Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Jamar Thomas (born February 7, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 5-foot-9-inch (1.75 m)^[1] point guard played three years of college basketball for the Washington Huskies and was a three-time all-conference selection in the Pac-10.

Born to James Thomas and Tina Baldtrip, Isaiah Thomas was named after former Detroit Pistons Hall of Fame guard Isiah Thomas. A lifelong Lakers fan, James made a bet with a friend that his beloved team would defeat the Pistons in the 1989 Finals or he would name his son after decorated Lakers nemesis Isiah Thomas. He was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington.^[4] As a child, he had the nicknames "Bighead" (or Head) from his father and "Zeke" from his mother, after Isiah Thomas's nickname.

Thomas led the Celtics to a first-round win over the Chicago Bulls after learning the day before the series began that his younger sister, Chyna Thomas, had died in a car accident outside of his native Tacoma, Washington. After the Celtics defeated the Bulls 4–2, he flew cross-country to attend her funeral. He returned to Boston for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and had 33 points and nine assists in helping the Celtics defeat the Washington Wizards