Nets expect Cam Thomas MRI update later this week

Nets fans won’t have to wait much longer for an update on Cam Thomas. Ahead of Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, head coach Jordi Fernández said the fifth-year guard will undergo an MRI later this week, with a revised return timeline to follow.

“We’ll let you know when that happens,” Fernández said.

Thomas has now missed 12 straight games after injuring his left hamstring in Brooklyn’s Nov. 5 win over the Indiana Pacers. The team announced soon after that he’d be out three to four weeks, and the Nets entered Monday at 2-9 without him. For a team that’s struggled to generate consistent offense even when fully healthy, losing arguably its most dynamic scorer for a month has only magnified the challenge.

“No one wants to be injured and standing off to the side, but I’m not really worried about it,” Thomas said. “I’ll be back in no time. I’m not really upset or concerned, it’s just unfortunate.”

The 24-year-old missed 57 games last season because of recurring hamstring issues, a frustration that lingered into the summer when his restricted free agency stretched deep into the offseason. After weighing his options, he turned down a long-term extension and accepted a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer, betting on himself to stay healthy and raise his market value next summer.

When he’s been on the court, he’s looked the part, even if his efficiency continues to spark debate. Through eight appearances, he’s averaged 21.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 40.2% from the field, 35.6% from deep and 87.5% at the line. He remains Brooklyn’s most natural bucket-getter and one of the few players on the roster capable of bending a defense with the ball in his hands.

“We don’t have another Cam Thomas,” Fernández said. “The constant has to be we have to play hard with purpose. We have to look like a competitive team out there, a selfless team and a connected team. If that happens, we’ll be OK.”

In Thomas’ absence, the Nets have leaned heavily on Michael Porter Jr., who returned Monday after missing two games with lower back tightness. Porter has stepped in as the lead offensive option, averaging 25.7 points on 49.4/38.2/88 shooting splits since Nov. 7. His ability to score from all three levels has helped stabilize Brooklyn’s half-court offense and eased some of the burden on the young guards still learning to create at the NBA level.

“Efficient shooter from 2s and 3s, efficient playmaker and a very good rebounder,” Fernández said. “He just makes the team better, and once again, it’s not about Michael, but he has a plan for him to get better and to show things that he hasn’t done before. And right now, for him to buy into finishing his cuts, not dancing, not over dribbling, putting pressure on the rim, everybody benefits from it. And usually when he does it, he’s the one benefiting from it. We want him and need him to play like this because it’s contagious and good for the group.”

For now, the Nets will keep waiting on their leading scorer to return. But as Fernández made clear, the goal is long-term availability, not rushing back to plug a short-term gap.