10 Things To Know About Isaiah Thomas
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Celtics added some more depth to their backcourt on Thursday, completing a trade for guard Isaiah Thomas just ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Thomas is in his fourth NBA season, having spent his first three years with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. He should add some instant offense to the C's roster (his 15.2 points per game average already makes him Boston's leading scorer), whether he starts or comes off the bench for Brad Stevens.
Here are a few things you should know about the newest member of the Boston Celtics:
- Thomas was named after Detroit Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas, but not because his father was a big Pistons fan. His dad, a Los Angeles Lakers fan, lost a bet with his best friend when the Pistons beat the Lakers in the 1989 NBA Finals, and had to name his son after Thomas. His mother liked the name, but wanted it spelled the biblical way.
Isaiah Thomas said that Isiah Thomas is like a mentor to him.
- Thomas will wear No. 4 for the Celtics. He wore No. 22 with the Kings and No. 3 with the Suns, but both have been retired by the Celtics (Ed Macauley and Dennis Johnson, respectively). He wore No. 2 in college, but that was retired by the Celtics in honor of Red Auerbach.
- Thomas had quite the career at Washington. He was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2009 and Pac-10 Tournament MVP in 2011, when the Huskies beat 16th-ranked Arizona to win the tournament. Thomas scored 28 points in the title game and hit a buzzer beater in overtime for the win.
Watch below, with an awesome call from Gus Johnson:
- Thomas was the final pick of the 2011 draft, selected 60th overall out by the Kings.
- In his rookie season, Thomas was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month twice and was also named to the NBA All-Rookie second team.
- Thomas recorded his first career triple-double earlier this season, scoring 24 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in an overtime win over the Washington Wizards. By doing so, he became the shortest player to ever record a triple-double in the NBA.
- At 5-foot-9, Thomas is the second-shortest player in Celtics history. Mel Hirsch (1946-47) is first at 5-foot-6, while Charlie Hoefer (1947-48) and Nate Robinson (2009-11) also stood at 5-foot-9.
- Thomas took part in the Skills Challenge at NBA All-Star weekend this season, making him the shortest contestant to ever participate in the event.
- Thomas has two young sons, James and Jaiden.
- You can follow Thomas on Twitter: @Isaiah_Thomas
