Isaiah Thomas interview
InsideHoops.com
February 17, 2017
Here's what Celtics and NBA All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas had to say Friday to the media at 2017
NBA All-Star weekend.
Question: Does this year feel different than last year for
you?
Isaiah Thomas: Yeah. I'm more comfortable. I know
what to expect. I'm just happy to be here. So it's a
great moment for me to enjoy this weekend.
Question: Do you think coaches and fans and players still
don't understand how good you are because of
where you were drafted?
Thomas: I think so. I think some people still
doubt. Some people still don't give me my just due and
my respect. All I say is I'm going to keep going. I got
more to show. I feel like I can continue to get better.
It's only the beginning.
Question: What evidence do you have that people don't
really understand quite how good you are?
Thomas: They've always got something to
say. At the end of the day, it always comes back to my
height. If I was 6'1", they would probably call me the
best player in the world, and I'm not 6'1". It's always
something. It's been like that my whole life. So I'm not
surprised.
Question: If you were 6'1", do you think you would be quite
a bit better than you are at 5'9"?
Thomas: Yeah, I'm 5'9", man. I don't know.
I've never been 6'1", so I couldn't tell you.
Question: If you ever get to a point where no one disrespects you, will you make something up?
Thomas: People ask me that, and they think
the chip will fall if everybody were to love me, but it
wouldn't. I'm built a little different. I find things to
motivate me, and if it were to be the other way around,
I would find something else that will motivate me to
hopefully one day become great.
Question: Two questions. The first question is what kind
of motivation would you give to the small players
out there just like playing in leagues with a bunch
of big players around to achieve to your level? And
the second question is like what does it feel like
when you see the locals, like locals in your own
shoes out there, and you're playing in your own
shoes instead of someone else's?
Thomas: I would tell kids just have faith in
yourself, work hard and have fun. That's all the things
I've done with a little bit of luck on my side. If you
believe in yourself, it can take you a long way.
Then the shoe thing is just, I mean, everything is falling
into place. Hopefully, one day I can have my own shoe
and be like them other superstars.
Question: When Danny Ainge told you when you got to
Boston that you'd be one of the greatest Celtics
ever, what did you think?
Thomas: I thought he was lying. I thought he
was just trying to make me feel better about the trade
coming from Phoenix to Boston. But he saw
something that I didn't even see, and now I'm starting
to see it. I'm not saying I'm one of the best ever to put
on a Celtics uniform, but I want to be in that direction.
Question: What did Danny see in you that you didn't even
see in yourself?
Thomas: I mean, what he saw is what I
always knew. I just didn't think about the Celtics'
legend thing. When you think about the Celtics, they
have so many great players, you're not even thinking
about being on that level. But the things he envisioned
for myself, I always believed in myself if given the
opportunity. I just didn't know how much opportunity I
would have when I came to the Celtics.
Question: When all is said and done, what's your goal in
your career, your individual goal?
Thomas: It was last year to be the greatest
little guy to ever play the game. Now things moving like
they are, I want to be the greatest player to ever play. I
know I've got a long way to go. I'm not even close, but
you've got to shoot high.
