Isaiah Thomas: 'I've Been F'd over so Many Times' and 'Literally Couldn't Play'
New Denver Nuggets point guard Isaiah Thomas said his decision to remain active for the Boston Celtics during the 2017 NBA playoffs until he "literally couldn't play anymore" prevented him from showcasing his worth before becoming a free agent this offseason.
On Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com provided comments from Thomas after he signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Nuggets last week.
"You can always play the 'what-if' game, but man, I've been F'd over so many times," he said. "But, of course, I think about it. I'm human. I'm human."
The 29-year-old Washington native made no secret of his desire to land a monster contract throughout his time with the Celtics. He made frequent references to how the organization would need a Brink's truck to pay for his next contract.
Thomas appeared well on his way to making those expectations reality. He averaged 28.9 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 37.9 percent from three-point range during the 2016-17 regular season. He ranked seventh in the NBA in player efficiency rating, per ESPN.com.
He missed the end of the Celtics' postseason run with a hip injury, however, and was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last August. He didn't make his Cavs debut until January, and one month later he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
His numbers dropped off considerably. He averaged 15.2 points and shot 29.3 percent on threes across 32 games with Cleveland and L.A. last season and rated 48th among point guards in PER.
In turn, Thomas was forced to accept a deal with Denver for the veteran's minimum. He explained his mindset about the situation to Wojnarowski.
"People are scared of my hip now," Thomas said. "I just had to be real with myself. I had to understand that it's not going to be about the money this summer. I've got to show people that I can play—and play at a high level again. And I will."
He'll open the season behind Jamal Murray and Gary Harris in the Denver backcourt. Playing the role of an offensive spark plug off the bench should suit his strengths, though.
A healthy, productive season with the Nuggets would put him in position to score a more lucrative deal next summer. He can be a high-impact offensive performer when in top form.
