The Nets have said Cam Thomas’ injured hamstring could be re-evaluated in as soon as three weeks. But a specialist that spoke with The Post said it could be twice that long before the guard is playing again, and cautioned a recurrence is possible.
Thomas was forced out of Wednesday’s game in the first quarter with what was termed left hamstring tightness, and the Nets announced Friday that he had a left hamstring strain that would be evaluated in 3-4 weeks.
“It’s obviously frustrating being hurt with anything — whether it’s an ankle, a foot, whatever the case may be. Nobody wants to be injured,” said Thomas, 24. “But I’m not really concerned about it. I’ll be back in no time, so I’m not really upset or concerned. It’s just unfortunate. But good thing it happened earlier this year, so you can get on top of that and be back as soon as I can.”
The injury is unfortunate for Thomas and the Nets. First, it’s the same hamstring he hurt three times last season that essentially ruined his campaign, limiting him to just 25 games.
Now, Thomas — who opted to play on a one-year $5.99 million qualifying offer and is headed for unrestricted free agency — has strained it again.
As is their wont, the Nets declined to reveal the severity or grade of the injury, though sports medicine specialist Dr. Kenton Fibel from Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics in L.A. told The Post that a Grade 2 injury sounded more likely — and that Thomas’ past history could lead to future complications.
“Certainly people that have had prior hamstring injuries in that specific area will sometimes form more scar tissue than normal muscle tissue, so it can be a more of a weak spot to lead to further recurring injuries,” Dr. Fibel told The Post. “Not all the time. These can heal well, and just depends on the severity of the ones last year.
“Now this one, you would expect a Grade 1 injury on average to maybe be a week or two, vs. more of a Grade 2 injury can be more 4-6 weeks. So if they’re recommending to reevaluate him in 3-4 weeks, they probably think it’s more on the side of at least closer to a Grade 2 injury.”
Dr. Fibel, who is the medical director for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, acknowledged each case is individualized and hard to predict, and there are different factors that can lead to increased risk of hamstring woes like gait, nutrition or muscle imbalances (in the hamstring, quad or other leg).
“I’m sure he’s working with the team dieticians to look at any dietary things and adequate hydration, looking at his overall warm-up routine,” Dr. Fibel told The Post. “Again, the weakened muscle, if the injury happens in the exact same area of that tissue, may be a little bit weakened.
“But if it’s in a different area of the hamstring, then that’s where all these things collectively you’re looking at to see if there’s any ways to alter the risk moving forward of these hamstring injuries.”
While a three-week span puts the Nets at the Black Friday tilt vs. the 76ers, that sounds overly ambitious and could take several more weeks. Dr. Fibel praised the Nets for their caution, but said Thomas’ history and need to ramp up would likely mean another couple weeks even after he gets a clean bill of health.
“Given the fact it’s earlier in the season and his injury history, I think it’s appropriate to take a more conservative approach with him, as [a] star player for the team,” Dr. Fibel told The Post. “With really any of these athletes that’ve had prior injuries, our goal is to return the player at a high level, but without an increased risk of injury as best as we can. So I think it’s prudent what they’re seeming to be doing with this injury with him.
“Once you feel that it has appropriately healed, then you begin a return-to-play progression. That may be another couple of weeks from that.”
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