Isaiah Thomas Bio
Isaiah Jamar Thomas is an American professional basketball player for the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. He most notably played with the Boston Celtics from 2015 through 2017, when he was a two-time NBA All-Star and named second-team All-NBA. The 5-foot-9-inch point guard played three years of college basketball for the Washington Huskies and was a three-time all-conference selection in the Pac-10. After electing to forgo his senior year of college, Thomas was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the final pick in the 2011 NBA draft. He spent three seasons with the Kings before joining the Phoenix Suns in 2014. Thomas was traded to Boston in February 2015. In the 2016–17 season, he led the Celtics to the first seed of the Eastern Conference, had the third-highest points-per-game average in the league, and finished fifth in MVP voting. After injuring his right hip during the 2016–17 season, Thomas was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2017. Over the next several seasons, his hip injury significantly hampered his play. Thomas went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets, and Suns again, along with several stints in the NBA G League.
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Thomas was born on February 7, 1989, to James Thomas and Tina Baldtrip in Tacoma, Washington. A lifelong Los Angeles Lakers fan, James Thomas made a bet with a friend that if his beloved team did not defeat the Detroit Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals, he would name his son after Pistons star Isiah Thomas. Although Isaiah was born months before the finals took place, his father warmed to the name, and his mother consented on the condition that the Biblical spelling of Isaiah was used. As a child, he had the nicknames “Bighead” from his father and “Zeke” from his mother, which was inspired by Isiah Thomas’s nickname. Thomas attended Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington, through 11th grade. To improve his grades for a scholarship, he repeated his senior year at South Kent School in South Kent, Connecticut, graduating in 2008. At Curtis High, he averaged 31.2 points per game as a junior and announced his intention to sign with the University of Washington on April 20, 2006.
Path to Basketball
Isaiah Thomas received the blessing of Nate Robinson, a former Washington Huskies star, to wear his No. 2 jersey. In his freshman year at Washington, he averaged 15.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game, earning the title of Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. His performance improved in his sophomore year, where he averaged 16.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game, leading to his selection as first-team All-Pac-10. In his junior year, Thomas scored a season-high 28 points in a championship game against Arizona, helping the Huskies secure the Pac-10 tournament title. After declaring for the NBA draft in March 2011, he was selected in the second round as the 60th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings.
Isaiah Thomas Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
Isaiah Thomas began his professional career with the Sacramento Kings, where he quickly made a name for himself. He recorded his first double-double with 23 points and 11 assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 19, 2012. Thomas was named the Western Conference NBA Rookie of the Month in March 2012, becoming the first player drafted last to win the award. He finished his rookie season as a member of the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and was seventh in Rookie of the Year voting. On January 19, 2014, Thomas scored a career-high of 38 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and on March 18, 2014, he recorded his first career triple-double, making him the shortest player to achieve this feat in NBA history.
Breakthrough (2015–2017)
Thomas’s breakthrough came after he was traded to the Boston Celtics in February 2015. He quickly became a fan favorite and an elite scorer. In his debut for the Celtics, he scored 21 points off the bench against the Los Angeles Lakers. During the 2015–16 season, he was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve, becoming the lowest draft pick to achieve this since the NBA draft was reduced to two rounds in 1989. In the 2016 playoffs, he scored 42 points in Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks, becoming only the ninth Celtic to score 40 points in a playoff game. The following season, he averaged 28.9 points per game, finishing third in the NBA scoring race and leading the Celtics to the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Notable Works and Milestones
Isaiah Thomas’s signature work includes his time with the Boston Celtics, where he was a two-time NBA All-Star and named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2017. He is known for his resilience and scoring ability, particularly during clutch moments in games.
Isaiah Thomas Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Isaiah Thomas has received numerous nominations, including being named an Eastern Conference All-Star twice and finishing fifth in the NBA MVP voting for the 2016–17 season.
Isaiah Thomas Awards Won
Isaiah Thomas has won several prestigious awards during his career, including two NBA All-Star selections and the NBA All-Rookie Second Team honor in 2012. He also received the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year award in 2009 and was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team twice.
Isaiah Thomas Family
Isaiah Thomas is married to Kayla, and they have three children together. His family has been a significant support system throughout his basketball career.
Personal Life
Isaiah Thomas faced personal tragedy when his sister, Chyna, died in a car accident in April 2017. This loss deeply affected him, especially during the 2017 playoffs, where he played through immense emotional pain. Despite the challenges, he has remained focused on his career and family, continuing to strive for success on and off the court.
