The Boston Celtics recently hired Isaiah Thomas as a pro and college scout. In his new role, he is working out of his hometown in the Seattle, Washington, area.
In a recent episode of his podcast, "Point Game," the King of the Fourth detailed his experience at the NBA Combine in Chicago, as he starts his new chapter with the Celtics.
"It was dope because I got to sit in on the interviews, which are very important," gushed Thomas. "It brought me back to when I went through the NBA draft process of trying to impress a team," he reminisced. "All you need is one team to fall in love with you, and to go through that interview process as a player is hectic."
Isaiah Thomas inspires those he's now scouting
Thomas starred collegiately at the University of Washington. He earned Pac-12 Tournament MVP in consecutive campaigns. However, despite his NCAA pedigree, his five-foot-nine stature forced him to wait on draft night. Finally, he heard his name called when the Sacramento Kings made him the last pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
He is one of just seven players from that class to make an All-Star team. He did so twice. Thomas also earned an All-NBA selection in 2016-17, an unforgettable season in Boston, in which he finished fifth in the MVP voting.
His unbreakable spirit, a career that defied the odds, and his ability to turn into a walking bucket earned him admiration throughout the basketball world. That includes some of the prospects he's now talking with in a scouting capacity.
While discussing a prospect the Celtics interviewed over Zoom, Thomas shared, "He was like I love KG [Kevin Garnett], I love [Rajon] Rondo, but my favorite player, man, Isaiah Thomas. He didn't even know I was in there. So, I got in the video, like, 'Man, nice to meet you, bro.' He was tripping out."
After a 12-year NBA playing career, he isn't just lending a keen eye to the franchise he starred for, but he's also a calming, relatable presence for the prospects the team is interviewing. He also brings a new perspective to the Celtics' scouting process.
"Being in that space as, obviously, not the player, and being able to ask questions and really relate to these kids because they know me, they don't always know anybody in the front office. They know the face of the organization, but they don't know everybody else that's involved in the front office. So, it's easy for me, man. I'm able to chop it up with these guys because I can relate to them."
For a former All-Star and lifelong hoops junkie, Thomas could shine in his new role. And prospects probably feel a sense of comfort wash over them when they see a player they grew up watching in the room as they meet with a potential employer. That could help the organization gain as much understanding of that individual as possible before that person joins the professional ranks.
While Thomas is just getting acclimated to his new job, it took one trip to the NBA Combine for him to showcase his value to the Celtics.
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