Despite earlier reports of Isaiah Thomas having an alleged conflictive egotistical personality by Fox Sports 1's Chris Broussard, former teammate Evan Turner shrugged all those claims, having known Thomas since he was a young kid in high school.
“I met IT in high school, we always been tight,” Turner told Jared Weiss of CelticsBlog after the trade that sent him to Cleveland. “The kid has literally acted the same with me since I was 16. I just don't see how that even comes out. I’ve never known him to be an [expletive] or disliked by anyone. He's not arrogant or anything. Dude works his [expletive] off.”
This isn't the first time that Broussard has had a hot take of this kind and while Turner is the first to openly refute these claims, no other executives have seconded these anonymous sources to double down on the initial report.
Turner was hesitant to reach out to Thomas right after the trade, citing he didn't want to be seen as one of the bunch, clamoring for his attention.
“Sometimes I feel weird reaching out when some of my close friends reach stardom, cause everybody be nut huggin’ them and I don’t want to seem like a leech,” Turner told Thomas shortly after the trade was made official.
The Blazers swingman was caught by surprise by Broussard's report, given how vastly different his experience with the 5-foot-9 dynamo in his personal life and during his time playing with him as a member of the Celtics.
“It's funny that that was ever mentioned,” he said. “I never heard anyone in any part of life say anything bad about him! Especially as a teammate. He was always there working his [expletive] off before and after practice. That little dude worked! Can't say anything bad about him.”
Turner cited coach Brad Stevens and the culture he instilled in the locker room, keeping everyone accountable and the lines of communication open, ridding the players of any resentment toward one another.
“I think when you're around the right people with the right attitude, then you're challenged in a positive way to try and step up,” Turner said, “He was a great teammate and he worked hard and I think everyone in that locker room tried to hold each other accountable as a teammate and worker.”
“IT is the type of person to more so be hurt if someone wasn't giving their all because that little dude battles,” Turner said. “I can't even put into words bruh, you just gotta see it. And to see him rise is unreal. Nothing ill should ever be said about that guy. He's maximizing everything he's been blessed with on and off the court!”
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