Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
If you were to tell me back in 2016 that Isaiah Thomas would be signing a one-year veteran minimum at just 29-years-old less than two years later, I would have told you to go bomb onstage at an open mic. Thomas, who back then re-ignited Boston’s fanbase with hope that had been absent since the Big 3 era, was a force none like any other. The 5’9” point guard set the Celtics franchise record with 43 straight games with 20+ points, breaking John Havlicek’s record set in 1972 en route to his second straight All-Star season.
Last season, a nagging hip injury contributed to Thomas coming off the worst season of his career in 2017, and now Thomas will play next season for the Denver Nuggets for about $2 million, or the NBA salary of a bag of stale unsalted peanuts. Not ideal for a guy whose scored more points since he entered the NBA than all but 17 players and whose career earnings of $28 million match what Gordon Hayward made last season alone, reports Hoops Hype.
It would be premature to label Thomas’ career as “what could have been” seeing as a solid showing in Denver under his former coach at Sacramento could prompt teams to open up their wallets in free agency, but his short-term decline highlights the fickle business beast that is professional sports.
Here is how NBA players, analysts, and fans reacted to the news.
https://twitter.com/highkin/status/1017617479575617536
https://twitter.com/theKingKeohan/status/1017832834726289409
https://twitter.com/JoeyLangone/status/1017733533710934017
OMG! Isaiah Thomas signs for 1-Year, $2-mil deal. This is so incredible. Just 18 months ago we were all debating whether he was worth $150-to-$200 million. My God, this kid has had bad luck with NBA Finances. Damn
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 13, 2018
IT is plotting. (via @isaiahthomas/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/v3hf5MT4xi
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 12, 2018
Appreciate my bro @isaiahthomas learned a lot in a short period of time. Can’t wait till u switch on me in the post this year
— kuz (@kylekuzma) July 13, 2018
I. Can’t. Wait. @isaiahthomas go do what you’ve done your whole life and that’s make everyone swallow their words. They can’t measure your heart cuz!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) July 13, 2018
Just double checking, was this the same free agent market that was going to pay Isaiah Thomas over $100m if he were healthy?
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) July 8, 2018
Isaiah Thomas: “Can I get a bag?”
Nuggets: pic.twitter.com/nVrI5DlX2e
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) July 13, 2018
Denver could be a very fun team to watch next year. If IT is balling and Nikola Jokic plays up to his five-year, $147 million max contract (too soon, IT), they could make some waves. God I hope IT balls out so he can get what he’s given to the league the past six years. The world will be out of balance otherwise.