dailyloe.com – Isaiah Thomas, the 5-foot-9-inch point guard who became a beloved figure for the Boston Celtics, has returned to the team as a pro and college scout. According to league sources, his new role will be based in Seattle, his hometown. This position provides support for Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens on the West Coast.
The Celtics’ regional scouting team includes Derek Pierce in Atlanta and Keandre Ashley in Dallas, while Benas Matkevicius leads international scouting. Thomas is currently attending the NBA Combine in Chicago, where he assists in interviewing draft prospects and learns about the evaluation process.
Thomas was acquired by the Celtics from the Suns in February 2015 and quickly became essential to the team’s rebuild. Stevens acknowledged Thomas’s role in establishing the culture that made the Celtics one of the successful franchises in recent NBA history.
During his time with the Celtics, Thomas earned All-Star honors in both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. He finished fifth in MVP voting in 2017 and was named second-team All-NBA. His tenacious playing style endeared him to fans, despite his smaller stature.
In 2017, he played through a significant hip injury during the playoffs but was sidelined for the final three games against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. He was subsequently traded to Cleveland in August 2017, a deal that brought Kyrie Irving to Boston.
Following the trade, Thomas struggled with hip injuries that affected his performance over the next several years. He played for several franchises, including the Cavaliers, Lakers (twice), Nuggets, Wizards, Pelicans, Mavericks, Hornets, and Suns during his career.
His last appearance in the NBA was during the 2023-24 season, where he played six games for Phoenix. Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com.
