Isaiah Thomas has consistently made his love and admiration for the Celtics known, even after the they traded the guard in a deal that brought Kyrie Irving to Boston.
And while he wasn’t on the roster for the Celtics’ 18th banner when they defeated Irving’s Dallas Mavericks in five games last month, Thomas took what coach Joe Mazzulla said about former players having a role in getting Banner 18 to heart.
“I understand I was a stepping stone in the right direction. That’s still an amazing feeling. Even though I’m not a part of their championship team, I was a piece to get them to where they are today,” Thomas told SB Nation’s Noa Dalzell on Sunday. “I’ll always have love for the city of Boston. I have love for the organization and I’m super thankful for the love they give me.”
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Once Thomas left Boston, he never quite found his groove with another team. He bounced around a bit and didn’t play at all in the 2022-23 season. But Thomas latched on with the Phoenix Suns on a 10-day contract in 2023-24 and played in six games.
Even though Thomas hasn’t been with the Celtics since 2017, many fans still donned his jersey during their championship duck boat parade through the streets of Boston. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed by Thomas.
“It means everything. It’s a blessing. You would think I played 10 years here, you would think I won multiple championships,” he told Dalzell. “The love I have with the city, it’s just genuine.”
Thomas hasn’t retired from the NBA, and it’s unclear if he’ll try to continue his career next season.
