Fact Check: Is Cam Thomas Japanese? All about his parents as Nets guard channels LeBron James
Cam Thomas is a Japanese-born American basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets. While his birthplace is Japan, Thomas is an American citizen. He recently made history, joining LeBron James in the record books for scoring 40 or more points in two straight games.
Thomas was born on Oct. 13, 2001 in Yokosuka, Japan to Leslie Thomas and Dale MacMillan. Leslie was a high school basketball player in Virginia before joining the army in 1990. She was stationed in Japan when she gave birth to Thomas.
Leslie raised Thomas and his older sister, Shaniece Collins, as a single parent. Before the 2021 NBA draft, Thomas credited his mother's work ethic for his success on the basketball court. The Nets selected him 27th overall out of Louisiana State University.
"My mom has instilled work ethic, discipline," Cam told The Undefeated. "Being in the military, she preaches discipline all the time."
The Nets selected former LSU star Cam Thomas with the 27th overall selection. More on Thomas and the influence on his Army vet mom in @TheUndefeated. bit.ly/2UxT2ZD @LSUBasketball #nba #nbadraft https://t.co/xQ46kqNvkI
Cam Thomas' journey to the NBA would not have been possible if it wasn't for his mother's sacrifices. However, Leslie Thomas credited the late, great Kobe Bryant for inspiring his son to become a better basketball player growing up.
In an interview with Craig Loper II of WAVY News, Leslie revealed how Thomas became obsessed with Bryant.
"Everything was Kobe Bryant," Leslie said. "He wanted his room, Kobe Bryant. Everything he wanted was Kobe Bryant — posters, those big fat head things you put in the wall. His number had to be 24. He wanted Kobe Bryant shoes."
If you're watching Cam Thomas from #LSU and his game looks familiar, let mom, Leslie, help you with that. @WAVY_News
#MambaMentality #KobeForever @24_camthomas https://t.co/NIIcp2ozbx
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Cam Thomas' historic night
Cam Thomas has made the most of his opportunity following Kyrie Irving's trade to the Dallas Mavericks. Thomas exploded for 44 points off the bench on Saturday to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 125-123 comeback win over the Washington Wizards.
Thomas followed it up with a 47-point performance against the LA Clippers on Monday night. He became the second-youngest player in NBA history to score two straight 40-point games, aged 21 years and 116 days. He's behind LeBron James, who was 21 years and 47 days old when he accomplished the feat in his third season.
After the game, Thomas was asked about his reaction to joining "The King" in the record books. The young Nets guard jokingly admitted that he would have had a better reaction had Kobe Bryant held the record.
"That's great company that I've my name mentioned with that guy (James), even though I'm a Kobe guy," Thomas said. "So if you said Kobe, I'd have been a little more excited. No, I'm kidding!"
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