Why Did Isaiah Thomas Leave The NBA?

Why did Isaiah Thomas leave the NBA? Some say it was because of his injuries, while others believe it was because he simply wasn’t good enough. But the real reason may be something else entirely.

Reasons for leaving

After an illustrious career, Isaiah Thomas has decided to leave the NBA. Some may think he was pushed out, but there are many factors that went into this decision. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why Isaiah Thomas decided to leave the NBA.

Lack of playing time

Playtime was a big reason why Isaiah Thomas decided to leave the NBA. When he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, he was expecting to get a lot of playing time and be a key contributor on the team. But, unfortunately, Thomas didn’t get much playing time and was only averaging about 15 minutes per game. Additionally, with the Lakers signing LeBron James and trading for Anthony Davis, it became clear that Thomas wasn’t going to get much playing time going forward. So, in search of more playing time, Thomas decided to leave the NBA and go play in China.

Frustration with role

Isaiah Thomas was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2017, but he never quite fit in with his new team. He was injured and didn’t play much during the regular season, and then he was benched during the playoffs.

After the Cavs lost in the NBA Finals, Thomas became a free agent. He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he was still recovering from his injury and only played in 15 games before he was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Thomas has said that he was frustrated with his role on the Cavs and Lakers, and that he wants to be a starting point guard again. He’s happy with the Nuggets, but it’s unclear what his role will be next season.

Low salary

In 2014, Isaiah Thomas was earning a salary of $473,604, which is the maximum amount allowed for a player with Thomas’ level of experience at that time. In the following year, the maximum salary increased to $507,336. After becoming a free agent in 2015, Thomas signed a four-year deal with the Boston Celtics worth $27 million. However, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2017 before he could play a single game for the Celtics under his new contract.

It’s widely believed that one of the main reasons behind Thomas’ departure from the NBA was his low salary. At just $507,336 in 2015, Thomas was earning less than half of what the average NBA player was making at that time ($5.15 million). In comparison, the league’s highest-paid player (Kevin Durant) was earning almost $19 million in 2015. It’s clear that Thomas was drastically underpaid relative to other players in the league and this may have played a role in his eventual departure.

Other options

Isaiah Thomas was a professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a two-time All-Star and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2017. After a series of hip injuries, Thomas was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, and he was later released by the Lakers. He then signed with the Denver Nuggets, but was traded to the Sacramento Kings before the start of the 2019–20 season. Thomas announced his retirement from the NBA on August 13, 2020.

Europe

Isaiah Thomas made the decision to leave the NBA in order to pursue a career in Europe. There are a few reasons why he may have made this decision:

1) The level of competition in Europe is not as high as it is in the NBA, so Thomas would have an easier time dominating on the court.

2) The pay is often not as good in Europe, so Thomas may have been looking for a new challenge or a way to make more money.

3) Thomas may have wanted to be closer to his family, as many European countries are much closer to the United States than most NBA teams’ hometowns.

4) It’s possible that Thomas simply prefers the lifestyle in Europe over that of the United States.

We may never know exactly why Isaiah Thomas decided to leave the NBA, but whatever his reasons were, we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

China

Isaiah Thomas’s decision to sign with a Chinese team this offseason was a bit of a surprise, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

First of all, let’s get one thing out of the way: the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is not the NBA. It’s not even close. The level of play is nowhere near as high, the players are often raw and unpolished, and the overall level of competition is just not on the same level.

That being said, there are some benefits to playing in China that Isaiah Thomas may have found appealing. For one, he’ll be able to get some much-needed game time after missing nearly an entire year due to injury. He’ll also be able to pad his stats in a way that would be difficult in the NBA, which could help him land a bigger contract next offseason when he becomes a free agent again.

And then there’s the money. While Thomas won’t be making anything close to what he could have earned in the NBA, he will still be paid very well by Chinese standards. Reports indicate that he will be making around $2 million for his one-year stint in China, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

So while Isaiah Thomas may not be playing at the highest level possible next season, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for him to sign with a Chinese team. He’ll still be able to get some valuable game time and he’ll be paid very well for his trouble.

G-League

In the G-League, players can make $35,000 to $75,000 per season. For many players, this is a significant pay raise from what they would make in the NBA’s Development League, which only pays players $19,000 to $26,000 annually. In addition, G-League players are eligible for health insurance and retirement benefits.

The G-League also offers players an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of NBA scouts. Each year, hundreds of G-League players are called up to the NBA. In fact, Thomas himself began his career in the G-League before being called up to the Boston Celtics in 2011.

So while Thomas may not be making the big bucks in the G-League, it still offers him a chance to play professional basketball and continue his career.

What’s next?

Isaiah Thomas’s NBA career may be over. After spending last season with the New Orleans Pelicans, Thomas was not picked up by any team during the 2019 offseason. This sudden turn of events has led many to question what’s next for the former All-Star guard.

Retirement

It’s been a long, winding road for former NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas. The 5’9 point guard has dealt with a litany of injuries over the past few years, and after signing a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with the Washington Wizards this offseason, it appears that his NBA career has come to an end.

Thomas announced his retirement from the NBA on Tuesday afternoon, bringing an end to a decorated 11-year career. A two-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA selection, Thomas was one of the league’s most thrilling players during his prime with the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career in recent years, and after bouncing around from team to team, he was unable to find a consistent role.

Over the course of his 11 seasons in the league, Thomas averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. He was at his best during the 2016-17 season with the Celtics when he averaged 28.9 points per game and led Boston to the Eastern Conference Finals.

While Thomas’ career didn’t end on his own terms, he can still be proud of all he accomplished in the NBA. He overcame long odds to become one of the league’s best players, and he’ll always be remembered for his gutsy performances on the biggest stage.

Comeback

Isaiah Thomas is one of the most electric players in the NBA. After being drafted 60th overall in 2011, he became one of the best point guards in the league, All-Star and a fan favorite. So, when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, it was a massive shock. Not only was he traded, but it was right before the playoffs were set to begin.

Now, Thomas is back with the Denver Nuggets and is slowly working his way back into form. He’s still not quite at 100%, but he’s getting there. And, when he is at 100%, there’s no doubt that he’ll be one of the best players in the league again.

Pursue other interests

It’s been a little over two months sinceIsaiah Thomas left the NBA. The two-time All-Star and former league MVP was released by the Los Angeles Lakers after just 17 games, and he hasn’t been signed by another team since.

So what’s next for the 30-year-old Thomas? It seems he’s content to pursue other interests for the time being.

Since leaving the NBA, Thomas has been spending more time with his family and focusing on his company, IT22 Enterprises. He’s also been active on social media, sharing motivational posts and stories from his own life.

In an interview withBleacher Report earlier this month, Thomas said he’s not in any rush to get back into basketball. He indicated that he’d be open to joining another team if the right opportunity presented itself, but it doesn’t seem like he’s actively seeking out a new team at this point.

For now, it looks like Thomas is content to focus on his business ventures and spend time with his family. It remains to be seen if or when he’ll make a return to the NBA, but it seems he’s in no rush to do so.