The Denver Nuggets signed Isaiah Thomas to a one year deal in hopes that he could regain his old form and contribute after a rough, injury plagued 2017-18 season. Thomas will make his season debut against the Kings, the final Nuggets game before the All-Star break.
It’s been almost 11 months since Isaiah Thomas last played in the NBA. He last suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers on March 22, 2018, when the team played the New Orleans Pelicans, contributing 15 points on 6-12 shooting in 26 minutes.
After that, the Lakers decided to shut Thomas down with a lingering him issue that kept him out for the beginning of the 2018 season, an injury that it seems he rushed back from. Before his injury, Thomas was an explosive player and a deadly scorer, and was also one of the main pieces in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston.
Thomas is known for being the last pick in the 2011 draft, the same draft where Irving was taken first overall. He spent his first three seasons in Sacramento with the Kings before being traded to the Phoenix Suns. He spent his next two years in Phoenix before being dealt to the Boston Celtics in what is now known to be one of the most lopsided trades of all time.
Thomas flourished in Boston, as he averaged 24.7 points and 6.0 assists in his three seasons in a Celtic uniform. He was and still is universally loved by Celtic Nation, and Boston was in disarray when the team decided to ship him off to Cleveland due to his immense impact on the city.
Thomas was traded to Cleveland injured, having injured his hip in game two of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavs. He never regained his top form in Cleveland, and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal for Larry Nance Jr and Jordan Clarkson.
A healthy Thomas could be extremely beneficial to the Nuggets. He only adds to their plethora of depth, and while some have expressed concern over how head coach Michael Malone will handle having three starting caliber point guards on the roster, Thomas can alter the flow of the game with his offensive ability, so it’s a good problem for him to have.
It’s unknown how much Thomas will play tonight, but it will be good for NBA fans and Nuggets fans alike to see Thomas back in the NBA. Welcome back Isaiah Thomas!