Isaiah Thomas Explains Having ‘Piece’ Of Celtics’ Championship

While Isaiah Thomas has not been with the Boston Celtics since 2017, he believes he helped in their NBA Finals win.

The former Celtics guard was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a deal which resulted in Kyrie Irving landing in Boston. Despite being traded away, Thomas has always been vocal about his appreciation for the Celtics.

He has also shown his support for Irving even though he was the reason for his departure from Boston.

When asked about head coach Joe Mazzulla's comments about former players having a role in the championship, Thomas was appreciative of the sentiments.

"I understand I was a steppingstone in the right direction," Thomas told SB Nation's Noa Dalzell. "That's still an amazing feeling. Even though I'm not a part of their championship team, I was a piece to get them to where they are today. I'll always have love for the city of Boston. I have love for the organization and I'm super thankful for the love they give me."

Thomas struggled to stay healthy and find consistency after his departure from Boston. In his final year with the Celtics, he averaged 28.9 points and 33.8 minutes through 76 games.

The 35-year-old last played with the Phoenix Suns in 2023-24, though he played just nine games after he signed a 10-day contract. He averaged 1.3 points in three minutes per game.