Isaiah Thomas: ‘I’m not no sixth man’
LOS ANGELES – Isaiah Thomas was a happy man on Monday.
His Los Angeles Lakers were hours removed from downing Cleveland in a game he swears didn’t qualify as revenge. The win was even sweeter because Thomas’ wife, Kayla, and their two sons, Jaiden and James, were in town after making their weekly trip from Seattle.
But amid these brutal past 10 months — from Boston MVP candidate to grieving brother to Cavs fall guy to Lakers sixth man, with the hip injury, a sevenmonth recovery and two jarring trades — the root of Thomas’ joy had nothing to do with hoops.
Thomas, whose 22-year-old sister, Chyna, died in a single-car crash at the start of Boston’s postseason run last April, was eager to head to South La Cienega and Pico Boulevard.
That’s the location of a recent Sean John billboard, with Jaiden and James featured alongside the sons of Houston’s Chris Paul and Oklahoma City’s Carmelo Anthony.
“That (photo shoot) was a couple months ago, and it’s a nationwide thing, so they have billboards up in Times Square, Houston, OKC, LA,” Thomas said. “I just drove by there, and it was a dope moment to see my boys on a billboard.”
One of these days — doubters be darned — Thomas plans to be a headliner again, too.
“I’m not no sixth man,” he declared in an interview with USA TODAY this week. “And I won’t be a sixth man. I just want everybody to know that, like clear as can be. I’m a two-time All-Star and a starter who has done things that a lot of people in this league haven’t done (when) given that opportunity.
“But I got traded into a situation I can’t control. There’s nothing bad against (Lakers coach) Luke Walton. There’s nothing bad against the Los Angeles Lakers. I’m taking advantage of the opportunity they’ve given me, and then (we’ll) end the season off strong.”
Thomas has done that lately, averaging 18.4 points and 5.8 assists since Feb. 23 while helping the Lakers win eight of their past 11. He made his first start Wednesday, but only because starter Kyle Kuzma was injured.
“I’m here to help,” Thomas said. “I’m here to continue to get better, and I’m still — (expletive), I can reach levels that I know I haven’t reached yet, and I’m here to help along the way in whatever they need me to do, and I’m going to be a professional.”
When Thomas sat down in a Dallas steakhouse with Walton and Lakers associate head coach Brian Shaw on Feb. 9, it was the beginning of one of the NBA’s most complicated partnership. By sending Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to Cleveland in exchange for Thomas, Channing Frye and a 2018 firstround pick, the Lakers had finally created the two maximum-salary slots that they hope go to James and Oklahoma City’s Paul George. Yet in this candid conversation between the new co-workers, the future didn’t matter as much as the present.
Walton’s rebuilding Lakers had a sensitive situation of their own. They were winning and this was no time to change the starting lineup — especially when the point guard was prized rookie Lonzo Ball.
Thomas would be coming off the bench again.
“Could he start?” Walton said of Thomas. “One hundred percent. Does he deserve to start? Yeah, with what he’s done in his career. Absolutely. (But) we’re in a unique situation here. We have a young team. … I kind of just challenged (Thomas), that even though he fully wants to start, I said, ‘Look, you’ve been out a long time, (and) to me there’s only, however much, two months left in the season at the time — find the joy. Go find the (joy).’ ”
The three men sat there for more than two hours. Walton, who believes honesty and directness with players ensures a genuine connection, made sure Thomas was heard.
And ever since, Walton says he has appreciated his professionalism.
“Like every day in practice, he’s in here, he’s (got a) smile on his face, (he’s) talking to teammates, so most of the credit goes to him and the type of person he is, honestly,” Walton said. “He’s been a tremendous help for our guys, a complete professional, talks in the film room, talks on the court in practice, talks on the court during the game, and not just to try to look good, like he’s really telling people what they need to hear.”
Whether Thomas sticks with the Lakers, he’ll finally have some control over his situation this summer.
“At the end of the day, when free agency comes, I’m going to go where I’m wanted, and wanted the most, and wanted to be Isaiah Thomas,” he said, before making a point about his current role.
“My opportunity is not the same as it was when I was in Boston. Even when I was in Cleveland, it wasn’t the same as it was in Boston, so you can’t expect me to go out and average 30 points when I’m not given that same opportunity. If that opportunity comes back, and when it does — because I know it will — I promise you: I’ll be more than ready to take advantage of that opportunity, and be back on top.”