Isaiah Thomas features on G League debut as he continues to fight for a spot on the NBA roster

Former NBA All-Star Isiah Thomas last played in an NBA game in April 2021 against the New Orleans Pelicans and has since fought to find a home on the NBA roster.

NBA League Pass: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7 days free trial)

He takes another step towards his goal, signing with Gold Grand Rapids, the Denver Nuggets G League affiliate, is looking to use the G League Showcase to showcase the NBA teams he can still contribute to at the highest level.

On his Gold debut, Thomas did more than that, scoring 42 points, eight assists and six rebounds after shooting 16/30, knocking out five three-pointers.

Thomas has resumed training after last playing on a 10-day contract with the Pelicans, joining Team USA in the 2023 FIBA ​​World Cup Qualifiers in November, averaging 21 points in two games, including a match with 3 points against Cuba .

“The ultimate goal is to get back into the NBA,” Thomas said while playing for the US National Team.

The 32-year-old man recently said The Athletic’s Shams Charania However, Rajon Rondo came close to earning his spot on the in-season roster after successfully training with the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer.

“I was so close,” Thomas said. “I truly believe that if the Rondo buyout hadn’t happened, I would have become a Laker.”

“All respect Rondo and respect the Lakers organization. I’ve been around those people for a bit. I was able to work with ‘Bron and Westbrook. So they saw me in my element and they saw me back in who I am. ”

THAN: The NBA’s Hard Exception Explained

With 60 players participate in tournament health and safety protocols, including 43 this week, due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases, some teams are operating thin, meaning Thomas can hear his phone ringing, with teams being able to sign players exceeds the 15 player list limit, except for tournament difficulty.

Former NBA guard Lance Stephenson was also in attendance for the Gold, scoring 18 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in the 131-127 loss to Fort Wayne Mad Ants as he also wanted to use the G League as an avenue back League.

What is the NBA G League Showcase?

The 2021 G League showcase has a knockout tournament where eight teams will compete for the Sports Cup title.

The battle for the eight-team Showcase Cup field began on November 5, when the 29 teams of the G League and NBA G League Ignite were split into four regional groups, playing 12 matches against each other in the markets. Local NBA G League.

The teams with the best percentage of wins in each regional group, along with the next four teams across the league with the highest percentage of wins, will compete for the Showcase Cup Championship. winter. The remaining teams will each play two games outside of the Showcase Cup Tournament during the event period.

The pitch has not been set for the G League Showcase, with a “regional group” schedule set to end on December 17.

The G League Showcase will begin on Sunday, December 19 and end on Wednesday, December 22.

Team scouts and executives will be present to assess the players.