Isaiah Thomas Hoped For Return To Celtics

[RealGM Wiretap]

Isaiah Thomas recently opened up about his NBA journey since being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. Thomas talked about his recovery from hip surgery and how that led to him bouncing around from team to team. Thomas said that he hoped that would always lead to a return to Boston.

Thomas said at various points he reached out to both Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens about returning to the Celtics. Thomas said he believes Boston has gone in different directions, because there would be an expectation for him to play.

“I know how to control the outside thinking I’m gonna go and pick up where I left off now, because if I came to that team, it’s not my team anymore. That’s (Jayson) Tatum’s team. That’s Jaylen Brown’s team. That’s Marcus Smart’s team. I would just help in any way I possibly can to get those guys over the hump, " Thomas said. "It hasn’t happened; it probably won’t happen, I’m focused on where I’m at now, and I’m happy where I’m at, and hopefully, I can be here at least the rest of the season.”

Still, Thomas appreciates the love he gets from Celtics fans.

“(The fan support) means a lot. Like, I’ve never seen it, either,” Thomas said. “Me and my wife always talk about it; you would think I was doing stuff like Larry Bird was doing with how much love I’m getting. You would think I was doing it for 10 years and winning championships with the love I get from the city. I’m thankful, I’m appreciative, but that’s probably a reason why I’m not there, because of all that love."

Via Jared Weiss/The Athletic

[BigHustle]

Rare to see such brutally honest statements from an athlete that show such awareness.

This level of realism and candor will only make BOS fans want him more.

Sometimes however, it’s better to remember IT as the “King of the Fourth” and not his current self. Never meet your heroes….

[imDatknicksTape]

his story should be a documentary about "Why American economy is successful because of business first mentality and not relationships".

[puja21]

his story should be a documentary about "Why American economy is successful because of business first mentality and not relationships".

I don't disagree, but no one demanded he play hurt or after his sister's death -- both sides know it's a business up front

He could have sat out and got the "brinks truck" still, like 100s of players have done

No one gets paid for past performance, even Kobe's garbage deal was an investment in what they hoped would be a lifetime relationship, a la Magic, and likely an ownership stake

[cfour6]

his story should be a documentary about "Why American economy is successful because of business first mentality and not relationships".

I don't disagree, but no one demanded he play hurt or after his sister's death -- both sides know it's a business up front

He could have sat out and got the "brinks truck" still, like 100s of players have done

No one gets paid for past performance, even Kobe's garbage deal was an investment in what they hoped would be a lifetime relationship, a la Magic, and likely an ownership stake

He could of sat out but wasn't advised to. Some team doctors will tell you not to depending on the severity. His exact quote ""The only thing that I think they handled wrong was not explaining to me what the extent of my injury could be if I do play," Thomas said. "That was the biggest thing for me that I disliked. 'Cause nobody gave me no insight, 'OK, you do play, this can happen.'"

[Drax]

Rare to see such brutally honest statements from an athlete that show such awareness.

This level of realism and candor will only make BOS fans want him more.

Sometimes however, it’s better to remember IT as the “King of the Fourth” and not his current self. Never meet your heroes….

Celtics fans on the board love the idea of IT in green, but as you said for both sides it's best to keep the great memories instead of making new ones. If IT retires one day i hope the GM of the Cs at that point gives him at least a one day contract, so the fans can give him his deserved fare well. We always will remember the 'little guy' as Tommy loved to call him.

[OogaBooga]

loved watching IT play in green. I wish he was resigned but now it's probably too late. it'd be cool to have him come off the bench for a little offense but I thinks celts are focused on defense and he won't be able to give us that cuz his size. it sucks but it is what it is.

[CobraCommander]

his story should be a documentary about "Why American economy is successful because of business first mentality and not relationships".

I don't disagree, but no one demanded he play hurt or after his sister's death -- both sides know it's a business up front

He could have sat out and got the "brinks truck" still, like 100s of players have done

No one gets paid for past performance, even Kobe's garbage deal was an investment in what they hoped would be a lifetime relationship, a la Magic, and likely an ownership stake

IT taught Kawhi and others not to play hurt as it doesn’t help you in the long run- saw him drop 80 in Crawford league in person...he was crying....I wanted him back in league so bad after that game...just not on wizards

[FrodoFraggins]

his story should be a documentary about "Why American economy is successful because of business first mentality and not relationships".

I don't disagree, but no one demanded he play hurt or after his sister's death -- both sides know it's a business up front

He could have sat out and got the "brinks truck" still, like 100s of players have done

He was never getting paid what he wanted from the Celtics and other teams would likely do tests before paying him. His bad hip wasn't going to go away or be missed. He also chose not to get the necessary surgery the following season.

[Pickled Prunes]

his story should be a documentary about "Why American economy is successful because of business first mentality and not relationships".

Conversely, life is made a lot harder because of that same "money over love" attitude. Business be damned, we gotta look out for each other.

[TheCage4]

Seems like a great guy that had some great moments, but in the end he’s a liability on the floor because of his size.

We’re approaching a time, if we aren’t there already, where teams can have a full five on the court of 6’8” and above players. All capable ball handlers, passers, scores, etc.

Keep the good memories going nonetheless.

[D21]

Seems like a great guy that had some great moments, but in the end he’s a liability on the floor because of his size...

Maybe now, but don't say that he was a liability in his last two seasons in BOS : if you pick any of the team stats that can show if he was a liability, it will show the exact opposite :
in these two seasons, he was top2 On/Off Court in the team, and I guarantee you that someone who's a real liability is never in the top2 of his team in this kind of numbers, never, except if it's a loosing team and he only play garbage time coming of the bench, which was not the case for Thomas

[TheCage4]

Seems like a great guy that had some great moments, but in the end he’s a liability on the floor because of his size...

Maybe now, but don't say that he was a liability in his last two seasons in BOS : if you pick any of the team stats that can show if he was a liability, it will show the exact opposite :
in these two seasons, he was top2 On/Off Court in the team, and I guarantee you that someone who's a real liability is never in the top2 of his team in this kind of numbers, never, except if it's a loosing team and he only play garbage time coming of the bench, which was not the case for Thomas

I’m speaking in-the-now.