Boston Celtics: Isaiah Thomas’s return a reminder of a much simpler time
Isaiah Thomas’s return to Boston elicited emotional responses from fans around the world. For me, it was a reminder of a much simpler time as a fan of the Boston Celtics. A time without dishevel and individual drama clouting the team’s success on the hardwood.
It took nearly two full years, but Isaiah Thomas finally got his well deserved moment in the spotlight in front of the Boston faithful. And boy was it special.
📹 Here's the full tribute video/reaction for @isaiahthomas' (@AAANe_MAnews) #AAANortheast pic.twitter.com/oWPyPsbHKo
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 19, 2019
For two minutes everyone in TD Garden stopped what they were doing and looked up to the jumbotron to give thanks and appreciate ‘The Little Guy’ that has become a major Celtics legend.
Players and coaches alike ended their timeout huddle early and observed as highlights of the scrappy point guard flashed across the screen. Wyc Grousbeck and Danny Ainge stood and applauded as the camera shifted to Isaiah watching with a giant grin on his face and tears welling in his eyes.
Isaiah himself looked up into the crowd and down to his wrist, pointing to the place where a watch would sit, reminding the world of his iconic 4th quarter celebration performed to the demise of many a foe.
Celtics fans loved Isaiah Thomas because he poured a level of heart and passion into his game that’s rare to come by these days. Isaiah has proven and continues to prove that anything is possible with enough will and determination.
Given his 5’9″ stature, Isaiah is the David to the Goliath that is the NBA. Yet he found a way to consistently lead his teams in scoring, but do it on a level no Celtic had ever before done. To this day Isaiah Thomas’s 24.7 points per game sets the bar as the highest career scoring average in Boston’s rich history.
The moment that set Isaiah’s legacy in stone came just a day following the death of his younger sister Chyna Thomas. The top-seeded Celtics were welcoming the Chicago Bulls for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs. Thomas, still mourning his sister, suited up and dropped 33 points in 38 minutes of play. Ultimately the C’s would lose the contest but the heart and courage Isaiah displayed that night will be remembered forever.
The return of IT came as both a pleasant memory of his time served in green and a harsh reminder that things in Beantown aren’t as simple as they once were. Gone are the days of being the overachievers of the league. Gone are the days games were won because of the heart they gave versus the talent they had.
Back then the Boston Celtics had an identity. Led by Isaiah, the team played with purpose and urgency. They did not care what the outside world thought. They believed they could beat anybody any day. And for the most part, that is exactly what they did.
In those days you knew on any given night when you tuned in to watch a Celtics game that Isaiah Thomas was going to produce thirty plus points and Boston was going to find a way to scrap themselves to a victory or die trying. It was that simple.
This isn’t about bashing the current group of guys. It’s about appreciating the time we had with Isaiah Thomas as the leader of our beloved team. It’s about applauding the passion and effort that Isaiah re-injected into what it means to be a Celtic.
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The Boston Celtics never won a championship with Isaiah Thomas. They never even made a Finals appearance. But his legacy will live on forever because he left everything he had out on the court each and every game he suited up for the city of Boston. For that, I am eternally thankful for the time I was blessed with watching him play.