NBA’s Cam Thomas Claps Back at Critic Labeling His Play as ‘Empty Calories’

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has responded strongly to criticisms labeling him as merely a “ball hog” who lacks considerable passing skills.

NBA commentator Zach Lowe recently described Thomas on his program, The Zach Lowe Show, as an “empty calories ball hog.”

“When it comes to Cam Thomas—while opinions vary greatly, with some supporters and some strong critics—the general view seems to peg him as an empty calories ball hog,” Lowe stated.

Thomas expressed his displeasure with these remarks, countering them with a forceful, profanity-laced response on X. “The consensus? F— you and your consensus Zach Lowe. It’s probably the same consensus from teams who can’t handle me and have to resort to double teams right from the start. If I’m not that good, why the need for double teams? Please explain that.”

In another post, Thomas further clarified, “This is my final word on this matter. Empty Calories? We were ranked 5th or 6th in the east before my injury and trades happened. It’s beyond my control what the GM decides for the team … Regarding being a ball hog? I ranked second in assists on our team, excluding the [point guards] who were traded away and then acquired.”

Although Lowe was critical about certain aspects of Thomas’s gameplay, suggesting his main focus is on scoring, he didn’t entirely discount Thomas’s contributions. Lowe acknowledged Thomas’s shooting capabilities and noted an improvement in his passing last season.

“What do we think of this player who manages to score in spurts, has notably increased his assists last year… He shows some decent passing abilities, like alley-oops and drop passes,” Lowe commented. “He still had a usage rate of almost 33%, comparable to the likes seen in MVP seasons by Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Defensively, so-so, but this guy can definitely score and has improved his three-point shooting,” he added.

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