"There's never been an indication that I wouldn't be back, and there's never been an indication that this is something messing up my career," Thomas told ESPN. "Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I'm going to be back, and I'm going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that."
Thomas, 28, is entering the final year of his contract, and has been expected to be in line for a $100 million-plus contract in free agency. He had the best season of his career last year, averaging 28.9 points a game. In his three seasons with the Celtics, Thomas emerged as one of the NBA's elite guards. He was chosen an Eastern Conference All-Star twice.
"I haven't had one doctor tell me that this injury is going to hurt my career," Thomas said. "Surgery was not the best option in this case. I aggravated it in March when [Minnesota's] Karl-Anthony Towns fell on me. I kept playing on it, and making it worse -- until I couldn't play anymore last season."