No! You're crying!... Isaiah's piece on Players Tribune

[umpacu]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/isaiah-thomas-trade-celtics-cavaliers/

Man... This guy... The little guy.

Thank you, IT.

[manl_lui]

that was a good heartfelt message left by IT, gonna miss him a lot

[Roy H.]

The city of Boston fell in love with you too, IT. 

That's an epic goodbye.

And when I arrived at the arena that night, after Chyna had passed — I was thinking, O.K., I just need that to happen. I need this court to be my shield tonight, I need this court to help me forget. But when I got out there? Man, it’s one of those things … I can’t even describe it. The applause that I got, I can still hear it. People had these signs they made, and I can still see them: THIS IS FOR CHYNA. WE <3 ISAIAH. That sort of thing. Then they did a moment of silence, the whole arena, in Chyna’s honor. And it was like … man. I just realized, in that moment, that I didn’t need the court to shield me. I didn’t need to block it all out, and pretend I wasn’t grieving. I didn’t have to be alone in this. The whole arena was right there with me. Honestly, it felt like the whole city of Boston was with me.

And at that point, you know, I think it just kind of hit me, like — of course I’ve gotta play. First of all, I’m going to do it for Chyna, and for my family. But then I’m also going to do it for my city. ’Cause what they’re showing me right now, is all I needed tonight: to know I’m not alone. They’re showing me that they’re going through the same thing I’m going through right now. They’re showing me that I’m one of them, and that we’re in this together. So let’s be in this together.

And for two and a half years, man, we were.

Of course, being on the team the East runs through now … I won’t lie, it’s some mixed emotions. Because that was our goal in Boston for so long — get through the Cavs, and win the East. And I know that’s still Boston’s goal. But now, it’s like, I’m the one who has to stop them from reaching it. And that’s tough. Because come playoff time, if and when we have to face the Celtics … I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. But that won’t just be “the team I used to be on.” That’s my old team. The elite offense, the 30-some national TV games, the becoming a place where free agents want to come and play — I feel like I helped build that. I helped create that.

And come playoffs, all of a sudden, it’ll be like, O.K., now destroy it.

It’s sad, man. It’s just sad.

And maybe that’s the answer to all of this, you know what I’m saying? Like, yeah, I’ll never be Tom Brady now. And I’ll never be David Ortiz. I’ll never be Bill Russell, or Paul Pierce, or Kevin Garnett, or Larry Bird. But whether I would have without this trade, or I wouldn’t have — I still like to imagine one thing.

I like to imagine that sometime not long from now, somewhere in Boston, someone is going to be a parent, talking basketball to their kid. And their kid is going to ask them, point-blank like kids do, you know, “Yo — why you become a Celtics fan?”

And that parent, man, they’re going to think back to themselves — really think on it. And then they’re going to smile, and tell the truth.

“I saw Isaiah Thomas play.”

That would make me very happy. For me, I think, that’d be enough.

Screw it, retire that man's number right now. He just articulated "Celtic Pride" more than I've ever seen.

[max215]

The greatest part of Isaiah's legacy in Boston? He never ceased to be great. There was no decline, no painful acceptance that he wasn't the player he used to be. He is, and always will be great. To Isaiah, and his rightful place alongside the names Bird, Russell, and Pierce.

[hpantazo]

That's an amazing, extremely well written goodbye from IT. I'm going to miss him being a Celtic, he really had bought fully into it, and is a class act on and off the court. Very sincere, no political BS that we see from most of the league nowadays.

[celticsclay]

The city of Boston fell in love with you too, IT. 

That's an epic goodbye.

