‘Boston love is real’: Isaiah Thomas said he still appreciates Celtics’ support

“Don’t matter what happened in the past. All those guys communicate with me still. I’m always locked in on Celtics games.”

Isaiah Thomas considers his ties to the Celtics: Since being traded to the Cavaliers in 2017 as part of a historic deal for Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas has had a difficult journey. Danny Ainge was the president of basketball operations for the Celtics at the time.

By the time of the deal, 35-year-old Thomas had already sustained a hip ailment that would eventually make it nearly impossible for him to run. As a result, a guy who was a front-runner for MVP with Boston became a journeyman in the NBA, playing for seven different clubs after the trade. He hasn’t participated in a league game in the past two years.

In a recent interview with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, Thomas said that he’s finally healthy again after corrective hip surgery. He Tuesday’s 133-127 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce was made possible by Thomas’s game-high 30 points and eight assists. Joe Mazzulla, the coach of the Boston Celtics, and a few of his assistants (Mazzulla’s brother is an assistant coach with the Stars) were in the stands watching the game.

Thomas was asked by Washburn if he saw Mazzulla and the Celtics personnel.

“It’s true love,” Thomas answered. You are aware that love in Boston is real. It doesn’t matter what has already happened. I still communicate with all those guys. I can’t get enough of Celtics games.

He continued, “That was a big part of my life.” “I will always be in love with everyone in that organization that helped my family and me; it was a very crucial period in our lives as well. Thank you for your support. That s*** is very effective.

It’s unclear if Thomas will get another opportunity with the Celtics because Boston does have a slot free on their roster. Nevertheless, Thomas stated that of the outcome, he’s “going to continue to fight.”

Trivia: Isaiah Thomas was the last pick of the 2011 NBA Draft (selected 60th by the Kings). Who was the first pick that year?