Celtics star Isaiah Thomas — the shortest player in the league — chatted with fans in China on the NBA’s official Weibo page on 5 Jan, talking about his motivations, how he’s proven people wrong in his career and why he loves playing in Boston.
Do you think you are the fastest player in the league? How did you get your speed?
I do not think I’m the fastest player in the league – there are a few faster than me. John Wall’s one. And a guy named Ish Smith, who plays for the 76ers, he might be the fastest with the ball in his hands. I’ve always been small and quick, and trying to become even faster has become who I am. For me, being small, I gotta be quick out there. It’s something I’ve always had.
What are your goals for the remainder of the season?
First off, my goals are to make the Playoffs. Get the highest seed possible for this team, make the Playoffs, be the best team we can possibly be. Going out there and playing hard each and every night, and at the end of the day, having fun. Individually being an All-Star would be great, but by having team success, winning games, individual success will come.
What did people first think of you when you entered the NBA?
Probably just a small guy who liked to score. That was probably it. I’ve changed the perception of myself by being on a winning team now and learning how to get others involved. The point guard position is the hardest in the NBA, and learning how to run a team is one of the hardest things to do. Each and every day I’m learning about picking and choosing my spots, when to score and when to get teammates involved.
How long you begin to play basketball？
Ever since I can remember. My parents told me I had a ball in my hands since I was little boy. My first team I played on was in 4th grade – that was my first organized basketball team – and it was all she wrote after that. I fell in love with the game, and continued to play every day.
Hi Isaiah, what motivates you? Thank you love you
Just the doubt people still have. That motivates me each and every day to continue to work on my craft, along with knowing I have a lot of room for improvements, that I don’t know it all and that I’m not the best player I can possibly be right now. The motivation to reach your potential if you want to put it like that, and continue to work
Have you been to China?
I have! This past summer I was in ChongQing, I was out there for a week for a basketball camp. It was nice. Everybody was friendly, that’s what I remember the most. Really appreciative that I came out there, so that was nice.
What is your daily workout routine? What shooting drills do you focus on?
Every day before practice, I get a certain amount of makes in. 5 spots around the court or 7 spots, and just try to get the feel of the basketball. Shoot mid-range, then 3-point shot after practice is over. In the season it’s all about repetition. Staying sharp in your skills and continue to work – you want to work smarter, not harder and make sure you’re body’s ready for the game.
对于如何团结球队你有什么建议和方法？
What advice would you give to a team that needs to build team chemistry?
Everybody has to be on the same page, have the same goal and have no hidden agendas. That’s so tough, being in the NBA. Everybody wants to be the man, score the most points and get the most recognition. When you’re on a team where nobody cares about being the guy, that’s the team to be on. At the end of the day you’re in it for one goal. You don’t care about anything else, and you’re gonna do whatever it takes to reach that goal. I’m on a team right now that continues to work and nobody cares who gets credit.
每天起床后的第一件事，是什么？
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Actually my kids wake me up. That’s the first thing I do. Get them some cereal or something, play with them and take them off to school, day care. That’s the first thing I do and I go from there. Usually I have practice or something – I try to get my mind right for a game later that night.
At the first game you played in NBA,were you feeling nervous?dude ,talk about your feeling
I was a little nervous. I think my first preseason game was the Golden State Warriors. But once you got out there and got you name called it was like you were back home with your friends. Nothing I’d never seen before, but leading up to the game you’re so anxious you don’t know what to expect. Then when you’re out there it’s like you’re back in college or HS. That’s the good thing about basketball. The hoop is 10 foot and the basketball’s still round.
I want to know your hobbies and interests outside of basketball
Hanging around with my family, raising my two boys, 5 years old and 3 years old. I play video games. I’m trying to get more into watching movies. I’m not patient enough, I ask too many questions when I watch movie, so I just chill and play video games with my family.
Do you think your height has limited your ability to develop in any area?
Not really. I’ve used my height to my advantage in my career. People always ask how I do that. In the NBA it’s about space and opportunity, and I’m quick enough to get past defenders. I use my quickness and strength to get to the hole and make baskets around the rim. On the defensive end, I try to beat guys to the spot.
I am a current student at the University of Washington, what was your favorite class and what did you like most about UofW
My favorite class had to be drama class. It was a lot of acting. It was a lot of fun. I was looking forward to that class throughout the week. Best thing about U of W is being a big college atmosphere, and enjoying college. Going to football games, people that love your presence. The teammates I had in college are lifelong friend. That’s the great thing about college. You don’t know where your relationship will go with them, and I miss that most about college. That was home for me.
Any tip for a basketball player as short as you?
First off you gotta just have a big heart. You can never back down from anybody, no matter what somebody says to you about how small you are. Second, you have to be strong, mentally and physically. You gotta be strong and be able to take a beating, especially in the NBA. I hit the ground a few times a game, and it hurts, but you have to continue to get up and continue to fight. It’s all about out-working the competition when you’re a smaller guy.
How did you react to Kobe’s retirement?
It was tough, because that’s a guy I looked up to, one of my favorite players of all time. My family’s from California, so I was brainwashed into being a Laker fan, so I always looked up to him. It kinda hurt when you heard he was retiring, because he’s done so much for the game of basketball and he’s been around so long you never thought that this day would come. Everybody respects him, and he’s definitely the best player of my generation
How are you liking playing in Boston?
It’s unbelievable. The best fan-base I’ve ever been a part of, the best organization I’ve ever been a part of. I can’t really describe the feeling, but when you put on a Celtics jersey it’s a different feeling than any other jersey. When you walk in that Garden, it’s a different feeling as well. I love being a Celtic, hopefully I can be a Celtic for a lot longer and hopefully we can bring a lot more success to this town and this team.
What’s it like playing for the winningest team in the history of NBA?
It feels great, knowing that you have so much history in putting on that uniform, knowing it takes a lot of responsibility putting on the Celtics uniform in the way you play the game of basketball. You gotta give it your all because these fans expect nothing but greatness and this organization expects nothing but NBA championships. You gotta have that championship mindset.
What’s your most memorable NBA experience?
Probably making the playoffs last year, that’s the best feeling I’ve had since I got Drafted. It was unbelievable, and I want to make sure I experience that every year from this year to the end of my career.
What all-time player would you want to play against?
Allen Iverson. That’d be the guy I’d love to play against. He was one of my role models growing up on the basketball court, and I happened to not be able to play against him, he retired before I got into the NBA.
What would it mean to make the All-Star Game?
It’d mean everything. It’d mean the world. That’s one of my goals, and I’ve dreamed of playing in All-Star weekend and being a part of that weekend. I think it’d change my career in terms of how people view me. My peers view me one way, but just how media and the league views me, I think it will help my career so much. Hopefully with us being able to win games, hopefully my name’s called when the All-Star selections are here
