Isaiah Thomas's Boston Celtics tenure was brief but unforgettable. His two-plus seasons with the NBA's original monarchy didn't include raising a championship banner to the TD Garden rafters. However, watching the five-foot-nine guard play with an indomitable will that allowed him to excel in a league of goliaths resonated with the city where he starred.
At his career apex, Thomas became a top-five MVP candidate in 2016-17. He led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals and earned an All-NBA Second Team selection. The two-time All-Star averaged a career-high 28.9 points and 5.9 assists that season.
In a recent Q&A on X, formerly known as Twitter, a fan asked Thomas who the toughest defenders were that he went up against that year while at the peak of his powers.
My teammates Avery and Smart 😂 https://t.co/vgvGmoIEnC
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) April 17, 2025
"My teammates, Avery [Bradley] and Marcus [Smart]," replied Thomas. While one may have anticipated him citing foes from opposing franchises, behind the scenes, he was squaring off with two of the NBA's best perimeter defenders at practice. It's a quintessential example of iron sharpening iron.
Smart went on to win Defensive Player of the Year for his performance on that end of the floor in the 2021-22 campaign. He became the first guard to earn that honor since Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton in 1995-96.
Bradley was a two-time All-Defensive selection. The season that Thomas played his way into the fringes of the MVP conversation, the former was coming off a campaign where he earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team.
Perhaps Thomas wouldn't have reached those heights without the practice battles against Bradley and Smart, which left an indelible mark on him and helped him leave that same type of imprint on the minds of Celtics fans.
Celtics fans might soon see Isaiah Thomas at TD Garden
As part of his Q&A on X, Thomas shared that he's in Boston. He also got asked if he planned to make an appearance at TD Garden.
I’ll slide this year. Analyst in the studio or something https://t.co/WXdAT9fdK4
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) April 17, 2025
The Celtics' first-round series against the Orlando Magic starts on Sunday in the building Thomas used to call home. Game 1 will tip off at 3:30 pm EST.
Fortunately for Boston, the hosts issued an encouraging injury report leading into their series-opening clash with Orlando.