PHOENIX — Since information leaked that the Phoenix Suns planned to sign Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract, fans and media members in that market have been trying to figure out why. But not Corey Gaines.
Gaines has known Thomas for years. In 2014, he coached the 5-foot-9 guard as an assistant coach with the Suns. In 2019, he coached Thomas as an assistant within the Wizards of Washington. He has since stayed in touch with Thomas, using him as an example for the Japanese national team he helps coach, and sent him a congratulatory text once the news about Phoenix became public.
“Welcome to the Valley!” Yes sir!”
“I know everyone thinks the Suns need defense, but truth be told, he’s a puppy,” Gaines said of Thomas and his toughness. “And I think they need it.” I think they need someone with a chip on their shoulder. I’m not saying they need someone to score – they get that. They don’t miss it. That’s something else they’re missing.
Thomas, who had been tear up the G League, that’s a beautiful story. In 2011, he was the final pick in the NBA draft, No. 60, a position that typically sends players to developmental leagues or overseas. (Since NBA After shortening the draft to two rounds in 1989, 19 players drafted 60th overall never played an NBA game.) Instead, Thomas became a two-time All-Star and, for one season, a contender MVP. He played for the Kings of Sacramentothe Suns and the Boston Celtics before suffering a hip injury that delayed his play and ultimately forced him out of the league.
On Wednesday night, hours after his 10-day contract was finalized, Thomas took the court in an NBA jersey for the first time in nearly two years, a moment that deserves attention. Once a player leaves the league, due to injury or any other reason, it is incredibly difficult to return. The player is forgotten. The league is moving forward. The fact that Thomas, at 35, found his way back says a lot about his perseverance and dynamism.
“That says a lot, man,” the Suns guard said Bradley Bealwho played with Thomas in Washington.
This might also say something about Phoenix.
Gaines isn’t the only one trying to identify what this team is missing. The Suns might be the most analyzed team in the NBA. Each victory portends something greater. Every defeat is a sign of frustrating failure. For a team that thrives in the mid-tier, there is no happy medium here. It’s one extreme whiplash after another.
After the 115-102 home victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Suns (40-29) are 7-7 since the All-Star break with a tough schedule ahead. In a loaded Western Conference, they went from preseason contender to Play-In tournament contender. They have elite talents in Devin Booker And Kevin Durantproven scorer for Beal, the most accurate 3-point shooter in the league in Grayson Allen (he made nine 3s in Wednesday’s win) and a solid post presence in Jusuf Nurkic. While this may not solve their defensive or turnover issues, it should at least be enough most nights to compensate for them.
Sometimes it happened, sometimes it didn’t, raising questions, fair or unfair, about the heart, leadership and direction of Phoenix. For a team that made the NBA Finals three years ago and dribbled onto the porch of the organization’s first championship, that’s the price of expectation.
And maybe that’s where Thomas can help.
Isaiah Thomas practices during the Suns’ shootaround on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/ujnUlTsfTU
– Doug Haller (@DougHaller) March 20, 2024
To be clear, head coach Frank Vogel says Thomas is here simply as health insurance. As long as the Suns remain at full strength — which they have struggled to do — Thomas will stay out of the rotation, breaking the glass when necessary. This is the nature of 10 day contracts. (Thomas played the final 1:48 of Phoenix’s win over Philadelphia, to loud applause. He missed his only shot but recorded an assist.)
Thomas understands. After Wednesday’s pregame shooting session, he spoke with reporters at the team’s practice facility. He spoke about the surgery he underwent in 2020 which allowed him to move without pain. And how his love for the game kept him on that path, with something more to give. During the 13-minute session with reporters, Thomas said the word “impact” 10 times. On or off the field, even if this stage in the desert is only a trial for a stay elsewhere, he wants to leave a mark.
Former Sacramento coach Keith Smart isn’t surprised. This week, he recalled Thomas’ availability and confidence. Even early in the NBA, he had it, commanding the respect of his teammates. Smart said that during one practice, Tyreke Evans, the team’s 6-6 shooting guard, placed the smaller Thomas inside. A helping defender rushed to double. Thomas waved him off.
Around that time, Smart pulled Thomas aside and told him he was considering pitching him.
“I’ll be ready,” Thomas told the coach.
“If I put you in this lineup, it has to work,” Smart said.
“Coach,” Thomas said, “you don’t have to worry about me.”
Gaines, the former Phoenix and Washington assistant, recalled that at every stop on the road, in every NBA city, Thomas had to go to the arena to get a shot. It wasn’t like he was there until the midnight shooting, but it was part of the guard’s routine. For 11 seasons, this is how Thomas survived. In addition to scoring, he brought a competitive attitude that played with a chip on his shoulder.
And maybe that’s what Phoenix needs. A spark. A board. Or maybe just a different personality in the locker room.
“I have nothing to prove. I know who I am,” said Thomas, who averaged 17.7 points during his career. “I think the world knows what I bring. I played the same at every level, regardless of the circumstances, except when I was injured. I am in perfect health. I’m more than ready to help everyone in this organization take the next step. As long as I’m here, I promise I’ll make a positive impact.
(Photo: Doug Haller / Athleticism)
