Isaiah Thomas
Position: PG
Hgt: 5'9"
Wgt: 185
Age: 24
Number: 22
Nickname: IT
College: Washington
Yrs with Team: 2
Yrs in League: 2
Previous Teams: N/A
How Acquired: 2011 NBA Draft (Rnd 2 #60)
Contract: 2013-14 $0.9mil
Strengths: quickness, athleticism, ballhandling
Weaknesses: size, court vision, defense
Offense (Scoring & Passing)
Came out of nowhere to become a core rotation player for the Kings, thriving in Keith Smart's uptempo system and for the second year in a row eventually emerging as the team's starter. Quick offensive minded waterbug that has drawn comparisons to Nate Robinson (who went to the same college). Fearless driver despite his size, although sometimes too fearless leading to blocks and turnovers, and has shot better in the pros than expected after he was shaky from distance in college. Ability to pull up in the midrange effectively gives him an extra step, and ability to hit spot up threes was wholly unexpected, as it was supposed to be a weakness. Not the purest of PGs, and prone to stretches of selfish play where he looks exclusively for his own shot. Has a bad habit of breaking plays to look for his own points, and can be undisciplined and pull up for long shots on the break with no teammates underneath to rebound. Not a combo guard though (and how could he be at his size), and when he feels like it displays solid court vision and the ability to set people up with nice passes.
Defense & Rebounding
Very competitive and when aroused can give a real effort on this side of the ball, but of course the defining issue on defense is size. Some of that is good, as with his quickness he is able to stay in front many opponents, and unlike the true mighty mites like Earl Boynkins, has the strength and bulk to hold his own. Excellent athlete able to come up with some spectacular hustle plays, although not as disruptive in the passing lanes as you might expect given his quickness, and has developed a bad habit of getting caught on screens up top and making little effort to get around them. The size problem manifests in that he can be shot over, switches are a constant problem, he is too small to be effective doubling down on bigs, and rarely able to effect perimeter shooters on rotations. Poor rebounder even for the position but will occasionally stick his nose in there amongst the trees.
Intangibles
As the final player taken in the 2011 draft inherited the "Mr. Irrelevant" title, but was anything but, effectively becoming the Kings' lottery pick as Jimmer struggled. Lauded for maturity and leadership and quickly became a favorite of Keith Smart's. Feisty and competitive nature has made him unwilling to accept a backup role, and has fought his way into the starting lineup in both his seasons. That does not seem likely this season with Grevis Vasquez in town, but if he accepts the role, his size and attacking mentality may eventually be a natural fit as a change of pace guard off the bench.
Stats 12-13: 26.9min 13.9pts (.440 FG% .358 3pt% .882 FT%) 2.0reb 4.0ast 0.8stl 0.0blk 1.8TO
Stats Career: 26.2min 12.8pts (.443 FG% .367 3pt% .862 FT%) 2.3reb 4.0ast 0.8stl 0.1blk 1.7TO
NBA.com profile
Position: PG
Hgt: 5'9"
Wgt: 185
Age: 24
Number: 22
Nickname: IT
College: Washington
Yrs with Team: 2
Yrs in League: 2
Previous Teams: N/A
How Acquired: 2011 NBA Draft (Rnd 2 #60)
Contract: 2013-14 $0.9mil
Strengths: quickness, athleticism, ballhandling
Weaknesses: size, court vision, defense
Offense (Scoring & Passing)
Came out of nowhere to become a core rotation player for the Kings, thriving in Keith Smart's uptempo system and for the second year in a row eventually emerging as the team's starter. Quick offensive minded waterbug that has drawn comparisons to Nate Robinson (who went to the same college). Fearless driver despite his size, although sometimes too fearless leading to blocks and turnovers, and has shot better in the pros than expected after he was shaky from distance in college. Ability to pull up in the midrange effectively gives him an extra step, and ability to hit spot up threes was wholly unexpected, as it was supposed to be a weakness. Not the purest of PGs, and prone to stretches of selfish play where he looks exclusively for his own shot. Has a bad habit of breaking plays to look for his own points, and can be undisciplined and pull up for long shots on the break with no teammates underneath to rebound. Not a combo guard though (and how could he be at his size), and when he feels like it displays solid court vision and the ability to set people up with nice passes.
Defense & Rebounding
Very competitive and when aroused can give a real effort on this side of the ball, but of course the defining issue on defense is size. Some of that is good, as with his quickness he is able to stay in front many opponents, and unlike the true mighty mites like Earl Boynkins, has the strength and bulk to hold his own. Excellent athlete able to come up with some spectacular hustle plays, although not as disruptive in the passing lanes as you might expect given his quickness, and has developed a bad habit of getting caught on screens up top and making little effort to get around them. The size problem manifests in that he can be shot over, switches are a constant problem, he is too small to be effective doubling down on bigs, and rarely able to effect perimeter shooters on rotations. Poor rebounder even for the position but will occasionally stick his nose in there amongst the trees.
Intangibles
As the final player taken in the 2011 draft inherited the "Mr. Irrelevant" title, but was anything but, effectively becoming the Kings' lottery pick as Jimmer struggled. Lauded for maturity and leadership and quickly became a favorite of Keith Smart's. Feisty and competitive nature has made him unwilling to accept a backup role, and has fought his way into the starting lineup in both his seasons. That does not seem likely this season with Grevis Vasquez in town, but if he accepts the role, his size and attacking mentality may eventually be a natural fit as a change of pace guard off the bench.
Stats 12-13: 26.9min 13.9pts (.440 FG% .358 3pt% .882 FT%) 2.0reb 4.0ast 0.8stl 0.0blk 1.8TO
Stats Career: 26.2min 12.8pts (.443 FG% .367 3pt% .862 FT%) 2.3reb 4.0ast 0.8stl 0.1blk 1.7TO
NBA.com profile
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