Isaiah Thomas wrote a heartfelt article for “The Players’ Tribune” called, “This Is for Boston” where he explains his thoughts and feelings as well as how he found out he was traded to the Cavaliers.
I was upset when I heard Isaiah was being traded. He was the face of the team. I like how he hustled. How many games did the Celtics win because of him in the 4th? Lots! I took my cousin’s son to his first Celtics game last year for his birthday and he was excited to see Isaiah play. He wanted (and I bought him) an IT jersey in the pro shop after the game. When we recently discussed the trade he said to me that he’s gonna have to get an Isaiah Cavs jersey now.
The topic of sports trades always brings up the question of loyalty and I think Isaiah’s take is spot on: “…loyalty — it’s just a word. And it’s a powerful word if you want it to be. But man … when it comes to business, it ain’t nothing to count on.”
I teared up several times reading, “This Is for Boston“, including when he described what happened when he played Game 1 in the playoffs after his sister Chyna’s death:
“And when I arrived at the arena that night, after Chyna had passed — I was thinking, O.K., I just need that to happen. I need this court to be my shield tonight, I need this court to help me forget. But when I got out there? Man, it’s one of those things … I can’t even describe it. The applause that I got, I can still hear it. People had these signs they made, and I can still see them: THIS IS FOR CHYNA. WE <3 ISAIAH. That sort of thing. Then they did a moment of silence, the whole arena, in Chyna’s honor. And it was like … man. I just realized, in that moment, that I didn’t need the court to shield me. I didn’t need to block it all out, and pretend I wasn’t grieving. I didn’t have to be alone in this. The whole arena was right there with me. Honestly, it felt like the whole city of Boston was with me.
And at that point, you know, I think it just kind of hit me, like — of course I’ve gotta play. First of all, I’m going to do it for Chyna, and for my family. But then I’m also going to do it for my city. ’Cause what they’re showing me right now, is all I needed tonight: to know I’m not alone. They’re showing me that they’re going through the same thing I’m going through right now. They’re showing me that I’m one of them, and that we’re in this together. So let’s be in this together.”
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 16: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics observes a moment of silence dedicated to his sister Chyna Thomas, who was killed in a car accident on April 15, 2017, before Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden on April 16, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
I will always be an Isaiah Thomas fan and wish him the best in Cleveland. In “This Is for Boston”, Isaiah explains how he found out he was traded, what his kids’ reaction was and a whole lot more. You can read it here.