Isaiah Thomas has had a rough last two years. He dealt with the tragic death of his sister in the 2017 playoffs and was shockingly traded to the Cavs as the centerpiece of the Kyrie Irving trade, noting he felt betrayed by the Celtics and Danny Ainge for moving him.
Thomas missed the first half of the season in Cleveland and when he came back, struggled to come close to the productivity he had in Boston. He was dealt to the Lakers and signed this summer by the Nuggets, but has continued to battle with that hip injury, only recently coming back to the court.
Unfortunately for Thomas, he has since been removed from the lineup by Mike Malone as the Nuggets don’t have the luxury of letting him work through his struggles as he tries to regain his rhythm as they’re fighting for the top seed in the Western Conference. On Monday, Thomas made his return to Boston and while Malone was non-committal about whether Thomas would play, IT was sure to show his love to the city that made him a star.
Thomas had bounced from Sacramento to Phoenix, with many questioning how the point guard fit into a quality rotation, when he became an All-Star and cult hero in Boston. While he was incredibly hurt by being traded by Ainge, Thomas has always made sure to note he loves Boston and the people, and noted Monday night he’d love to return to the Celtics, the place where he had the best time of his career.
Isaiah Thomas on if he would like to finish career w/ Cs: "At some point. These were the most fun times in my career. I turned into a superstar here. The world knew my name when I played for the (Celtics). Not saying they don't now, but playing for (Cs) changed my whole career."
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) March 18, 2019
The journey for Thomas has been tough, suffering such a major injury setback right when he was emerging as one of the league’s best scorers. In the time since, he’s never been able to find that same rhythm and efficiency, and once again has found himself seeking a home in the league.
Thomas is the poster child for how important fit is for a player to reach their full potential — and for how devastating injuries can be to throwing off a player’s rhythm. A return to Boston, a place where he’s so comfortable, just might be the perfect way for him to regain that form. The problem, obviously, is that the Celtics are currently in a position where, like the Nuggets, they wouldn’t really have time for him to work through any issues next season. That said, with Terry Rozier likely leaving, they would be in need of a reserve point guard.
It still seems highly unlikely a reunion for Thomas in Boston happens next season, but at some point down the road it’s clear he’d like to be back in the green and white.
