The Boston Celtics are surging, plain and simple. After Tuesday night’s 123-117 win over the New York Knicks, they’ve now taken seven of their last nine games.
The offense is humming, the defense is tightening up when it counts, and the depth is showing up in key moments. But even with all that momentum, there are still a few areas on the roster that could use some fine-tuning-and one name from the past keeps popping up in the conversation.
Isaiah Thomas.
Yes, that Isaiah Thomas. The 5-foot-9 guard who became a Boston legend during his unforgettable All-NBA run in 2016-17.
He hasn’t suited up in green since that season, but his legacy in the city hasn’t faded one bit. And now, Thomas says he’s not done with basketball just yet.
“I want to play one more year at least,” Thomas recently told TMZ Sports. “I’m staying ready, staying in contact with a few teams, but just playing it by ear, making sure I stay ready while I can still play at a high level, but knowing I got other things going on as well.”
That’s classic IT-still confident, still grinding, still believing he’s got something left in the tank. Over the past three seasons, he’s only appeared in six NBA games, but if you know anything about Thomas, you know not to count him out. The man built a career on defying expectations, and he’s clearly not ready to close the book just yet.
Naturally, Celtics fans have been calling for a reunion for years. The connection between Thomas and the city is deep-this is the guy who dropped 53 in a playoff game days after the tragic loss of his sister.
The guy who put the team on his back and gave everything he had, even when his body started to break down. He’s more than a former player in Boston-he’s part of the fabric.
But as much as the heart wants it, the fit on the current roster is a little murkier. The Celtics’ backcourt is stacked with talent and versatility. Between Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, there’s not exactly a glaring need for another guard, even one with Thomas’ scoring instincts and leadership.
That said, this is the NBA-and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s to never say never. Injuries happen.
Rotations shift. Veteran presence in the locker room can matter more than the box score.
And if the right situation opens up, who knows?
For now, Thomas is staying ready, and the league is watching. Whether it’s Boston or somewhere else, the door isn’t closed.
And if he does get that one more shot, don’t be surprised if he makes it count. After all, that’s what Isaiah Thomas has always done.