Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Celtics defeats the Suns 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Celtics defeats the Suns 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
There has been a subsequent rise in the quality of basketball being played globally as more international players enter the NBA each season. Now, with professional leagues overseas becoming a viable option for former NBA players as well, it appears Isaiah Thomas is also interested in making a move.
Moving to play overseas has become commonplace for several NBA players. With players like Patrick Beverley playing professionally in countries such as France, this transition has become a more viable option for athletes lately.
While Isaiah Thomas has been vying for a return to the NBA, the former All-Star appears to have warmed up to the idea of taking his talents elsewhere, as he tweeted:
“I want to hoop overseas for a year!!! I want that experience! And to cook them boys over that water. Take this SLOW GRIND to another country and go crazy!”
“It’s funny when people be like, ‘You can’t still cook like you used to.’ Like why can’t I?” he continued in another tweet. “I don’t even want to play like that anymore though lol. If I played again, I’d just be a PG and make plays that lead the league in AST-type s–t and let y’all see how easy it is.”
For the most part, Thomas seems to be taking this overseas move as a challenge. Although he has established himself as a guard who is capable of scoring and performing at the highest level, the former All-Star still has people who doubt him. Thus, the desire to prove his naysayers wrong seems to be fueling an overseas move.
Needless to say, this is a promising notion. Given the level of competition across international leagues today, Isaiah Thomas would certainly find it challenging enough. To that end, the two-time All-Star has already listed two preferred destinations, as he shared:
“NBL looks crackin’ too… PR does too.”
With Australia’s NBL and Puerto Rico’s BSN on his radar, Isaiah Thomas seems geared to take the next step in his professional career. However, this would also mark an interesting transition from his present role.
Earlier in the year, it was reported that Isaiah Thomas would be returning to the Boston Celtics – not as a player, but as a scout. Thomas’ eye for talent has become a valuable tool for the Celtics to evaluate collegiate and pro talent on the West Coast. Still, it seems the former Celtics superstar plans to get a few more games under his belt before moving into a larger front-office role.
For all intents and purposes, Isaiah Thomas is more than capable of holding his own in a professional league. With career averages of 17.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 43.4% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range, the guard was extremely impactful on offense. While his defensive involvement may be a larger point of concern for any international team looking to sign him, the two-time All-Star makes up for it with his scoring and playmaking.