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Isaiah Thomas: ‘I am not damaged… I’ll be back’

Basketball Insiders Sports Editor

Updated3 hours ago on April 19, 2024

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All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas told ESPN that he has made significant progress with his injured hip toward a return in the 2017-18 season and has a message for NBA teams doubting his long-term prognosis.

“I am not damaged,” Thomas told ESPN on Tuesday. “I’ll be back, and I’ll be the same player.”

Thomas, a second-team All-NBA player for the Boston Celtics, was included in a trade to Cleveland for four-time All-Star Kyrie Irving on Aug. 22, but uncertainty surrounding his anticipated return to the court has stalled the finalizing of the deal.

“There’s never been an indication that I wouldn’t be back, and there’s never been an indication that this is something messing up my career,” Thomas told ESPN. “Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that.”

Source: Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN