Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Isaiah Thomas seems to be on the fast track to recovery. In fact, the crafty ball-handler was in full uniform for team warm-ups prior to Thursday night’s 115-112 win over the Chicago Bulls inside Quicken Loans Arena. Though he did not enter the game, the crafty ball-handler was spotted wearing a unique pair of Kobe Bryant’s signature shoe while warming up with his teammates in the lay-up line.
The kicks, which have been dubbed as the Nike Kobe AD Isaiah Thomas Slow Grind PE, feature the Cavs’ alternate uniform colors and a special “Slow Grind” message embroidered on the heel.
Earlier this week, Thomas hinted at his desire to have his own signature shoe.
Initial reports pointed to Isaiah Thomas returning from his hip injury sometime around January. However, more recent reports are indicating that the former Washington Huskies stand-out is slightly ahead of schedule with regards to rehabilitation. There have been whispers floating about that claim he could be ready to make his Cavs debut during the team’s upcoming West Coast Road trip, which begins on Monday (Christmas Day) with a match-up against the Golden State Warriors inside Oracle Arena. However, Thomas has already been ruled out for the game on Christmas, but it sounds like his return to the hardwood is coming soon.
In his 76 games played for the Celtics last season, Thomas, now 28 years of age, turned in some of the best statistical figures of his career, averaging a career-high 28.9 points on 46 percent shooting from the field (38 percent from beyond the arc), 5.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds.
Along with Cavs big man Ante Zizic, Thomas went through five-on-five drills with members of the Canton Charge on Thursday afternoon.
“I had a smile on my face the whole practice,” Thomas told Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. “I felt like a basketball player again.”