Following Isaiah Thomas’s return to the NBA court after a hiatus of two years with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, his new teammate Kevin Durant showered him with accolades.
After the Suns secured a 115-102 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, Durant spoke highly of Thomas’s journey and career, stating that it has “inspired basketball players around the world.”
Durant, in conversation with reporters, reminisced about his acquaintance with Thomas since the latter’s youthful age of 17. He emphasized Thomas’s consistent work ethic over the years and expressed confidence that it would positively influence the Suns.
The Suns inked a 10-day contract with Thomas earlier in the day, impressed by his recent performance with the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League, where he averaged 32.5 points per game with a remarkable 44.6 percent three-point shooting rate over four games.
Thomas, elated to don the Suns jersey again, expressed gratitude for the warm reception from fans.
This return to the NBA marked Thomas’s first game since the 2021-22 season with the Charlotte Hornets, during which he also had brief stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
Thomas’s journey in the NBA is marked by resilience and perseverance. Despite being the last pick in the 2011 NBA draft, he swiftly carved out a role for himself with the Sacramento Kings.
Following a brief tenure with the Suns in the 2014-15 season, Thomas was traded to the Boston Celtics, where he flourished into one of the league’s premier point guards, earning consecutive All-Star selections in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
However, a hip injury suffered during the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals disrupted Thomas’s trajectory. Subsequent trades and injuries hampered his consistency and effectiveness, including a stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers where he struggled to find synergy alongside LeBron James.
Over the ensuing years, Thomas traversed various teams, with his most extended tenure post-Celtics being a 40-game stint with the Washington Wizards in 2019-20.
Though Thomas only saw two minutes of playtime against the Sixers, managing to secure an assist, his presence signifies a potential boost for the Suns, who seek additional scoring options off the bench to solidify their playoff aspirations.
While Thomas’s role may be limited at this stage of his career, his ability to contribute points off the bench remains intact, providing the Suns with a valuable asset when called upon.
