“ To have your name among the greats who paved the way before me… It’s always an honor to be able to look back “, coward Isaiah Thomas, stars still in their eyes. The 35-year-old playmaker says he smiles when he thinks of his great years in the Celtics jersey.
It was seven years ago now, the date of his last All-Star selection and the time when his name was even mentioned in the race for the MVP title. Today, he must hold on to his NBA dream. This season, he returned to the big league through the back door: a notable stint in the G-League, then several ten-day contracts with the Suns.
An Arizona franchise with which we saw him more on the bench than on the floor: six anecdotal appearances in the regular season, one more in the playoffs, for an insignificant total of three baskets scored. If the rest of his journey looks very uncertain, he wants to hang on.
“ I'm going to try – well, not try – to stay in the league for a few more years. I want to spend a few more years until my boys get to high school [où] I will be able to concentrate entirely on them and their development », the veteran stares, on NBC Sports Boston to comment on the series against the Cavs.
At least 14 seasons
The player drafted in last position (60th) in 2011 has a numerical objective in mind: to play “ at least » of 14 NBA seasons. After his short stint with the Suns, his previous fragmented season in 2021-22, he is at 12 seasons (or ends of a season therefore).
Why 14? Because that would allow him to do as well as an illustrious predecessor of small stature like him. “ My goal has always been to try to beat Muggsy Bogues by being the smallest guy to have the longest NBA career. That's always the ultimate goal, and I'm going to achieve it. I will continue to work slowly, the marathon continues », Promises Isaiah Thomas, from his height of 1.75 meters.
The legendary former Hornets playmaker (1.60 meters) remained in the big league for 14 seasons without interruption. And for comparison, at the same age as Thomas, he was still a full-fledged rotation player with the Raptors in 2000.
“ Someone needs to give me an opportunity so I can make the most of it. », asks Thomas today, who still has a little work to do to reach Bogues.
| Isaiah Thomas | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | BAG | 65 | 26 | 44.8 | 37.9 | 83.2 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 11.5 |
| 2012-13 | BAG | 79 | 27 | 44.0 | 35.8 | 88.2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 13.9 |
| 2013-14 | BAG | 72 | 35 | 45.3 | 34.9 | 85.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 6.3 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 20.4 |
| 2014-15 * | All Teams | 67 | 26 | 42.0 | 37.3 | 86.8 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 16.4 |
| 2014-15 * | PHX | 46 | 26 | 42.6 | 39.1 | 87.2 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 15.2 |
| 2014-15 * | BOS | 21 | 26 | 41.1 | 34.5 | 86.1 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 19.1 |
| 2015-16 | BOS | 82 | 32 | 42.8 | 35.9 | 87.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 22.2 |
| 2016-17 | BOS | 76 | 34 | 46.3 | 37.9 | 90.9 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 28.9 |
| 2017-18 * | All Teams | 32 | 27 | 37.3 | 29.3 | 89.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 15.2 |
| 2017-18 * | LAL | 17 | 27 | 38.3 | 32.7 | 92.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 15.6 |
| 2017-18 * | KEY | 15 | 27 | 36.1 | 25.3 | 86.8 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 14.7 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 12 | 15 | 34.3 | 27.9 | 63.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 8.1 |
| 2019-20 | W.A.S. | 40 | 23 | 40.8 | 41.3 | 81.6 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 12.2 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 3 | 16 | 33.3 | 25.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 7.7 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 22 | 15 | 40.1 | 33.7 | 84.6 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 8.4 |
| 2021-22 * | CHA | 17 | 13 | 43.3 | 39.7 | 93.3 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 8.3 |
| 2021-22 * | LAL | 4 | 25 | 30.8 | 22.7 | 72.7 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 9.3 |
| 2021-22 * | DAL | 1 | 13 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
| 2023-24 | PHX | 6 | 3 | 30.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
| Total | 556 | 28 | 43.4 | 36.3 | 87.2 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 17.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
