Isaiah Thomas' fit with the Boston Celtics was always perfect. The scrappy, undersized underdog always played with a chip on his shoulder and quickly endeared himself to the Boston fans during his time in the city. And the feeling was mutual.
Thomas loved playing for Boston, and even two years after being traded as a centerpiece in the Kyrie Irving deal, there is no bad blood between the two sides. Ahead of the Celtics' game against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, Thomas tweeted his appreciation for Boston and how much he was looking forward to the trip.
Considering what Thomas did for the Celtics, it's safe to assume that the feeling is mutual. Thomas was leader and sparkplug that helped to invigorate a team through a rapid rebuilding process.
During the 2016-17 season, Thomas averaged a career-high 28.9 points per game and showed incredible resolve during the playoffs. He got the team to the Eastern Conference Finals despite dealing with a hip injury and coping with the tragic loss of his sister. He put together an iconic performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, scoring 53 points and dedicating the performance to his late-sister on what would have been her 23rd birthday.
Since being traded by the Celtics, Thomas has struggled to rehab from a hip injury while searching for a role with a team. He had short stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers and missed the first 56 games of the season with the Nuggets. He has averaged 8.6 points per game since returning to the lineup as a reserve. However, he was removed from the rotation recently as Denver has a deep bench.
Even if he doesn't play a lot, Thomas seems likely to get a big ovation when he returns to the Garden. As he said, the love between the two sides is unconditional.
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