Isaiah Thomas: The Incredible Journey Of A Basketball Legend

How Much Has Isaiah Thomas Built His Empire?

Let’s talk about Isaiah Thomas, the basketball prodigy who’s turned his passion into a $16 million fortune. Isaiah has been nothing short of a force in the NBA, playing for powerhouse teams like the Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and New Orleans Pelicans. But before he became an NBA sensation, Isaiah was tearing it up on the college courts at the University of Washington. He was a three-time all-conference selection in the Pac-10, and his electrifying performances earned him the respect of fans and peers alike. Throughout his career, Isaiah has been an NBA All-Star multiple times, proving that he’s not just a player— he’s a legend in the making.

From Tacoma to the Big Leagues: Isaiah’s Early Days

Isaiah Thomas was born on February 7, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington, to Tina and James. Now, here’s a fun fact: Isaiah isn’t the son of the Detroit Pistons’ Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas. Instead, his dad, a die-hard Lakers fan, made a bet with a friend. If the Pistons beat the Lakers in the 1989 NBA Championship, he'd name his son after Isiah Thomas. The Pistons won in a four-game sweep, and Isaiah was born. But Tina, his mom, had the final say, changing the spelling to the biblical "Isaiah" instead of "Isiah."

As a teenager, Isaiah attended Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington, where he quickly became a standout basketball player. For his senior year, he transferred to South Kent School in Connecticut, where his skills continued to flourish. After high school, Isaiah returned to the West Coast to attend the University of Washington. In his freshman year, he was nothing short of incredible, averaging 15.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 3 rebounds per game. This stellar performance earned him the title of Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore, Isaiah only got better, averaging 16.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. He was named first-team All-Pac-10, and by his junior year, he was a household name in college basketball. His game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime against Arizona in the Pac-10 tournament championship game was a moment that sealed his legacy. Isaiah decided to skip his senior year and declared for the NBA draft, ready to take on the world.

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Sacramento Kings: The Beginning of Isaiah's NBA Journey

Isaiah’s NBA journey began in 2011 when he was drafted in the second round with the final pick by the Sacramento Kings. Early in his career, Isaiah proved he belonged in the league. In February of the following year, after averaging 12.2 points and 4.4 assists per game, he was named the Western Conference NBA Rookie of the Month. He earned this prestigious title again the next month, averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 assists per game. Isaiah’s success with the Kings didn’t stop there. In January 2014, he scored a career-high 38 points in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and just five days later, he matched that total in a game against the Indiana Pacers. Then, in March, he achieved a historic first career triple-double in a win over the Washington Wizards, making him the shortest NBA player ever to accomplish this feat.

Phoenix Suns: A New Chapter

Isaiah’s journey took him to the Phoenix Suns in July 2014. In his debut with the Suns, he scored 23 points, recorded 3 assists, and grabbed 1 rebound in a thrilling win over the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Isaiah faced a setback when he missed eight games due to an ankle injury. But true champions always bounce back, and Isaiah returned in December, scoring a season-high 27 points off the bench in a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Boston Celtics: Where Isaiah Truly Shone

Isaiah’s career reached new heights when he was traded to the Boston Celtics in February 2015. One of his early highlights with the team came in April when he scored a season-high 34 points in a win over the Detroit Pistons, earning him the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. The next season, Isaiah tied his career-high of 38 points in a loss to the Pistons. In February 2016, he earned another Eastern Conference Player of the Week title, leading the Celtics to an impressive 4-0 week record. During the playoffs, Isaiah set a new career-high with 42 points in a win against the Atlanta Hawks. The 2016-17 season was nothing short of spectacular for Isaiah. He scored at least 20 points in every game but one over the first 21 games. In December, he shattered his own record by scoring 44 points in an overtime victory against the Memphis Grizzlies. A week later, he did it again, scoring an astonishing 52 points in a win over the Miami Heat. His 52 points became the fourth-highest scoring total in Celtics history.

Isaiah’s streak of 40 consecutive 20-point games ended in February 2017 at 43 games, a franchise record. He led the Celtics to a first-round playoff win over the Chicago Bulls and helped his team defeat the Washington Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. In Game 2, Isaiah scored 53 points, the second-highest in Celtics playoff history, giving his team the lead in the series. In Game 7, he recorded 29 points and 12 assists, helping the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2012. Unfortunately, a hip injury forced him to sit out the remainder of the postseason after the team lost the first two games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland Cavaliers: A New Challenge

In August 2017, Isaiah was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the transition wasn’t smooth. The Cavaliers' medical staff had concerns about the lingering effects of Isaiah’s hip injury. It took some time, but Isaiah finally made his debut with the team in January 2018, scoring 17 points in just 19 minutes in a win over the Trail Blazers. Later that month, he scored a season-high 24 points in a tough loss to the Thunder.

The Continuing Saga: Isaiah’s Later NBA Career

In February 2018, Isaiah was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, but his time there was short-lived. He was ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. In July, he signed a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets. Isaiah made his debut with the Nuggets in February 2019, scoring eight points in a win over the Kings. That summer, he joined the Washington Wizards but faced a two-game suspension in December for entering the stands during a game. The following year, Isaiah was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers but was waived just a day later. In April 2021, Isaiah signed a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, showing that he still had the drive and passion to compete at the highest level.

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