Isaiah Thomas enjoyed the very best years of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics.

Thomas went from being viewed as just a spark plug off the bench to a two-time All-Star after joining the Celtics, but his time with the franchise came to an end on a very bitter note.

Thomas claimed the Celtics made him play through a hip injury in the 2017 NBA playoffs without revealing how serious it was. The guard was never the same after that, and to make matters worse, the team shipped him out of town that offseason too.

The decline in Thomas’ production on the court also cost him a max contract. But despite all that, he still wouldn’t be against going back.

Thomas’ comments during an interview with Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype in 2020 resurfaced recently and he made it clear there that he would love to return.

“I hold no grudges, and they know that,” Thomas told Kennedy. “I have genuine love for the city of Boston. If that were to happen, I’d love to be part of what they have going on. You never know.

I’m always open for any opportunity to be in the NBA and play the game that I love at the highest level. If that opportunity presents itself, for sure. Time has passed.”

Many in Thomas’ position would have never considered going back. Had he not played through that injury, the last years of his NBA career would have been very different.

Thomas put up exceptional averages of 28.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game for the Celtics in 2016-17.

His exploits led to him finishing fifth in the MVP voting and he looked set to sign a max extension worth potentially over $200 million in the offseason. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards.

Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Thomas wasn’t able to keep playing through the hip injury and was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs after Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That put any talk of a massive extension on hold.

The Celtics then traded Thomas to the Cavaliers in the offseason as part of the deal that brought Kyrie Irving to Boston.

The trade was at risk of being canceled, though, as the Cavaliers felt the hip injury was more serious than they believed. The Celtics then agreed to send another second-round pick to ensure the deal went through.

With all the concerns the Cavaliers had regarding Thomas, he was never getting a massive extension from them either. They were right to be worried too, as the guard was a shadow of his former self upon returning from injury.

Thomas bounced around from team to team in the years that followed and is not even in the NBA today. He is playing in the G League at the moment for the Salt Lake City Stars and is unlikely to get another opportunity in the NBA.