Isaiah would've sat out Celtics' playoff run if given more medical info on hip
Isaiah Thomas blossomed into a star in his two-plus seasons with the Boston Celtics, and gave them everything he had.
Now he wishes he could take some of it back.
The point guard was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers over the summer, but has yet to play this season because he hasn't fully healed from a hip injury suffered in mid-March. Looking back, he regrets playing through pain in last year's postseason.
"No matter what, I've always played through injury," he told ESPN's Rachel Nichols. "If I went back and could do it again, I would have sat out the playoffs, because I would've been playing right now. I would've been 100 percent healthy."
Thomas, 28, added if he knew the injury would force him to miss significant time, he "definitely" wouldn't have played through it, and lamented the lack of medical information provided to him at the time.
Related - Isaiah: 'I am not damaged ... I'll be back'
The bad hip was far from the only issue the All-Star faced during the Celtics' run to the Eastern Conference finals. His younger sister, Chyna, died in a car accident the day before Boston's playoff opener, but that didn't stop IT from going out there and trying to lead the Cs to victory. He suffered some more bumps and bruises along the way, even losing a tooth, but refused to call it quits until the hip forced him out of the final three games against the Cavaliers.
Altogether, Thomas played 521 minutes over 15 playoff games, leading Boston with 23.3 points and 6.7 assists per outing
He's been ruled out of the marquee matchup on Christmas Day with the Golden State Warriors, and could possibly make his long-awaited debut Wednesday versus the Sacramento Kings.
HEADLINES
- Bronny's work from home arrangement benefits no one
- City Edition jersey rankings: The good, the bad, and the awful
- Ex-employee files discrimination, retaliation lawsuit against Suns
- Draymond: Steph was 'locked in' vs. Mavs because Klay ghosted him
- KAT rues poor free-throw shooting despite 46 points in loss to Bulls