Sacramento Kings 2012-13 Season Player Previews – Isaiah Thomas
By Bryan Rose
April 20, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (left) receives the Oscar Robertson award from Oscar Robertson (right) during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE
Where in the world do you begin with Sacramento Kings pint sized point, Isaiah Thomas? I mean – the guy is an absolute treasure, both on and off the court. An instant fan favorite, Thomas brought his fiery passion and giant heart to the California capital last season and quickly emerged as the Kings starting point – but more than that, became a leader. In addition to returning to school to finish his collegiate career and becoming a new father this offseason, Thomas was also the driving force behind the Kings player put-on Summer practices – this all from a guy who was a pick away from not even being drafted. Needless to say, Thomas has not only emerged as serviceable NBA talent – he’s turning into far more than that and the A Royal Pain team is expecting big things from the small guard this season:
Scott – Thomas did more than enough to show he deserves to be the Kings starting point guard in 2013. Contagious energy, excellent court vision, the ability to knock down perimeter shots and surprisingly adequate on-ball defense are all assets for the second year man. Thomas is addicted to proving himself, and the fact that he produced so well as a rookie bodes extremely well going forward. He’s only going to get better as he learns the league and improves his skills. The only hope is that Keith Smart doesn’t get cute with his minutes — Thomas deserves the lion’s share regardless of the other guards on the roster.
Marilyn – Isaiah Thomas is a fan favorite. He is an inspiration to anyone who has had to overcome something in his or her life. Being selected last in the 60th spot in the 2011 NBA Draft did not deter him from making his mark as a rookie. He blew past all expectations. He earned his minutes on the court. When Isaiah came into a game good things happened. When he was taken out, the spark he created diminished. It wasn’t long before Isaiah earned his way to the starting lineup where he continued to demonstrate leadership, unselfishness, and playmaking ability. Here was this rookie player directing his teammates like he was a veteran. It reminded me of Mike Bibby in the playoff years. At a time when the team desperately needs a leader to emerge, Isaiah Thomas might be that guy. I am expecting more good things from Thomas this season.
Bryan – What can you say when it comes to Thomas? The guy is the epitome of what you want on your team. He’s an extremely talented basketball player but more than that, he’s a wonderful person. His work ethic is top notch and his desire and passion for the game is only rivaled by the elite in the league. Rarely do you feel proud for a player to represent your said franchise, but in the case of Thomas – you certainly do. Now entering his second season, Thomas should be the starting point guard based off of talent alone, though that decision will be left to up head coach Keith Smart who has a new toy to play with in Aaron Brooks. Between the two, Thomas deserves the nod in minutes which I hope he gets, though both he and Brooks shouldn’t have any trouble pushing 27-30 minutes a game. Even with the Brooks addition, Thomas’ game should continue to grow and do so at a rapid pace – so expect a terrific season out of the Kings’ sophomore.