From the 60th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft to being one of the league's shortest players, Isaiah Thomas has defied the odds through seven seasons. After unstable situations with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, Thomas has found a home with the Boston Celtics.

This past season, Thomas averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists as he led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, after losing the first two home games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was ruled out the remainder of the postseason with a hip injury. As Thomas prepares for the 2017-18 NBA season, he expects to be ready for training camp and jokes about his first growth spurt:

https://twitter.com/Isaiah_Thomas/status/894630703131963392

Despite the obstacles, Thomas has established himself as one of the league's best point guards. As he enters free agency, he is ‘very confident' in receiving a max contract. However, Thomas will not turn these extension discussions into a distraction as he hopes to take the Celtics to the next step.

After losing to the Cavaliers, the Celtics have improved significantly this offseason. Along with drafting Jayson Tatum, Boston signed Gordon Hayward in free agency. Depending on Kyrie Irving's future in Cleveland, the 17-time champions may have an opportunity to make their first Finals appearance since losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010.