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

[mmmmm]

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.

Word.

[SparzWizard]

Also, IT4 doesn't think the Boston Celtics got any better with that trade.

Well you won't be getting a max contract any time soon with that hip injury lol. The Cavs aren't getting any better in the long run either when LeBron leaves and you're stuck with Tyronn Lue. IT4 is sure talkative now.

[C3LTSF4N]

Also, IT4 doesn't think the Boston Celtics got any better with that trade.

Well you won't be getting a max contract any time soon with that hip injury lol. The Cavs aren't getting any better in the long run either when LeBron leaves and you're stuck with Tyronn Lue. IT4 is sure talkative now.

Give me a break

[TheSundanceKid]

Great read, thanks for sharing. It's weird him being in Cleveland but I'll be cheering for him nonetheless. And if they do make it to the finals I'll be rooting for him there too!

[Diggles]

Man~  I would love to give him a 4 year deal next year with a no trade clause for 40Million.   6th man of the year 4 years in a row.....   So many reason why this won't happen.  But it only takes one reason to do it.....   

IT has worked his way past/even to Rondo for me....

[nickagneta]

Emotional. Exceptional. To the point. Well written.

I wouldn't have expected any different from a great guy, great person, great player, great Celtic.

[Endless Paradise]

Also, IT4 doesn't think the Boston Celtics got any better with that trade.

Well you won't be getting a max contract any time soon with that hip injury lol. The Cavs aren't getting any better in the long run either when LeBron leaves and you're stuck with Tyronn Lue. IT4 is sure talkative now.

Anyone else thinks this seems oddly petty and meanspirited? Way to boil down the entire point of the article to a single throwaway where he basically says "I don't think Kyrie is better than me" and turn that into some sort of weird slight.

[Roy H.]

Also, IT4 doesn't think the Boston Celtics got any better with that trade.

Well you won't be getting a max contract any time soon with that hip injury lol. The Cavs aren't getting any better in the long run either when LeBron leaves and you're stuck with Tyronn Lue. IT4 is sure talkative now.

Anyone else thinks this seems oddly petty and meanspirited? Way to boil down the entire point of the article to a single throwaway where he basically says "I don't think Kyrie is better than me" and turn that into some sort of weird slight.

Yeah, it kind of misses the point.

Plus, I think IT is right, but that's beside the point right now.

[saltlover]

Just as I'd finally cycled through the various grief stages into acceptance, Isaiah has to write this and make me start all over again.

A true Celtic.

[tarheelsxxiii]

What a class act.  In such a short period of time, he embraced the Celtic Pride as well as any one I've ever seen.  And he leaves as my personal favorite Celtic of all time.

[mctyson]

Emotional. Exceptional. To the point. Well written.

I wouldn't have expected any different from a great guy, great person, great player, great Celtic.

Is it just me or is it weird that he didn't thank any of his teammates?

Not gonna lie but it wasn't just him that "clawed" for the team's success and got traded.

[Neurotic Guy]

No Isaiah, No Cry

[tarheelsxxiii]

Emotional. Exceptional. To the point. Well written.

I wouldn't have expected any different from a great guy, great person, great player, great Celtic.

Is it just me or is it weird that he didn't thank any of his teammates?

Not gonna lie but it wasn't just him that "clawed" for the team's success and got traded.

I didn't notice, but he's close with Bradley and there's a comment about Jae. 

[Hank Finkel]

What a class act.  In such a short period of time, he embraced the Celtic Pride as well as any one I've ever seen.  And he leaves as my personal favorite Celtic of all time.

I agree. Great article from IT telling his side. Danny really did tear the heart out the team trying to improve it.  My feeling is Bradley was what the C's really are.  Hard working, dedicated, modest, humble and great teammates.  IT brought the flare and Pizzaz to make the team special. That will be sorely missed.  The only constant and link now to the glory days is DA himself so I think he did what is best to get banner 18.   I will always miss IT for his heart and that special pride he showed to Celtic fans during his time here.

[KGBirdBias]

Great piece, heartfelt and genuine...BUT when we all stop crying for IT let's look at this a different way.

His girlfriend (Celtics) dumped him and he is now with a super model (Bron) and by the way he just hit the lotto too (FA).