Isaigh Thomas also known as Isaiah Thomas who came into this world on February 7, 1989 is a professional American basketball player. At 1.75 meters tall, he plays the point guard position. The 32-year-old became a star with the Celtics in the 2016-17 season, where he averaged 28.9 points per game and made it to one of the All-NBA teams in addition to two All-Stars in a row. Then, after being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, his career saw an unfortunate decline.

Thomas last played in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans last season, where he signed a 10-day contract and appeared in three games. Now, more than a year after his surgery on a waist injury that afflicted him, the free agent was able to “get back on the horse” through the 2032 FIBA World Cup along with Justin Anderson. They were both injury replacements for Frank Mason III and DaQuan Jeffries.

Isaigh Thomas: Where Is He Now? 2021 Update!

University career: 

Isaigh Thomas was with the University of Washington Huskies in 2011 and played for three seasons with them. 

He averaged 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game and in his first season, he was voted rookie of the year of the Pacific Ten Conference after averaging 15.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, achieving his best score at Morgan State. 

In his second season, he improved his statistics to 16.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, included in the best quintet of the conference. The following year he led the team in points, assists, and steals, being once again elected in the best quintet of the Pacific-10.3 He finished with the second-highest number of assists in the history of his university, with 213, behind the 219 will Conroy in 2005, ranking 12th at a national level. 

In March 2011 he announced his decision to give up his last season as a college player to enter the Draft of the NBA.

Sacramento Kings:

Isaigh Thomas was with the Sacramento Kings after he was chosen in the sixtieth position of the 2011 NBA Draft by the team. 

He debuted in the league on December 26 against the Los Angeles Lakers, achieving 5 points and 2 assists. 

On February 19, 2012, Thomas posted his first double-double with 23 points and 11 assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On March 1, 2012, Thomas was named the February NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month, averaging 12.2 points and 4.4 assists per game in February. This is the first time anyone who had been selected in last place in the NBA draft took home the NBA Rookie of the Month award. 

On April 2, 2012, Thomas was again named the Western Conference NBA Rookie of the Month after averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 assists per game in March.

Thomas was also named Second Best. Quintet of NBA Rookies and finished seventh in voting for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

On January 19, 2014, he scored what was his career-high 38 points in the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Five days later, he matched this total against the Indiana Pacers. On March 18, 2014, recorded the first triple-double of his career with 24 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a win in overtime 117 111 against the Washington Wizards (a team he would go on to sign with in 2019). 

Phoenix Suns:

On July 12 2014, Isaigh Thomas was acquired by the Phoenix Suns. 

Boston Celtics:

Isaigh Thomas with the Celtics in February 2015 as he was traded for Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first-round pick. Three days later he made his debut for the Celtics, with whom he recorded 21 points and 5 rebounds in a 111-118 loss to Los Angeles Lakers.

On March 2 and April 13, Isaigh Thomas was named Player of the Week in the Eastern Conference for games played between February 23 to March 1 and 6 to 12 April.

On 28 January 2016, Isaigh Thomas was named reserve player for the All-Star Game in Toronto, being the first All-Star.

On 30 December 2016, Isaigh Thomas achieved the highest score of his career with 52 points (29 of them in the fourth quarter) against the Miami Heat.

On February 2, 2017 Isaigh Thomas was elected player of the month. 

Thomas hurt his back in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the regular season and his injury worsened in the conference semifinals against the Washington Wizards. During the Conference Finals he was ruled out due to injury.

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Isaigh Thomas was traded along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and several rounds of the draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kyrie Irving on August 23, 2017

Los Angeles Lakers:

On February 8, 2018 Isaigh Thomas was traded to Los Angeles Lakers along with Channing Frye in the 2018 Draft, in exchange for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.

Denver Nuggets:

In July 2018, Isaigh Thomas accepted the offer for a season and the minimum wage for a veteran in Denver Nuggets. 

Washington Wizards:

On 1 July 2019, after signing a contract for 1 year with the Washington Wizards, Isaigh Thomas was transferred on February 6, 2020. 

After 40 matches, Isaigh Thomas was transferred  on February 6, 2020 along with Marcus Morris to Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Moe Harkless, but two days later was cut by the Clippers.

New Orleans Pelicans: 

On April 2, 2021, he signed a 10-day contract with New Orleans Pelicans. This July was his debut after 14 months without playing in the NBA. 

Isaigh Thomas signed this agreement since he has not played any game in the competition since February 2020. The experienced 32-year-old point guard, who made his mark on the Boston Celtics, had been without an NBA team for more than a year. In an interview, Thomas even declared that he was playing with only one leg against the best in the world, referring to his hip problems that took him out of the competition. However, in recent months he has been finding himself and Team USA’s call for the February windows was a big step forward.

“Many NBA teams have told me that they are looking forward to seeing me play. It’s a great opportunity for me to come and play, as well as represent the United States. It has been a very long year since I last played (February 3). Now I am physically and mentally well and I have the opportunity to show in Team USA that I can continue to play at the highest level. My abilities haven’t gone anywhere, but I have to show that I can be healthy to take advantage of those abilities”. 

“It has been very frustrating to deal with the injury. I tried to do everything to maintain myself at the highest level, but I could not do it and anyone who saw a game of mine noticed it. Now I’m 100%, it’s like night and day. As bad as my hip was, I never thought I could play again without pain”, stated the athlete. 

Thankfully, his physical condition seems to be better than ever during this entire period. Isaiah was operated on and said he felt really good – calling it a night and day situation saying: 

“I don’t feel pain. I have regained my full range of motion, all these years I have tried to play with only one leg against the best in the world. My children needed help even to put on my socks in the morning ” according to his interview with ESPN. 

Isaiah Thomas and his fight to return to the NBA: 

Now that he has returned, he is happy, Isaiah Thomas returns to the NBA with the 2023 FIBA in November 2021. 

On August 11, 2021, in a Pro-Am (pro-amateur) summer league game called The CrawsOver, Isaiah Thomas decided to set the court, the game, and the crowd on fire, scoring 81 in a 40-minute game. True, defense is not something the league can be proud of, but 81 points are 81 points. In the NBA, that number was only surpassed by Wilt Chamberlain who made 100 and tied with Kobe Bryant.

Thomas isn’t the only NBA player or player with a past in the league to go to these tournaments. Professionals use these skills to stay fit and practice offensive moves. With this performance, he showed that it undoubtedly deserves another chance in the top US competition.

Where is Isaiah Thomas in 2021? Where does Isaiah Thomas play?

In conclusion, even pro-athletes find it very difficult to stay in the NBA, where to get to the top you have to be very good, and to play many years and continue to do so despite your age. One who lived through that experience is Isaiah Thomas, who knew how to be a star for the Boston Celtics and now plays along with Justin Anderson for the USA men’s basketball roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.