Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas's Biography

Isaiah Jamar Thomas, an American professional basketball player is an emblematic persona in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Being named after the NBA Hall of Famer, Isiah Thomas, Isaiah Thomas was born on February 7, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington. Known for his exceptional talent on court, his apt ability to confront bigger opponents and his undeterred spirit, Thomas has proved his stature as a celebrated athlete in the world of basketball.

Early Life

Isaiah Thomas was the youngest son of James and Tina Baldtrip. Around the time of his birth, his father lost a bet on a Detroit Pistons game against the Los Angeles Lakers. In order to honor the lost wager, he named his son after the Pistons’ Hall of Famer point guard, Isiah Thomas. Despite the same pronunciation, the difference in spelling arose due to Tina’s insistence to align it with the biblical spelling, Isaiah.

Thomas studied at Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington till 11th grade where he played basketball and was also named as the state’s 4A player of the year. He later transferred to South Kent School, Connecticut for the 12th grade. He was rated a 5-star recruit by Rivals.com, listed as the No. 2 height-challenged point guard and the 31st player in the nation in 2008.

He attended the University of Washington, where he excelled under coach Lorenzo Romar. Thomas was a three-time all-conference player in the Pac-10. As a junior, he decided to forgo his senior year and declare himself eligible for the NBA draft.

NBA Career

During the 2011 NBA draft, Isaiah Thomas was the last pick, taken 60th overall by the Sacramento Kings. Initially, Thomas had limited play time. By the middle of the season, however, he became the starting point guard. He averaged 11.5 points a game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

In 2014, Thomas was traded to the Phoenix Suns where he had a challenging season, struggling to secure his position within the team’s strong guard rotation. His tenure with the Suns ended after only half a season, when he was traded to the Boston Celtics in February 2015.

Thomas thrived in Boston, becoming one of the most productive scorers in the NBA. He averaged 24.7 points per game, earning his first All-Star selection in 2016 and then again in 2017. In the 2016-2017 season, he was the league’s third-highest scorer, averaging 28.9 points a game. He led the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference and also carried them to the conference finals. However, a hip injury marred his spectacular season and he was later traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the start of the 2017 – 2018 season.

His time in Cleveland was short-lived, he played only 15 games before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2018. In July 2018, Thomas signed a contract with the Denver Nuggets. After playing 12 games with the Nuggets in the 2018–2019 season, he was again traded, this time to the Washington Wizards. Currently, he plays for the New Orleans Pelicans as a Point guard / Shooting guard.

Personal Life

Even though his path to the NBA was filled with challenges, Thomas has proven time and again that resilient determination, mixed with supreme talent, could help to topple formidable obstacles. He married his long-time girlfriend Kayla Wallace in 2016, and they have two children together, Jaiden and James.

Isaiah has been to the bottom of the NBA ladder, climbed to the top, and fallen back to the bottom. Through it all, he maintained a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. His diminutive stature, at 5’9″, only served to make his accomplishments in a league full of giants, that much more impressive. His life story and career have inspired many aspiring athletes, encouraging them to consider not just the size, but the spirit in the play. His football career coincides with his namesake, Isiah Thomas, but Isaiah Thomas will be remembered as a phenomenon in basketball, an athlete who immensely contributed to the sport.