Isaiah Thomas’ journey remains one of the most inspirational success stories in a league built on hard work and sacrifice.
Selected with the 60th and final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the 5-foot-9 point guard out of Washington did not let his physical disadvantages hinder him from being an absolute weapon on the court. In a generation where athleticism, skills and physical gifts are at an all-time high, Thomas carved out a noteworthy career in just a span of a few years.
But after a devastating hip injury, he was never the same. The league and its fans have mostly moved on, but the spitfire guard isn’t giving up just yet.
That’s why the staunchest of his supporters were probably hopeful of the recent update regarding the Sacramento Kings—the team that drafted him—inviting the 35-year-old Thomas for a ‘competitive workout’ with the current Kings roster.
Isaiah Thomas last signed with the Phoenix Suns, where he cameoed for six games and appeared in one playoff outing.
What are the chances he gets signed?
Like the rest of SBOTOP NBA fans hopeful for his last shot at playing in the league, I, myself, am also wishing he could get one final hurrah and go out on his own terms when it’s all said and done.
Sadly, life isn’t made out of sunshine and rainbows.
The last few times he set foot on an NBA court, jumping from one 10-day contract to another, were enough evidence that the ship had indeed sailed. Listen, I love IT as much as the next guy—he is an ambassador for short hoopers like myself—but it’s clear as day that his NBA career is pretty much over.
In fact, this invitation could just have something to do with working out and testing schemes and plays for the next season, with the hopes that the veterans that were invited could impart some knowledge to the younger members of the team.
As of writing, the Sacramento Kings are aiming for yet another strong push in the Western Conference, and I just don’t see how adding an undersized guard—who’s on the wrong side of 30—will be beneficial for Mike Brown’s team.
However, if the Kings do indeed sign Thomas, it will most likely be the same as his ventures around the league in the recent past.
They could give him his farewell—which, according to NBA 2024 odds, is a long shot—and his career would indeed come to a full circle.
IT’s career so far
During his stint with the Kings, Isaiah Thomas played in 216 games (153 starts) in over three seasons and averaged 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
He was then traded to the Suns before he arrived in Boston, where he shaped up one of the most exciting seasons from a small guard. In the 2015/16 season, the clutch-shooting scorer played all 82 games and earned his first All-Star selection.
But it was in his third season with the Celtics that he truly shone. Averaging 28.9 points and close to six assists per contest, whilst earning his second consecutive All-Star nomination, he ended fifth in the MVP voting, along with a string of unforgettable scoring performances.
That same year, he became only the sixth Celtics player to score 2,000 points in a single season, ultimately leading Boston to the first seed.
Perhaps his most memorable game that year was in the playoffs, when, a couple days after his sister died, Thomas poured in 53 points—the second-highest total in the team’s playoff history—in Game 2 against the Washington Wizards.
However, their 2017 campaign ended in dismay after falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. It would be the last time he appeared in a green and white jersey.
Thomas was included in a package for Kyrie Irving the following season, but with his lingering injury affecting him, he wasn’t much of a help to Cleveland’s title aspirations and was traded halfway through the year.
Since then, his NBA career—or what’s left of it—has been a collection of 10-day contracts.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE BASKETBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
