Twitter is a dangerous world. It gives everyone a voice, be it to politely ask someone to join you in Temecula for a fight or update fans on another DeMarcus Cousins illness. You have 140 characters to get your message across and that is exactly what people attempt to do.
On Friday afternoon, a bay area radio personality turned to twitter to share a few tidbits he had learned about former Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas from his sources. It’s not our place to question another media member. And according to the reporter in question, he was just relaying information.
But the content of the tweets aimed at Thomas read like this – “a complete fraud” who “knew when cameras were on & how to fake being a good/guy teammate,” and “as bad a teammate as anyone”.
That’s rough. Actually, it’s more than rough. That information is counter to everything I know to be true about Thomas in the three years that I covered him.
Here is a quick rundown of what people in the Kings locker room had to say about the dynamic Phoenix Suns Point guard:
- Rudy Gay on Thomas: “No, he stuck to himself. It was a little different last year. He was playing for something, but he was a professional. He’s always been a professional as long as I’ve played with him. All I can speak on is half a season last year and he wasn’t a bad teammate.”
- Jason Thompson on Thomas: “I think Isaiah was an emotional, fiery guy. He was the last pick in the draft so he had something to prove. He became a fan a favorite. He had a lot of energy, but I don’t see that at all. I don’t think he was a bad teammate at all. He stayed to himself at times, but at the end of the day, we all have to take care of out ourselves and our families for long term.”
- Thompson on Thomas as a teammate: “I know when I was with him, (he was a) good dude. I don’t have too many people I don’t get along with and he was one that I got along with and could relate to on certain things.”
- Carl Landry on Thomas: “During the stint that I was here with him, he came to play every night and it showed on the court. He has a job to do and every time he was on the court, he did his job. You guys seen it, he’s a fan favorite still around here. It’s all about taking care of business on the court and that is what he did.”
- Landry on whether Thomas was a good teammate: “Definitely, he was kind of quiet, stayed to himself, but at times was a leader and that’s what this team needed at that time.”
- Ray McCallum: “He was a great teammate for me. I learned a lot from him. He kind of took me under his wing. Last year was his third year and he told me everything that he had learned to this point, especially when he was hurt and I got the opportunity to play. He was always there in my ear constantly trying to encourage me and make sure I was doing the right thing.”
- McCallum on Thomas as a teammate: “I thought he was a good teammate. Yeah, it would be a shock to me to hear that. He’s about the right things. He wanted to help this team win. For me, he was a good leader to learn from.”
- Devin Blankenship, former director of media relations for the Sacramento Kings on Thomas: “I was lucky enough to work on a near daily basis with IT in and around the locker room his first two seasons in the NBA and I consider him one of the most genuine players I’ve ever encountered. When any staff had a request for him, his only response was always, ‘when do you need me and where? He was respectful to fans, players, staff and coaches, and Sacramento was lucky to have him during his time here, not only as a player, but as a citizen. I never saw anything to remotely hint otherwise, both at home and on the road.”
There were plenty more off-the-record discussions about Thomas and the prevailing image portrayed was of a solid teammate and community advocate. One person said, “you have a guy who grew up outside of Seattle and he was at city council meetings in Sacramento trying to keep the team in town.”
Another NBA source said, “Thomas was not the vocal leader many imagine, but one that relishes the NBA grind and focuses intensely on his craft. Rumors of discord created or exacerbated by his hand are widely exaggerated.”
Again, no player is perfect, nor should they be. But I began covering this team the season before Isaiah Thomas was drafted. I watched every game he played in a Kings uniform and be it in practice or the locker room, I saw an honest, hard working competitor in an untenable situation. He always stuck around to field questions from the media and I had many off-the-record conversations with him.
I have yet to find a person with a negative view of the fiery guard, but clearly there is at least one out there.
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