And when I arrived at the arena that night, after Chyna had passed — I was thinking, O.K., I just need that to happen. I need this court to be my shield tonight, I need this court to help me forget. But when I got out there? Man, it’s one of those things … I can’t even describe it. The applause that I got, I can still hear it. People had these signs they made, and I can still see them: THIS IS FOR CHYNA. WE <3 ISAIAH. That sort of thing. Then they did a moment of silence, the whole arena, in Chyna’s honor. And it was like … man. I just realized, in that moment, that I didn’t need the court to shield me. I didn’t need to block it all out, and pretend I wasn’t grieving. I didn’t have to be alone in this. The whole arena was right there with me. Honestly, it felt like the whole city of Boston was with me.

And at that point, you know, I think it just kind of hit me, like — of course I’ve gotta play. First of all, I’m going to do it for Chyna, and for my family. But then I’m also going to do it for my city. ’Cause what they’re showing me right now, is all I needed tonight: to know I’m not alone. They’re showing me that they’re going through the same thing I’m going through right now. They’re showing me that I’m one of them, and that we’re in this together. So let’s be in this together.

And for two and a half years, man, we were.

Of course, being on the team the East runs through now … I won’t lie, it’s some mixed emotions. Because that was our goal in Boston for so long — get through the Cavs, and win the East. And I know that’s still Boston’s goal. But now, it’s like, I’m the one who has to stop them from reaching it. And that’s tough. Because come playoff time, if and when we have to face the Celtics … I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. But that won’t just be “the team I used to be on.” That’s my old team. The elite offense, the 30-some national TV games, the becoming a place where free agents want to come and play — I feel like I helped build that. I helped create that.

And come playoffs, all of a sudden, it’ll be like, O.K., now destroy it.

It’s sad, man. It’s just sad.

So he comes back for the MLE next year as a super sub?

[fairweatherfan]

I recognize why it made sense to move on from IT and make that trade, but man it sucks. But we were lucky to have him here as long as we did.

Wishing IT the best of luck to the precise extent that it doesn't interfere with our success. (sorry guy, still a fan)

[Donoghus]

That's a really, really, really good piece of writing by IT4.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I recognize why it made sense to move on from IT and make that trade, but man it sucks. But we were lucky to have him here as long as we did.

Wishing IT the best of luck to the precise extent that it doesn't interfere with our success. (sorry guy, still a fan)

TP. Sums up my thoughts quite well.

[max215]

That's a really, really, really good piece of writing by IT4 a ghost writer.

The words represent IT's ideas and sentiments, but I believe all PT articles are ghost written.

[LGC88]

I never thought IT would be traded.
There is a limit to trade someone (I thought wrongly).
Still puzzled how it is possible to trade someone who put historical Celtics numbers and give it all for the city.
First time in a decade that Danny disappoint me. And he did it big time.
I watch the Celtics because it's the only franchise capable to elevate great players like IT with their winning culture and pride.
I'm a bit less of a Celtics fan now, if that makes any sense.
I'm very hurt.

[Donoghus]

That's a really, really, really good piece of writing by IT4 a ghost writer.

The words represent IT's ideas and sentiments, but I believe all PT articles are ghost written.

Well, regardless of who wrote it then, it's a helluva piece.

[Draft XIV]

Thank you for all Isaiah, great article, i really gonna miss you, and best wishes and better luck on your career, except against us
Once a Celtic, always a Celtic

[max215]

That's a really, really, really good piece of writing by IT4 a ghost writer.

The words represent IT's ideas and sentiments, but I believe all PT articles are ghost written.

Well, regardless of who wrote it then, it's a helluva piece.

Yep. Uniquely insightful for PT piece. A tough read for anyone who wishes Thomas was still in green, and likely an illuminating one for those who don't.

[max215]

I never thought IT would be traded.
There is a limit to trade someone (I thought wrongly).
Still puzzled how it is possible to trade someone who put historical Celtics numbers and give it all for the city.
First time in a decade that Danny disappoint me. And he did it big time.
I watch the Celtics because it's the only franchise capable to elevate great players like IT with their winning culture and pride.
I'm a bit less of a Celtics fan now, if that makes any sense.
I'm very hurt.

We all are, man. We all are.