Celtics All-Star’s Surprising Overseas Plan Emerges Years After NBA Exit

At just 5-foot-9, Isaiah Thomas was never supposed to become the face of the Boston Celtics. Yet for a brief, unforgettable stretch, he was exactly that. From 2015 to 2017, Thomas transformed himself into one of the NBA’s most electric scorers and emerged as Boston’s undisputed offensive engine. His breakout came during the 2015-16 season, when he earned his first All-Star selection while averaging 22.2 points, 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Then came the season that cemented his place among the league’s elite.

Thomas made his second straight All-Star team in 2016-17, finished fifth in MVP voting, and erupted for 28.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. At his peak, the undersized guard was playing far bigger than his frame suggested. But injuries would ultimately derail a career that seemed destined for much more. Thomas struggled to stay healthy and, by the 2023-24 season, had appeared in just six games before his NBA journey effectively came to an end. Now, nearly two years later, the former Celtics star appears to be considering another chapter. Thomas has teased a return to professional basketball, but this time, he has his sights set beyond the NBA.

"I want to hoop overseas for a year!!! I want that experience! And to cook them boys over that water," Thomas wrote on X. "Take this SLOW GRIND to another country and go crazy!!!!!!!"

As of this writing, while Thomas has expressed his interest, no overseas leagues have recruited him yet. There is also no information regarding where IT intends to play. For now, we'll have to wait and see if the former Celtics star will take action in the coming months.

Former Celtics Star Opens Up About Why He Hasn't Signed With an NBA Team Yet

One of the stars who has arguably had a short-lived career is Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics. When Thomas reached the peak of his career with the Celtics, it was immediately met with challenges, including injuries that kept him away from the hardwood for an extended period.

The turning point of Thomas's career occurred during the 2017 NBA Playoffs when he suffered a severe hip injury. Since then, he has struggled to get back to his elite form, which has made teams reluctant to sign him over the years.

In an interview uploaded by katsu on X, Thomas shared why he thinks NBA teams shied away from signing him in the latter part of his career.

"When I got hurt, I took a step back, took myself out of my own shoes and tried to put myself in the GM's shoes," Thomas said. "It's intimidating for a coach, it's intimidating for an organization, it's intimidating for the player that's in front of me. Because of who I am and what I bring, the aura I bring, the love I get from the fans."

"That's unwanted pressure for an organization to have to play somebody they signed to be their last guy on the bench," Thomas added. "And a normal fan isn't breaking it down like that. That's some of the reason why I'm not on a team. Every time I got in the game, it was a standing ovation everywhere. So what was my strength is my weakness now, and I have no control over it."

Isaiah Thomas's last NBA appearance came in six games with the Phoenix Suns in the 2023-24 season - brief, low-minutes stints that served more as a veteran's curtain call than a genuine roster contribution.

Since then, his path has taken an unexpected shape. He returned to the G League with the Salt Lake City Stars in early 2025, then pivoted to something few expected: a front office role with the Boston Celtics, the franchise where he had his defining years. He even called the team's Dillon Mitchell selection into the NBA during the 2026 draft.

But Thomas has made clear he isn't done playing.

"This has not been the easiest transition, first and foremost, because I can still play at a high level," he said on his podcast in May. He's been backing that up, most recently dropping 56 points at the Ball Don't Stop Pro Am.

No club deal is in place yet, and Thomas is still publicly weighing his options. But the combination of a fresh front-office role and a very public itch to keep playing paints a picture of a player who hasn't fully closed the door, even at 37.

Whether the overseas move materializes or not, Thomas remains one of the more compelling footnote stories in the league, a former All-Star who has refused to let the game end on anyone else's terms.