Isaiah interview from Las Vegas Impact Basketball

[CruzDude]

KF = KingsFan (yours truly)
IT = Isaiah Thomas

KF: How many games have you played so far?

IT: I've played 4 games. Two the first day (Mon), one yesterday (Tue) and one today (Wed).

KF: How are you feeling physically?

IT: I'm feeling good. I've been staying in shape. I been working out back home. So this is nothing new for me.

KF: Where are you going to go from here?

IT: Actually I'm going back home to Seattle.

KF: Getting out of the heat? Wait a minute, there was no heat today, in the mid 70's and raining.

IT: Yeah. Just like Seattle, raining!!

KF: Are you going to stay up in the Seattle area until the NBA situation clears up?

IT: Yeah. I've been down in Dallas working out with Jason Kidd. Then I'm going back to Seattle and register for some fall classes at UW.

KF: When you got drafted by the Kings in that last slot, what were your thoughts at the time?

IT: I was just so happy. Sacramento is not too far from home, just a 90 minute flight. An my buddy Jon Brockman was drafted here and Spencer Hawes. They told me a lot about Sacramento so I was just excited.

KF: Are there any pickup games or places to play up in Seattle?

IT: Yeah, there are some real boys up there Jamal Crawford, Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Nate Williams. I could name some more. But we play every day so playing in something like this (Impact BBall) is nothing new for me as I play against those type of players every day.

KF: The lockout. Has it registered with you in any way, what effect has it on you?

IT: Yeah, it gets a little frustrating. As a basketball player you know your next move and kinda know whats happening and whats going to happen next. But with this (lockout) you don't even know when your going to play next. Hopefully soon but I'm just going to be patient and wait it out and see what happens.

Footnote: I've interviewed NBA draftees and players for 16 years and Isaiah is one of the best, cordial and articulate players I've ever interviewed. Easy to talk to, friendly, direct. I hope he makes the team as he will be a personal asset for us. kf

 

[kingsboi]

Isiah seriously looks like he can play for an NBA team. Whether he gets a chance to show case his talents here is another question. I sure hope so, he has that drive and determination to get better and better and you just can't teach that in a player. I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do for the Kings.

 

[CruzDude]

He is very quick, fearless and can penetrate when possible and hit any jumper out to the 3 quite comfortably. Great personality, easy to talk to, direct with answers, shows really good confidence. I agree with Kingsboi and hope he can fit in as a backup PG. Passes ball with both hands. Seems weak on left handed layups but his a magician with his right hand. Goes left and right equally. So far am expert (sic!) having seen him in total of one practice squad game that was not that good.

 

[bajaden]

He is very quick, fearless and can penetrate when possible and hit any jumper out to the 3 quite comfortably. Great personality, easy to talk to, direct with answers, shows really good confidence. I agree with Kingsboi and hope he can fit in as a backup PG. Passes ball with both hands. Seems weak on left handed layups but his a magician with his right hand. Goes left and right equally. So far am expert (sic!) having seen him in total of one practice squad game that was not that good.

Thomas will remind some of Spud Webb. He plays with a confident, almost cocky attitude. And like Spud, he has great leaping ability, and can easily dunk the ball despite his lack of height. I would say he's more quick than fast, and is very creative around the basket. He has a decent to good 3 pt shot, and I believe he shot around 34% last season. I wouldn't call him a pure pass first PG, but he's close. Don't know how minutes he'll get, but if there's a way to earn them, he will. Difference between Thomas and Jeter? Court vision and creativity. Not to be sneezed at...