Isaiah Thomas’ eventual return to the basketball court will come in its proper time and while fans can’t wait to see the high scoring guard with the team, Thomas himself is just as anxious.
Sunday night, Thomas posted a message on Twitter which some NBA players do just prior to the tip-off of games.
https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas/status/934999899141230592
His message couldn’t have been misunderstood by the biggest skeptic, however, those within the organization insists that even with ramping up his workouts, Thomas is still steps away from returning to the hardwood.
Monday, Thomas spoke with Cleveland.com at shootaround saying the message was indeed in reference to his impending return, but he’s not at the point where he can play competitively and help the team just yet.
If I could average 30 points a night, I’d be out there already. I can’t right now so I’m not out there yet.
As it currently stands, Thomas has yet to participate in any team scrimmages, nor has he progressed to the level of being able to play in three-on-three games. His conditioning is also not up to par, but he is working hard to get back on the court as soon as possible. As the days pass, the closer to his target return date approaches.
The 28-year-old is scheduled to return Jan. 1 and the Cavs have not altered the date, and they are wise not to rush their young star only to reaggravate such a debilitating injury. If there was an early date, it would be on Christmas Day when the Cavs matchup against the Golden State Warriors, but that isn’t a definite.
Until then, the two-time All-Star will continue working in team shootarounds. Once he’s able to comfortably play in three-on-three matches, full practices will follow, then conditioning and finally the trade that brought him to the Cavs will be complete.
It’s almost time.