Two-time NBA All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas is aiming for a return to the league, taking his first step on Monday by re-joining the Salt Lake Stars, the G-League affiliate of the Utah Jazz. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report this news.
Two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas is pursuing another NBA return, signing into the G League and rejoining the Utah Jazz’s Salt Lake City affiliate, sources tell ESPN. Last season, Thomas averaged 33 points in four G League games en route to a call-up to the Suns.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 27, 2025
As noted by Charania, Thomas’s past experience with the Stars included four games in which he averaged 33 points per game, leading to a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns. Since 2021, joining G-League teams has become routine for Thomas in hopes of securing an NBA roster spot. He has played for the Stars and Grand Rapids Gold, while signing 10-day deals with the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, and Dallas Mavericks during this period.
A decade ago, Thomas was a standout player in the league, drafted by the Sacramento Kings as the final pick of the 2011 NBA Draft after a prolific collegiate career with the Washington Huskies. His exciting style of play quickly made him a fan favorite in Sacramento, though his time there ended with a trade to the Phoenix Suns after three seasons, which was relatively uneventful. However, a significant turning point in his career came when he was traded to the Boston Celtics in February 2016 for a first-round pick.
Thomas blossomed with the Celtics, earning both of his career All-Star appearances during his two seasons with the team, averaging 25.5 points and 6.1 assists per game, while finishing fifth in NBA MVP voting for the 2016-17 season. Unfortunately, after that season, he was traded to Cleveland as part of the Kyrie Irving deal, where medical evaluations revealed hip issues that would continue to affect him throughout his career. Although he played in 158 games during his time in Boston, his appearances dwindled to just 115 from 2018 to 2024.
While it may be unrealistic for Thomas to return to his peak performance in Boston, he has demonstrated that he can still serve as a valuable veteran guard, providing support to various teams as the season enters its final stages. Throughout his career, Thomas has averaged 17.5 points per game across 556 games.
