When it comes to his NBA playing career, Isaiah Thomas can always keep his head up high knowing the obstacles he was able to overcome. He has played parts of 12 seasons despite standing at just five-foot-nine. While Mr. Irrelevant is an NFL Draft term, Thomas was the equivalent of that in the NBA Draft, as he was selected with the last pick (60th overall) in 2011. Nobody could have anticipated him becoming a multi-time All-Star and MVP candidate, both of which Thomas accomplished.
Now 35 years old, Thomas has barely been hanging on to an NBA career of late, but he remains unsigned for the upcoming season. Thomas wants to continue his playing career though, and he has overcome plenty of adversity before.
Former MVP Candidate Wants To Play ‘Two Or Three More Years’
Thomas Is Grinding To Stay In The League
There has been little seen of Thomas on an NBA court over the last four seasons. He went unsigned throughout the 2022-23 season, and last season, he got into six games late in the year for the Phoenix Suns. He combined to play just 25 games in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the latter season seeing Thomas make appearances for three different teams.
Thomas still believes he belongs in the league. Thomas recentky took part in the Ninth Annual Zeke-End Tournament in his home state of Washington along with Paolo Banchero, Klay Thompson, and others. Dylan Ackermann of the Cronkite News wrote about some of the comments he made while at the tournament.
”I really want to just play two or three more years and then focus on my kids” Thomas said. “That’s the ultimate goal and we’re just going to keep fighting until the end.”
Thomas is the father of three with his wife Kayla. Thomas has surely instilled persevering through tough time times and overcoming life’s obstacles in his children by them watching his determination throughout his basketball career.
Had 2 Reported Workouts In Offseason
NBA training camps begin in a few short weeks. The start of the 2024-25 regular season is a little more than a month away. That doesn’t leave Thomas a lot of time if he wants to start the season on a roster.
Turning 36 years old on February 7, Thomas has had reported NBA workouts this offseason, but they did not result in a signing. In July, he reportedly worked out with the Milwaukee Bucks, and in August with the Sacramento Kings. The Kings were the team that drafted Thomas in 2011, and he spent his first three seasons with them.
At the Zeke-End Tournament, Ackermann also quoted Thomas as saying,
“I love the process. I love the good, the bad. I’m still at an age where I can still play at a high level. I always say that I have the same feeling going to the gym now that I did when I was a kid. I know when that goes away, it’s time to just try to find something else.”
Clearly still passionate about playing the sport he loves, it’s understandable why Thomas is far from transitioning to the next chapter of his life.
