Isaiah Thomas is putting on quite the showcase. The beloved former Celtic is dominating in random summer basketball leagues across the country.
But is it enough to get him back to the NBA?
We last saw Thomas in mid-April, when he was wrapping up a 10-day stretch with the New Orleans Pelicans. His brief stint in New Orleans was rather forgettable, outside of reeling off eight straight points in his first game. Since then, Thomas has been looking for work.
“All it takes is ONE team!,” he tweeted April 29. “Give me a REAL chance to be apart of something and I’ll show the impact I’ll have on a team whether I play or not. I’m ready to GO.”
He’s backed up his words with his play. Last week, Thomas dropped 37 points in the famous Los Angeles pro-am summer basketball league, the Drew League, following an invite from Baron Davis.
Then on Sunday, Thomas took his talents to Atlanta. The two-time All-Star scored 65 points(!) in the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League (AEBL) Pro and Youth Summer League. The highlights are pretty sweet.
The replies are full of supportive statements (a rarity for Twitter), including an endorsement from Bulls guard Zach LaVine.
Thomas’ basketball career has floundered since the Celtics traded him in August 2017 as part of the package to land Kyrie Irving. His wrecked hip, which he injured while going all-out for the Celtics in the 2017 postseason, prevented him from making an impact in Cleveland. The Cavaliers dealt Thomas to the Lakers at the 2018 trade deadline.
Thomas bounced between the Nuggets and Wizards before his abbreviated stint in New Orleans.
At 32 years old, Thomas’ opportunities for another look in the NBA may be fading away. On top of injuries, there are questions as to whether his 5-foot-9 frame can stand up defensively against the new breed of bigger and more positionally fluid guards.
Still, it’s apparent Thomas can still score, and the Celtics have a gaping hole at point guard — with limited salary cap space. Brad Stevens loved coaching Thomas.
Maybe Stevens would love reacquiring him, too.