Nearly two years after last appearing in an NBA game, Isaiah Thomas is on the comeback trail.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Thomas has signed with the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. The move puts the 35-year-old in position to potentially sign with an NBA team ahead of this year’s postseason.
Selected by the Sacramento Kings with final pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, the 5-foot-9 Thomas defied his draft position and size by becoming one of the best guards in the NBA. Following stints with the Kings and Phoenix Suns, he was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2015 and went on to earn two All-Star appearances and a second-team All-NBA selection in 2017 after averaging 28.9 points per game.
In pursuit of NBA return for stretch run, 11-year veteran Isaiah Thomas is joining the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate Salt Lake City Stars, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The two-time All-Star could be another guard option in marketplace.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 5, 2024
Thomas, however, suffered a serious hip injury during the Celtics’ run to the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. Entering the final year of his contract, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a part of Boston’s package to acquire Kyrie Irving.
After battling back from his injury, Thomas failed to regain his All-Star form in Cleveland and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 2018 NBA trade deadline.
The Washington product underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip and proceeded to sign a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets in 2018. He went on to spend time with the Washington Wizard, New Orleans Pelicans, Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets, as well as a stint with the G League’s Grand Rapids Gold.
Thomas’ last NBA action came in the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 8.3 points per game in 17 appearances with the Hornets.
