Doing the Impossible

Injuries are the Grim Reaper for every professional athlete. They can destroy even the most promising careers drop of a hat, and for the Denver Nuggets’ Isaiah Thomas, the Grim Reaper has shown no mercy.

Isaiah Thomas was one of the NBA’s best point guards just two seasons ago, averaging  28-2-5 and leading the Celtics to first in the East, and a Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where they would fall four games to one.

On August 22, 2017, Thomas was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a 1st-Round Pick for Kyrie Irving. The trade, as we all know, ROCKED the NBA, and Celtics fans took a long time to acclimate to Irving, who had essentially demanded out of Cleveland. Thomas, known as IT, was loved by Boston. He had arrived a rotation guard and transformed into one of the best guards in the NBA, always giving the fans something to cheer about.

The trade was also big because of the unknown health of IT, who was out with a hip injury. IT had missed the ECF because of the injury, and he and the Celtics had opted to take the slow road to recovery, rejecting surgery. IT would be out until January, and when he returned, things didn’t go well.

In his 15 games with Cleveland, yes that’s right, 15 games, IT averaged 14-2-4 and would shoot 36% from the field and 25% from three. Yikes. IT would eventually be moved to the Lakers on deadline day, having played only 15 games with Cleveland, leaving behind tainted relationships and poor performances.

IT would not be resigned by the Lakers, and would eventually land in Denver, on a one year deal.

He recently made his return, playing 9 games for the Nuggets, averaging 8-1-1. Everyone was very excited for him to Thomas, as we all want to see him defy the impossible, but alas, some things are indeed impossible, and IT was taken out of the rotation.

The slow grind continues for Thomas, and I hope he can make his return one day. I don’t expect him to return to 2016-17 Thomas, but I hope to see him be at least half of that player one day.