Isaiah Thomas spent just two and a half seasons with the Boston Celtics, yet many fans hold him in the same affection as other franchise legends.
For Thomas, it wasn’t about the length of time. It was about his passion and loyalty to the city of Boston, truly embodying what it means to be a Celtic.
Nicknamed “The Little Guy” by the late, great Tommy Heinsohn, Thomas was selected as an All-Star in each of his two full seasons with the Celtics, reaching the playoffs in green and white each time.
He earned the moniker “The King of The Fourth” for his late-game heroics, leading a rebuilding Celtics team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and finishing in the top 5 in MVP voting that same year. Many fans regard the 2016-17 season as one of the most magical in franchise history, a testament to Thomas' impact.
The 5-foot-9 guard gave his all to the Celtics.
Less than a day before the Celtics’ first-round series against the Chicago Bulls began in 2017, Thomas received the devastating news of his 22-year-old sister Chyna’s passing. Yet, he never missed a game.
The Celtics found themselves trailing 0-2 against the Bulls, but they fought back relentlessly, securing a 4-2 series victory and advancing to face the Washington Wizards in the second round.
It was then that Thomas cemented himself as a Celtics legend.
In the first quarter of Game 1 against Washington, Thomas lost one of his front teeth attempting to steal the ball. Team doctors tried to reposition the tooth but to no avail. However, that didn’t stop Thomas from scoring a game-high 33 points as Boston rallied from a 17-point deficit to win.
Game 1 took place on a Sunday. The next day, Monday, Thomas missed practice to undergo oral surgery, which took a total of 13 (!) hours due to the damage extending beyond just the lost tooth.
Then, on Tuesday, which would have been the 23rd birthday of his late sister Chyna, Thomas delivered a historic performance, exploding for 53 points – the second-most ever scored by a Celtic in the postseason. Remarkably, 29 of those points came in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The Celtics went on to win the series in seven games but would fall to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Thomas missed the second half of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals due to a hip injury, ending his postseason and magical run with the Celtics.
That summer, Thomas was traded to Cleveland as part of the deal that brought Kyrie Irving to Boston.
Thomas was never the same player following that injury. The Washington native served stints with seven different teams, most recently in the 2021-22 season with the Hornets, Lakers, and Mavericks.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Thomas remains determined to continue his NBA career, working out every day in case he gets a call. With 11 years of NBA experience under his belt, he believes he can still offer valuable contributions to a team, even if he doesn’t see playing time.
“I’m just staying ready. I’m 34-years-old. Healthy. Just trying to stay as mentally and physically ready as possible. I still want to pursue my NBA dream of being on a roster and contributing,” Thomas told the View From The Rafters Podcast last month. “Most importantly, just try to give a helping hand because I know I can help an organization in more ways than just putting the basketball in the hoop.”
With Boston holding an open roster, Thomas pleaded his case for a potential reunion via X, formerly known as Twitter.
“My leadership alone would put this team over the hump! I don’t even have to play a single minute,” Thomas wrote. “Just give me a jersey LOL.”
Thomas has been candid about his desire to return to Boston since being traded in 2017. As a member of the Hornets in 2022, he admitted that he had long hoped for a reunion with the Celtics, but the feeling was never mutual.
“I’ve opened my arms to try and come back in so many ways,” Thomas said. “I’ve felt there’s been times where Brad [Stevens] could make a call and give me an opportunity, and it hasn’t happened.”
Although it would be enjoyable, a reunion between Boston and Thomas seems highly unlikely. Nonetheless, Thomas remains a significant part of the Celtics’ history, even though a reunion never came to fruition.
As Thomas looks to continue his professional career, the now 35-year-old knows he did everything he could and is happy spending time with his family.
“No matter if it does happen or not, I’ve given it my all,” Thomas said. “I’ve controlled everything that I can possibly control.”
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