Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Isaiah Thomas has been recovering from a hip injury he sustained in last season’s Eastern Conference playoffs, but by all accounts, the crafty ball-handler is on the fast-track to making a return to the hardwood.
On Sunday, the Cavs practiced at The Olympic Club in San Francisco in advance of their Christmas Day meeting with the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Thomas went through the session with no ill effects, according to several reports.
After Sunday’s practice died down a bit, Thomas remained on the floor to practice a few dunks. Remember, this is a man who is 5-foot-9. Being able to dunk at that height is a true testament to his athletic ability.
Initial reports indicated that Thomas would be ready for on-court action by January. Now, however, with several successful practices under his belt, it seems the two-time All Star is slightly ahead of schedule. In fact, some have said the former Washington Huskies stand-out could make his Cavaliers debut during their current West Coast road trip.
“Ty Lue said that Thomas was “a little sore, but nothing serious” after his full-court scrimmage with the Canton Charge on Thursday. Thomas went through practice with the Cavs on Saturday, which was mostly walk-through preparation and “a lot of shooting drills live, full court.” Before practice Sunday, members of the coaching staff ran Thomas through several of the offensive play calls in a 5-on-0 halfcourt setting. While Thomas has already been ruled out Monday against Golden State, what about Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings? “I’m not sure,” Lue said. “Just got to see.”
In his 76 games played for the Boston Celtics last season, Thomas, now 28 years of age, turned in some of the best statistical figures of his life, 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 — all while knocking down 91 percent of his free-throws.
Without a doubt, Thomas is itching to contribute to his new team. Exactly when he’ll take the floor remains to be seen, though. Be sure to keep your browsers locked on Cavs Nation for more updates on this topic as they become available.