Thomas, who has additionally not too long ago handled an sickness and a sore again, was eliminated within the third quarter of Monday’s recreation vs. Golden State and had been dominated out for Wednesday’s contest in Phoenix attributable to what the staff initially known as left hamstring soreness.
Thomas, 23, has ranked among the many NBA’s scoring leaders within the first few weeks of the 2024-25 season, averaging a career-high 24.7 factors to associate with 3.4 assists and three.2 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per recreation throughout 17 outings (all begins).
Maybe most significantly, he’s scoring extra effectively than ever, flattening 46.1% makes an attempt from the ground and 38.9% of his three-pointers — each marks can be the most effective of his profession.
The twenty seventh general decide within the 2021 draft, Thomas is within the fourth and last 12 months of his rookie contract and will likely be a restricted free agent in the course of the 2025 offseason after not coming to phrases with the Nets on an extension previous to the season.
Brooklyn desires to maximise its cap flexibility subsequent summer time, so not extending Thomas was about protecting the staff’s choices open and never essentially a sign that the staff doesn’t view the high-scoring guard as a part of its future. Nonetheless, the assumption is that the rebuilding Nets received’t make anybody on their roster untouchable at this season’s commerce deadline, and one report prompt Thomas is “broadly thought-about to be obtainable.”
Even when Thomas is ready to return in simply three weeks, he’ll miss Brooklyn’s subsequent eight video games. A four-week absence would sideline him by way of Christmas and price him 11 contests.
The Nets have a couple of banged-up gamers whose availability is in flux, so it’s arduous to foretell how precisely they’ll cowl for Thomas’ absence, however Ziaire Williams, Shake Milton and Keon Johnson are among the many candidates for elevated roles.
