Isaiah Thomas signs deal with Nuggets' G League team, eyeing return to NBA

Isaiah Thomas is ready to make his return to the NBA.

Thomas signed a deal with the Denver Nuggets’ G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, on Monday, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Thomas is set to compete in the G League Showcase in Las Vegas starting on Sunday. The event is a single-elimination tournament designed to give G League players a chance to play in front of NBA scouts at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Longtime NBA guard Jason Terry is in his first season leading the Gold.

Thomas last played for the New Orleans Pelicans last season on a 10-day contract, but the team opted not to sign him to a second deal. The two-time All-Star has spent time with the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Nuggets and Washington Wizards throughout his 10-year career in the league. The 32-year-old was traded from the Wizards to the Clippers in 2020, but was immediately waived.

Thomas averaged 18.1 points and 4.9 assists per game throughout his career. He hasn’t played in more than 40 games in a season since he averaged a career-high 28.9 points per game with the Celtics during the 2016-17 campaign.

While it’s unclear how much of an impact Thomas can have with a team, this stint in the G League will certainly give him the chance to prove to the Nuggets that he’s still capable of providing quality minutes. Whether this stint results in him getting called up to Denver, or anywhere else in the league, remains to be seen.