Former Celtics All-Star Planning NBA Comeback and Boston Should Sign Him
If Isaiah Thomas can prove that he’s still an NBA-caliber player en route to a potential comeback, the Boston Celtics must do what they can to bring him back to Beantown.
Isaiah Thomas only spent 2.5 seasons with the Boston Celtics, but you’d think he was with the franchise for longer based on how fans still fondly talk about him to this day. His brief run was filled with highs and electric moments, proving that you can never be too small for basketball’s biggest stage.
The 34-year-old free-agent guard hasn’t found stability since leaving Boston, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing his dream. Thomas recently told Forbes’ Mat Issa that he’s “still working out and staying ready” regarding a potential NBA return.
If Thomas can prove that he still has enough left in the tank to compete in the NBA before he hangs up his shoes, the Celtics should explore a potential reunion.
Celtics Rumors: Isaiah Thomas NBA Comeback
As of Dec. 13, the Celtics sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-5 record. So, why should they be interested in signing Thomas, who hasn’t played an NBA game since 2022?
Because the bench needs some serious help.
The Celtics’ bench averages an NBA-worst 25.4 points per game. While that hasn’t hurt the team too much to begin the season, having a strong bench is crucial come playoff time, especially if Boston wants to win its first title in more than 15 years. That’s where Thomas comes in.
Celtics fans are familiar with the veteran guard’s reputation as a sparkplug, having averaged 22.2 and 28.9 points in back-to-back seasons with the C’s. He also recorded 18 of his 20 highest-scoring games in a Boston uniform, including his career-high 52-point effort against the Miami Heat on Dec. 30, 2016. That was also the same season he finished fifth in NBA MVP voting.
While he’s shown flashes of brilliance now and then since leaving Boston as part of the Kyrie Irving trade, Thomas’ biggest issue was finding a stable home. He’s played for seven different teams since the start of the 2017-18 campaign without playing more than 40 games with each franchise.
But even though Thomas is no longer one of the best players in the game, he’s still looked decent in his last taste of NBA action. After unremarkable stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, the ex-Washington Product spent 17 games with the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 8.3 points and 1.4 threes (on 39.7%) shooting while coming off the bench.
If he can still be that player (or at least come close to it), it’ll be good enough to help better Boston’s bench. Sparkplugs are needed when the stars aren’t on the court and a reunion in Beantown could be what Thomas needs to bring out his best again.
The Celtics do have one roster spot remaining and I doubt Thomas would command anything more than a veteran minimum deal at this stage of his career. He’s also signed five 10-day contracts since 2021, meaning he might be open to another one if Brad Stevens needs a sample size before committing for the rest of the campaign.
Regardless, it’d be fitting for Thomas to end his career after one more season with the Celtics. After all, Boston is where to legend of the “King of the Fourth” was created.
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Jaylen Brown’s plans for his NBA-record contract sum up Boston Celtics star
The Boston Celtics have secured Jaylen Brown’s services for an eye-watering £237million ($304m) in a five-year extension deal, the biggest in NBA history, surpassing Nikola Jokic’s previous record-breaking contract with the Denver Nuggets.
While the financial magnitude of the contract is remarkable, what stands out even more is Brown’s intention to use his newfound wealth to make a positive impact on his community. When asked about his plans for his “generational wealth,” Brown expressed his desire to bring ‘Black Wall Street’ to Boston and address the wealth disparity in the city.
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Brown explained, via the Express US: “I want to launch a project to bring Black Wall Street here to Boston. I want to attack the wealth disparity here. I think there is analytics that supports that stimulating the wealth gap could actually be something that could be betterment for the entire economy.
“With the biggest financial deal in NBA history, it makes sense to talk about, one, your investment in the community, but two also, the wealth disparity here that nobody wants to talk about. It’s top five in the U.S. It’s something that we can all improve on. It’s unsettling.
Through my platform, through influential partners, through selected leaders, government officials – a lot who are in this room – that we can come together and create new jobs, new resources, new businesses, new ideas that could highlight minorities but also stimulate the economy and the wealth gap at the same time.”
Brown’s thoughtful response has garnered praise from NBA fans and the wider community. Many admire his willingness to give back and recognise that athletes are not obligated to do so.
One fan on Reddit expressed their appreciation, stating: “I love when athletes give back. They don’t even have to do it yet he did. All credit and respect goes to him.” Others echoed this sentiment, expressing support for Brown’s plans and expressing pride in having him as part of the Boston Celtics.
The significance of Brown’s contract extends beyond the financial realm. It symbolises the growing recognition of athletes as agents of change and their ability to use their platform for social good.
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