Isaiah Thomas’ big return to the Celtics… as a scout!
Jan 3, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas (3) on the bench as they take on the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Isaiah Thomas is returning to the Celtics in a very different role. The former point guard has been hired as a scout by the Massachusetts franchise, according to information from the Boston Globe reported by Adam Himmelsbach.
A homecoming for a franchise icon
Thomas will be based in Seattle, his hometown — he is originally from Tacoma, Washington, and played at the University of Washington before entering the NBA. He will be an additional member of the C’s regional scouting network, alongside Derek Pierce, based in Atlanta, and Keandre Ashley, based in Dallas. The international scouting department is handled by Benas Matkevicius.
The guard is already on the job: he is currently accompanying Boston’s front office executives at the Draft Combine in Chicago, where he is sitting in on prospect interviews and getting familiar with the ins and outs of the scouting process. The Celtics hold the 27th pick in the upcoming draft.
Isaiah Thomas has been hired by the Celtics as a pro and college scout, per @AdamHimmelsbach 🙌
He’s been with the team this week at the NBA Scouting Combine ☘️ pic.twitter.com/YW6kSHSp6b
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 14, 2026
An atypical career path
Drafted in 2011, Isaiah Thomas wore the colors of eleven different franchises throughout a career marked by injuries. But it was in Boston that he reached his peak. Two All-Star Game selections, and a historic 2016-2017 season averaging 28.9 points and 5.9 assists! He finished fifth in MVP voting: the point guard carried the team on his back before suffering a hip injury in the playoffs. A few months later, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of the Kyrie Irving deal.
The rest of his career never recaptured that level. After bouncing around several franchises, he signed a ten-day contract with the Phoenix Suns in March 2024 without playing a single game, then joined the Salt Lake City Stars, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, in January 2025.
Despite a rocky end to his playing career, the bond between Thomas and Boston never truly broke. He recorded a voiceover for a Celtics intro video, wrote the foreword for the Boston Globe‘s book on the 2024 championship, and was in attendance at a home game in December 2025, seated next to new owner Bill Chisholm. In July 2024, following the franchise’s title, he told CelticsBlog: « It means everything. It’s a blessing. I always talk about it with my friends — it’s like I played here for ten years and won multiple championships. The love I have for this city, and vice versa, is something genuine. »
That emotional bond now takes on an official, professional form. Isaiah Thomas is beginning a new chapter in basketball, this time from behind the scenes.
Celebratory Isaiah Thomas highlights! 🎉
Here’s his 53-point Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals:
🎥 @BestOfCeltics0 pic.twitter.com/Bhg3TZeecq https://t.co/ER0jIXx3qA
— SleeperCeltics (@SleeperCeltics) May 14, 2026
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