Nets Guard Cam Thomas is the budding star of this newly refreshed Brooklyn Nets team. While in the midst of a historic run for himself, he let a common though offensive phrase out that cost him $40,000.
During a postgame interview with TNT after a 116-105 win over the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 9, the former LSU Tiger said, “We already had good-looking guys, no homo.”
Nets guard Cam Thomas got fined $40,000 for saying “no homo” during an interview. 😂
The NBA is not a serious league. pic.twitter.com/XXNjFBCq7J
— Patriot J 🔥 (@sirhottest) February 11, 2023
No Tolerance
This comment stemmed from the acquisition of guard Spencer Dinwiddie from the Mavericks in the Kyrie Irving trade. When the media asked the former-and-now-reunited Nets guard how he felt about the trade, Dinwiddie did admit that the Nets did not receive the most talented player in the trade — Kyrie. But what he did allude to was that the Nets got the “best looking” fella from the deal, him.
While this was just an attempt at comedy from an angle widely utilized by the culture, Dinwiddie was lighthearted about the whole situation that went down. After the Bulls game, Cam Thomas was then asked about Dinwiddie’s comments, which led him to say the aforementioned “no homo” statement.
What resulted was the NBA bringing another hammer down on a player for saying something that could hurt their reputation and leave them in hot water from other groups and spectators.
He was hit with a $40,000 fine from the NBA for his quip.
“We already got good looking dudes, no homo.”
– Cam Thomas 😂 pic.twitter.com/V2G6uENzmx
— Leb 🦋 (@PlayboiLeb) February 10, 2023
The PC Approach
After the news broke that he was fined, Cam Thomas took to social media later to apologize for his comments.
ESPN quoted him as saying “I want to apologize for the insensitive word I used in the postgame interview,” he tweeted. “I was excited about the win and was being playful. I definitely didn’t intend to offend anyone, but realize that I probably did. My apologies again. Much love.”
I want to apologize for the insensitive word I used in the post-game interview. I was excited about the win and was being playful. I definitely didn't intend to offend anyone, but realize that I probably did. My apologies again. Much love 🫶🏽❤️
— Cam Thomas (@24_camthomas) February 10, 2023
While this is understandably something the NBA does not want, Thomas most likely wasn’t trying to be offensive, and most likely was just utilizing the slang of the culture he grew up around.
But regardless of his intentions with the words, there are just certain things you cannot say, especially something as insensitive as anti-gay slang.
Cam Thomas, who has had 40-plus point games in his last three games has absolutely been on fire, and after the Nets traded Kyrie, and Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, he is the jolt they need if they’re looking to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
While they acquired standout players like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, as well as Dorian Finney-Smith in those traded, Cam Thomas is showing the world why he is next up. He is a natural-born scorer whose handles can rival that of Kyrie Irving himself, and as they try to rebuild around him and that core of wing players, he’ll definitely be the focal point on offense.
They’ll need him for the rest of the season, and he’ll most likely begin his campaign to be a future all-star now and the face of this team. The last thing they need is him getting suspended, or worst, canceled for words with a deeper impact that he didn’t mean.
