Bucks' Cam Thomas Impresses with 34-Point Night, Compared to NBA Sixth Man Greats

Head coach Doc Rivers sees similarities between the 24-year-old and past scoring phenoms Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In his second game with the Milwaukee Bucks, newly acquired guard Cam Thomas scored a game-high 34 points in only 25 minutes, including a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute to seal the victory. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers immediately drew comparisons between Thomas and past NBA sixth man stars Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams, praising Thomas' natural scoring ability and potential to be a difference-maker off the bench.

Why it matters

Thomas' breakout performance highlights the Bucks' ability to find and develop talented scorers, even after being waived by another team. His instant impact could provide a much-needed scoring punch for the Bucks' second unit as they push for a deep playoff run.

The details

Thomas started slowly but caught fire in the second half, scoring 15 points in the third quarter and 8 more in the fourth to finish with 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting. While his shot-making was impressive, Rivers was most excited about a pass Thomas made late in the game that didn't show up in the box score, when he quickly swung the ball to a wide-open Bobby Portis for a crucial free throw attempt.

  • On February 12, 2026, Cam Thomas scored 34 points in 25 minutes in his second game with the Bucks.
  • Thomas was waived by the Brooklyn Nets earlier this offseason after four and a half seasons with the team.

The players

Cam Thomas

A 24-year-old guard who was recently waived by the Brooklyn Nets and signed by the Milwaukee Bucks, known for his prolific scoring ability.

Doc Rivers

The head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, a 27-year NBA coaching veteran who has previously coached other high-scoring sixth men like Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams.

Jamal Crawford

A three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner, known as one of the league's best bench scorers over the past decade.

Lou Williams

A three-time Sixth Man of the Year, considered one of the NBA's premier scoring threats off the bench during his career.

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What they’re saying

“I've had Jamal Crawford. I had Lou Williams. And now, I have Cam Thomas.”

— Doc Rivers, Head Coach, Milwaukee Bucks (nytimes.com)

“It means a lot, (Rivers) having that confidence (in me) early. I'd say everybody knows I can score … I mean, that's the name of the game — getting buckets, scoring — but I am more than just a scorer. I feel like playmaking, drawing the defense on me, making the right play, I feel like that's a part of my game that gets underrated just because I score the ball so well.”

— Cam Thomas (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Bucks will look to continue to integrate Cam Thomas into their rotation and see if he can provide a consistent scoring punch off the bench as they push for a deep playoff run.

The takeaway

Cam Thomas' instant impact with the Bucks showcases the team's ability to identify and develop talented scorers, even after they've been waived by other teams. His performance draws comparisons to past sixth man greats, suggesting he could become a valuable weapon for Milwaukee as they aim to contend for a championship.