentage are all career highs. He plays just over 33 minutes per game and takes about 17.5 shots per game. He averages about seven attempts from three-point range and six attempts from the free throw line, both career highs.

While Green’s praise for Thomas is certainly eye-opening, it will be interesting to see how he continues after his return from the hamstring injury.