Former Boston Celtics Star Isaiah Thomas Seeking One More Chance
Why doesn’t former Boston Celtics all-star point guard Isaiah Thomas have a job in the NBA? An injured hip disrupted his time in Boston before he was traded away to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s fully healed and ready to go. Don’t mock the fact he’s 5-foot-9. He was that size when he made consecutive NBA All-Star teams and averaged 28.9 points per game with the Celtics during the 2016-17 season. Today, Thomas is out of a job and is looking for one more chance.
Thomas’ NBA career
Isaiah Thomas defied the odds. He played his college basketball at Washington, where he was a 5-foot-9 point guard playing in a big-man’s game. He was drafted by the NBA, just making the cut in 2011. The Sacramento Kings took a shot with Thomas, taking him with the final pick in the draft.
While most late second-rounders never find a home in the NBA, Thomas did. Not only did he find a home but he thrived, starting 37 of the 65 games he played his rookie season and averaging 11.5 points per game. By his third season in the league, Thomas was averaging 20.3 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Thomas really made a name for himself with the Boston Celtics. Thomas was traded by the Phoenix Suns mid-season in 2015 and his career took off. In his two full seasons in Boston, he missed just six regular-season games and averaged 22.2 points in the 2015-16 season and 28.9 in 2016-17. He was an NBA All-star both seasons. After he was traded from Boston to Cleveland in a deal for Kyrie Irving, Thomas played for four teams in four years.
Isaiah Thomas proved himself in Boston with talent and toughness
Isaiah Thomas battled. He had to. His size was always working against him, but it also seemed to be a motivating factor for him. When people doubted him, he proved them wrong. In his first full season with the Boston Celtics, Thomas played in every game. He averaged 22.2 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Thomas showed just how tough he is in April of 2017. Thomas was delivered the devastating news that his 22-year-old sister Chyna had died in a car accident. He was informed after a practice in preparation for the following day’s playoff matchup with the Chicago Bulls. Thomas played in the Bulls game, scoring 33 points in a loss.
Things didn’t get any easier for Thomas after the Celtics rallied to win the series against the Bulls. Immediately after the series-clinching win against the Bulls, Thomas flew cross country for his sister’s funeral. Being the team player he is, Thomas then flew back and made it just in time for Game 1 against the Washington Wizards. In Game 2, Thomas put up 53 points on what would have been Chyna’s 23rd birthday.
Thomas just wants one more chance
There isn’t one team in the NBA that couldn’t use Isaiah Thomas. A return to Boston would be a perfect fit with him jump-starting bench that struggles offensively. He’s not looking for the 33 minutes per game he averaged with the Celtics. He’s just looking for one more opportunity. Thomas took to Twitter on Friday asking just for that.
“Just want a chance,” Thomas wrote. “Nothing more nothing less!” Thomas also said he’s been working hard and he’s healthy and ready. He said it’s much easier to score today in the NBA than it was three or four years ago and he’s eager to prove it.
“Numbers are inflated now with how the games played too,” Thomas wrote on Twitter. “So just imagine how easy it is to get 16-18 pts now compared to just 3/4 yrs ago. We gonna stay on this MARATHON and be ready when a opportunity presents itself. I been WORKING & HEALTHY.”
