Almost every NBA player will admit that their journey to the league was difficult. But sometimes the road gets even harder once you get there.
Life in the NBA isn’t easy when athletes are expected to be bulletproof and perform every night. When they get knocked down, they’re expected to get right back up.
Except this former superstar has been trying to get back on his feet for years now, and he’s been overlooked through it all.
“I understand, but I’ve always had this same struggle. It’s completely normal for me. It’s just another step I have to take,” (Isaiah) Thomas said in an interview with Cronkite News’ Dylan Ackermann.
“I really want to play for two or three more years and then focus on my kids. That’s the ultimate goal and we’ll keep fighting until the end.”
Thomas was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the final pick of the 2011 NBA draft. The 1.75 m point guard had three solid years in Sacramento, but he was still questioned. The Washington product was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2014, where he played just 46 games before harsh reality set in again, or so he thought.
What seemed unfortunate at the time turned into one of the greatest blessings of his career. The former second-round pick was traded to the Boston Celtics where his career took off. Thomas had a career year in 2016, averaging 28.9 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds.
And just when everything seemed to be falling into place, the diminutive playmaker found himself once again faced with adversity.
Thomas suffered a hip injury in the playoffs, which ended his time with the Celtics. A few months later, he signed a big-money deal that sent him to the Cavaliers. After that injury, the Tacoma native struggled to regain his former form.
However, after undergoing hip surgery in 2021, Thomas made it clear that he was ready for another opportunity. That said, one team that would make sense for his services could be the Miami Heat.
The Heat desperately need depth on the back end and scorers off the bench, which Thomas could provide. Given that the former star simply wants the opportunity to play the game he loves, this could be a low-risk, high-reward deal for Miami.
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