35YO Isaiah Thomas Recounts Major “Blessing in Disguise” With Suns After Ultimate 10-Year Challenge Moment

NBA veteran Isaiah Thomas is set to step on the main stage for the first time in two years, courtesy of the Phoenix Suns. Following his four-game stint with the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League, the Suns have now signed the 35-year-old to a 10-day contract. This would mark IT’s second stint with the Suns, a decade after his first. Thomas appeared in 46 games for Phoenix during the 2014–15 season before being traded to the Boston Celtics.

However, while Thomas was surprised at first, in hindsight, that trade transformed his career. “I was surprised I got traded but little did I know that it changed the way my career was going. Like it was a blessing in disguise for me to be traded to Boston and to do those type of things that I did on the Celtics,” said the 35-year-old.

Notably, Thomas enjoyed some of his best years with the Celtics, earning two All-Star selections during that period. He also became the third-leading scorer in the league in 2016–17, with an average of 28.9 points per game. The same year, he led the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference and finished fifth in MVP voting. However, before Thomas could fully establish himself, a hip injury in 2017 derailed his NBA career. However, the 11-year-veteran proved his worth once again with a strong showing in the G League, averaging 32 points per game on an impressive 45% shooting from beyond the arc. And now, he has his sights set on a standard deal with the Phoenix Suns.

Isaiah Thomas set to make his NBA return against the Philadelphia 76ers

Currently stuck in the eighth spot, the Phoenix Suns are vying for a play-in spot in the Western Conference. And as they try to make a playoff push, they are likely to benefit from Thomas’ valuable leadership and veteran presence. Throughout the season, they’ve been missing a true point guard, a gap Thomas could potentially fill. If his recent G League stats were any indication, he could also provide some help in the backcourt off the bench.

Additionally, they could use Isaiah Thomas as insurance against injuries and foul trouble. However, his ability to secure another 10-day contract or a standard deal hinges on his performance over the next 10 days, starting with a game against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight.

Read More: Isaiah Thomas, Who Went From MVP List to G League, Tries To Convince 3.9 Million People That He’s Still Got It