Isaiah Thomas (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Isaiah Thomas is an American
professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings
and was taken as the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft
. He is a 5 ft 9 in (1.70 m) and 170 - 180 lb (77–82 kg) point guard
. During his freshman (2008–09) year, he averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has been compared to 5'9" former Washington star and current Oklahoma City Thunder
point guard Nate Robinson
in both style and production.
in University Place, Washington
through 11th grade, and then transferred to Kent prep School in Kent, Connecticut
to repeat the 11th grade due to academic deficiencies. He graduated from South Kent School
in 2008. At Curtis, Thomas averaged 31.2 points as a junior. He called a news briefing on April 20, 2006 to announce his intention to sign with the University of Washington
.
, the former Washington Huskies star, to wear his #2 jersey. In an exhibition game against Western Washington
, Thomas scored 27 points on 9-of-12 field goals. He scored a career-high 42 points in an 81–67 home win over Morgan State
on December 30, 2008. This bettered his previous high of 19 points scored in a 74–51 blowout over Florida International
on November 20.
Thomas made an immediate impact upon arrival for the Washington Huskies during the 2008-09 season as he averaged 15.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game as a true freshman. As a sophomore, the scoring output continued as he raised his averages to 16.9 points, 3.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.
On March 12, 2011 Thomas scored 28 points and hit a game winning buzzer beater in overtime to lead the Huskies to victory over Arizona in the championship game of the Pac-10 tournament. He was among the final ten candidates for the Bob Cousy Award
in his junior season.
On March 31, 2011 he officially announced his intentions to forego his senior season and enter the NBA draft.
Isaiah Thomas was drafted to the Sacramento Kings in second round 60th overall with the final pick.
All-Star point guard Isiah Thomas
when his father, James, bet his friend that his favorite team, the Los Angeles Lakers
, would defeat the Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals
. Even though the younger Thomas ended up being born months before the Finals took place, James had already warmed to the name. However, the boy's mother, Tina Baldtrip, insisted on spelling it 'Isaiah', as she desired a biblical name
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and was taken as the final pick in the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
. He is a 5 ft 9 in (1.70 m) and 170 - 180 lb (77–82 kg) point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
. During his freshman (2008–09) year, he averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has been compared to 5'9" former Washington star and current Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
point guard Nate Robinson
Nate Robinson
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder...
in both style and production.
High school
He attended Curtis Senior High SchoolCurtis Senior High School
For the school of the same name in Staten Island, see Curtis High School.Curtis Senior High School is a public high school located in University Place, Washington....
in University Place, Washington
University Place, Washington
University Place is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. Its population was 31,144 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, University Place ranks 81st of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.-History:...
through 11th grade, and then transferred to Kent prep School in Kent, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
to repeat the 11th grade due to academic deficiencies. He graduated from South Kent School
South Kent School
South Kent School is a private boarding school for boys in South Kent, Connecticut, United States. The school is located on a campus in the hills of Litchfield County. It was founded in 1923 as a joint venture between Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill, headmaster of Kent School, and two of his...
in 2008. At Curtis, Thomas averaged 31.2 points as a junior. He called a news briefing on April 20, 2006 to announce his intention to sign with the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
College
Thomas received blessings from Nate RobinsonNate Robinson
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder...
, the former Washington Huskies star, to wear his #2 jersey. In an exhibition game against Western Washington
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
, Thomas scored 27 points on 9-of-12 field goals. He scored a career-high 42 points in an 81–67 home win over Morgan State
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
on December 30, 2008. This bettered his previous high of 19 points scored in a 74–51 blowout over Florida International
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
on November 20.
Thomas made an immediate impact upon arrival for the Washington Huskies during the 2008-09 season as he averaged 15.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game as a true freshman. As a sophomore, the scoring output continued as he raised his averages to 16.9 points, 3.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.
On March 12, 2011 Thomas scored 28 points and hit a game winning buzzer beater in overtime to lead the Huskies to victory over Arizona in the championship game of the Pac-10 tournament. He was among the final ten candidates for the Bob Cousy Award
Bob Cousy Award
The Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford is an annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top men's collegiate point guard. It is named after six-time National Basketball Association champion Bob Cousy, who played point guard for the Boston Celtics...
in his junior season.
On March 31, 2011 he officially announced his intentions to forego his senior season and enter the NBA draft.
2011 NBA Draft
Before the 2011 NBA Draft Thomas participated in his own pre draft documentary entitled "Road To The NBA-The Isaiah Thomas Story".Isaiah Thomas was drafted to the Sacramento Kings in second round 60th overall with the final pick.
College
- 2009 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year
- 2009 Second Team All-Pac-10
- 2010 First Team All-Pac-10
- 2010 Pac-10 Tournament MVP
- 2011 First Team All-Pac-10
- 2011 Pac-10 Tournament MVP
Personal
Isaiah Thomas was named after former Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
All-Star point guard Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III , nicknamed "Zeke",is the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers, and a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1981 until 1994. He led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA...
when his father, James, bet his friend that his favorite team, the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, would defeat the Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals
1989 NBA Finals
The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988–89 NBA season. The series was a rematch of the previous year's championship round between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers....
. Even though the younger Thomas ended up being born months before the Finals took place, James had already warmed to the name. However, the boy's mother, Tina Baldtrip, insisted on spelling it 'Isaiah', as she desired a biblical name
Isaiah
Isaiah ; Greek: ', Ēsaïās ; "Yahu is salvation") was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah.Jews and Christians consider the Book of Isaiah a part of their Biblical canon; he is the first listed of the neviim akharonim, the later prophets. Many of the New Testament teachings of Jesus...
.