Two-time All-Star, Isaiah Thomas, hasn’t played an NBA game since Apr. 2022. That may all change soon, as the Phoenix Suns will sign the 35-year-old to a 10-day contract, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Isaiah Thomas in the G-League:
34 PTS | 4 AST | 7 3P
34 PTS | 5 AST | 7 3P
30 PTS | 8 AST | 6 3P
32 PTS | 4 AST | 5 3PNow, he’s a Sun. pic.twitter.com/5EzhFc3njP
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 16, 2024
Isaiah Thomas Signs with Suns to Complete Comeback
Thomas had turned heads with his recent play in the G League as he made his comeback attempt. He signed a contract with the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate —the Salt Lake City Stars —on Mar. 5. In the four games that he played with the Stars, the 11-year NBA veteran averaged 32.5 points and 5.3 assists per game, scoring at least 30 points in every contest.
Thomas’ averages with the Stars were magnificent.
Nonetheless, with players in the G League, a player’s translatable skills are a better indicator of how they’ll perform at the next level than their averages. This is not only because of the difference in talent between the G League and the NBA but because a player in the G League will likely play a much smaller role once called up to the NBA.
32 PTS ⭐️ 4 AST ⭐️ 5 REB
HE’S BACK! Isaiah Thomas scored a game-high in his G League season debut to lead the @slcstars to victory over the Legends. pic.twitter.com/y415zZ2Lgy
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 8, 2024
Keeping IT Simple
In Thomas’ case, his ability to shoot the 3 will serve him well. He knocked down 44.6 percent of his 3-point attempts, showing off the same touch that allowed him to go from the 60th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft to the King of the Fourth.
His height at 5-foot-9 has always been a limiting factor but he’s also now lost a step athletically due to age and injury. He’s still wily enough to get to the rim. However, those slow-developing rack attacks will likely be even less frequent if he’s going up against rotation-level NBA players.
In the context of his contract with the Suns, Thomas’ 3-point prowess helps ease his transition in Phoenix.
The Suns are shooting 37.5 percent from 3, tied with the Golden State Warriors for the eighth-best in the NBA. Yet, they only take 32.0 attempts per game (ranked 26th in the NBA). To that point, his efficiency and volume will be appreciated, as 65.1 percent of his field goal attempts with the Stars were 3s.
Notably, Thomas will likely take Phoenix’s final roster spot. Nonetheless, whether he signs a second 10-day contract, an end-of-season contract, or a longer deal, he’s unlikely to break into the rotation for the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Isaiah Thomas is coming to Phoenix on a 10-day contract per a report but the expectation is that he will take the Suns final roster spot. I would doubt he cracks the 8-9 man playoff rotation so more insurance policy if one of the guards would get injured.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) March 17, 2024
More to the point, he’s unlikely to break into the rotation in a significant way this season. However, he could show enough to gain consideration for a more prominent role down the line. Especially on a veteran-laden roster that features many of his contemporaries.
