Former Boston Celtics top player candidate Isaiah Thomas made his first appearance in the G-League for the Salt Lake City Stars on March 7. He scored 32 points with the Stars, hitting five three-pointers.
Former Los Angeles Lakers winner Dwight Howard expressed his backing for Thomas on his X account. Howard followed three flame emojis with the message, “It’s ok if they give up. Just don’t ever give up on yourself.”
🔥🔥🔥 it’s ok if they give up just don’t ever give up on yourself https://t.co/0cd3WZVhCt
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) March 8, 2024
Both Thomas and Howard have a history with the Lakers. They were teammates in 2021, playing together once on December 21, 2021, against the Spurs. Howard won a title with the Lakers in 2020, while Thomas had two brief stints with the team.
Thomas’ game with the Stars was his second time in the G-League. In 2022, he played for the Nuggets’ G-League team, the Grand City Rapid Golds. He participated in three games before securing a full-time contract with the Charlotte Hornets.
Isaiah Thomas has returned to the G-League hoping to restart his NBA career.
The Reasons Behind Isaiah Thomas’ Return to the G-League
In an interview with The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Isaiah Thomas disclosed his reasons for returning to the G-League, which extend beyond trying to revive his NBA career.
“Ultimately, I’m just striving for an opportunity,” Thomas said, via Run It Back’s X account. “I’m aiming to demonstrate to teams that I can still perform on the court, and more importantly, I can mentor these young players and show them daily how to be professional and the things they’re missing.”
Thomas also explained why he prefers to resume his basketball career in the NBA environment rather than overseas.
“Playing overseas is great. I admire those games. I love basketball. But at this stage in my life, with my family and kids, it would be very challenging to go abroad unless they were offering 10-day contracts, then I could make it work. I believe this is the quickest path to return to the NBA and attempt to join a playoff team for the rest of the season.”
Thomas has been in the NBA for 11 years, but he has not recaptured the same All-Star level he had during his time with the Celtics.
Isaiah Thomas Believes He Could Assist the Current Celtics Team
Isaiah Thomas last played for Boston in 2017. Although he acknowledges that he isn't the player he once was, Thomas explained on February 23 why he believes they could benefit from his presence.
Thomas made his argument when a user named Bobby Lynn suggested his return to Boston.
“My leadership alone could push this team over the edge! I wouldn’t even need to play a single minute. Just give me a jersey LOL,” Thomas wrote on his X account.
The Celtics currently have one available roster spot. Brad Stevens has re-signed former Celtics, such as Al Horford and Daniel Theis, in the past. Thomas has been a free agent for some time, and the Celtics have refrained from re-signing him. If they recognize the value of his leadership, they might reconsider.
