Boston Celtics
Thomas, 37, will reportedly serve as a scout for the Celtics while based out of Seattle.
Isaiah Thomas was back at TD Garden in December 2025. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)
May 14, 2026 | 6:21 PM
3 minutes to read
Former Celtics star point guard Isaiah Thomas is officially back with the team — albeit in a different capacity.
According to The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, the 37-year-old Thomas has been hired by the Celtics as both a pro and college scout.
Thomas — who hails from Washington — will reportedly be based out of Seattle and serve as a resource for Brad Stevens’ basketball operations staff when it comes to evaluating talent out on the West Coast.
“Sources said Thomas, 37, has joined Celtics executives at the NBA Combine this week in Chicago, where he has helped interview draft prospects while also learning about the overall evaluation process,” Himmelsbach wrote.
Thomas has been a beloved figure in Boston since first joining the franchise via a trade from the Phoenix Suns in February 2015.
Despite only playing parts of three seasons in Boston from 2015-17, Thomas quickly became a fan favorite for his high-scoring capabilities, fearless approach despite his 5-foot-9 frame, and his role in helping to bridge what was once thought to be an arduous, long-term rebuild in Boston.
“It feels like I was here for 10 years,” Thomas said of Boston in November 2025 during “The Tradition” award program at TD Garden. “It feels like I won multiple championships and I was only here for two-and-a-half, three years. And the genuine love that the city, the organization, just the regular fans, each and every day … since the first day I got traded here — I’m forever thankful. I’m forever grateful. And that feeling is mutual.”
Initially brought aboard as a high-octane scoring option who primarily came off the bench during his tenure in Phoenix, Thomas quickly blossomed into a superstar with Boston — earning two All-Star nods in 2016 and 2017 while finishing fifth in NBA MVP voting during his final year with the Celtics.
Thomas’ career ultimately went sideways after playing through a significant hip injury for most of the 2017 playoffs — ultimately getting shut down during a series loss to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Thomas was later traded to the Cavaliers in August 2017 as part of a blockbuster deal that brought Kyrie Irving to Boston.
The shifty point guard never regained his form as an All-Star talent after that hip injury, logging reps for the Cavs, Lakers, Nuggets, Wizards, Pelicans, Mavericks, Hornets, and Suns before last playing in the NBA with Phoenix in 2023-24.
Even though Thomas’ last game as a Celtic came years before a revamped core featuring Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown captured an 18th championship in June 2024, Thomas felt as though he helped play a role in getting the franchise back on track during the rudderless seasons after the “Big 3” era came to a close.
“I understand I was a stepping stone in the right direction,” Thomas said of Boston in July 2024. “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 received a standing ovation from the TD Garden crowd during a visit to Boston in December 2025, with head coach Joe Mazzulla speaking highly of Thomas’ long-standing impact on the franchise despite his limited time on the parquet.
“I thought it was a great gesture to have I.T. back. I mean, he’s done so much for the city and really for the organization,” Mazzulla said of Thomas. “I came right at the tail end of him being here, but just who he was as a person and a player just says a lot about him.
“He sets an example of, yes, it’s about winning, but also when you’re a high character guy, people appreciate you when you’re able to leave the place kind of a little better than you found it.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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