Thomas’ dazzling play no small feat to
Warriors’ star says Boston rival, who has become a giant on court, is worthy of MVP consideration
Isaiah Thomas isn’t even average. The Boston Celtics list their two-time All-Star point guard at 5-foot-9 — even that is believed to be a bit generous — and 185 pounds. That means Thomas actually is slightly shorter and even a bit lighter than the typical male in the United States, at least based on the latest federal data that tracks such things.
So in society, he’s obviously not a big guy.
But in the NBA, he’s the little big man right now.
Averaging 29.9 points per game and leading Boston to the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference so far, Thomas is being mentioned by reigning two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors as someone worthy of consideration for the league’s top individual honor this year.
“Nobody in their right mind would have thought that,” Thomas said of his MVP hopes. “At one point I might not have even thought I was going to be the MVP. But now I do. I’m going to keep going. I’m not trying to play for MVP — if it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. But that’s definitely a goal of mine in my career at some point.” It might come sooner than he thinks. All-Star Media Day was Friday in New Orleans, and LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony both missed the Eastern Conference session for personal reasons. Their absences likely drove a few more people over toward the riser where Thomas took questions for a half-hour or so, though he seemed genuinely surprised when he arrived and saw plenty of reporters. Curry wasn’t. He’s a Thomas fan. “He’s doing amazing things,” Curry said. “I don’t think that confidence (was any) different now than when he was a rookie or whatever. You go through each year, gain experience, get the right guys around you, good things happen. He’s having an amazing year. It’s been fun to watch.”
He has a chance to become the first player in Celtics history to average 30 points a game. Larry Bird averaged 29.93 in 1987-88; Thomas, right now, is at 29.87.
Such comparisons make even Thomas shake his head. “It means everything,” Thomas said. “To be mentioned with such great players like Larry Bird, like all the legends that played before me in a Celtics uniform, means a lot.”
Archbishop Mitty product Aaron n Gordon is not giving any hints on what he’ll do for an All-Star dunk contest encore. He just hopes it’s enough this time around.
The runner-up in last year’s All-Star dunk contest, Gordon is likely considered the favorite going into this year’s edition that will be held on Saturday night. The Orlando Magic forward lost a dunk-off a year ago to Minnesota’s Zach LaVine, who is injured and not defending his title.
“You’re going to have to wait until Saturday to see my ideas,” Gordon said. “It’s going to be innovative. It’s going to be original and creative. You’ll see.”
Gordon will go up against DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers, Glenn Robinson III of the Indiana Pacers — and perhaps the wild card in the field, Derrick Jones Jr. of the Phoenix Suns.
Officers with the National Basketball n Players Association said that the problems between Charles Oakley and Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan could impact decisions future free agents make about playing for the New York Knicks.
Oakley was removed from MSG earlier this month, pulled away by security guards, handcuffed, arrested and eventually banned from entering the arena. That ban has since been lifted, but the longstrained relationship between Oakley — a very popular player when he was a Knick — and the team remains tenuous at best.
Jamal Murray scored 36 points and n Buddy Hield, a New Orleans Pelicans rookie, added 28 to the delight of the locals as the World squad beat the U.S. 150-141 in the Rising Stars Challenge.