Isaiah Thomas has played just four NBA games since 2020. Three of them came late last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, and one of them was for the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

The Lakers lost, 110-92, to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. However, Thomas, for one night, proved he belonged on an NBA court.

IT's signing was reported on Thursday, just as guards Russell Westbrook and Avery Bradley joined Malik Monk, Talen-Horton Tucker, and Dwight Howard in COVID-19 health and safety protocols. But Westbrook cleared protocols on Friday afternoon, which seemingly lessened the need for another creative guard.

Well, until Isaiah Thomas checked in early in the 2nd quarter.

The 32-year old scored 19 points in 22 minutes for a team-best -1 (not counting two-way center Jay Huff's garbage time +3). He was aggressive from the get-go, and his shot looked clean. He led the Lakers with nine free-throw attempts, making seven.

Afterward, the Lakers — who are more concerned about the impending MRI of Anthony Davis' knee than anything else — expressed pride in Thomas' performance.

“Happy to see IT back in the league and healthy,” said LeBron, who played with Thomas for half-a-season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Obviously, he has his shot back and it's good to have him.”

“He's a proven scorer. He's a great offensive player,” Frank Vogel said. “There's a reason he averaged 28 points in this league.”

Thomas was grateful for the opportunity to not just re-join the NBA, but to do so for the Lakers.

“It's been overwhelming for me. It's been a lot,” he said about the last 24 hours. “It's something that I always wanted. It's something that I worked for. Luckily, I got the opportunity. It's amazing to be able to be on the Lakers again … I'm thankful for the opportunity, first and foremost.”

“I just prepare for these moments, honestly,” he added. “I've played 10 years in the NBA. The hoop is 1o-foot, the ball is brown. It's just getting to know your teammates. It was a cool moment for me, other than the loss. I've been through a lot the last few years. It was dope to be out there in the Laker uniform.”

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Thomas spoke at length about his road to recovery after two hip surgeries:

“My low moments was just not being able to play at the level that I'm accustomed to playing at. That was very frustrating; when your mind is telling you to do something that your body won't allow you to do. That was my first major injury… Basketball is everything to me. So, it really stopped me from being who I am. It really stopped me from being happy. Basketball has made me happy. So it was tough for me. Those were the lowest moments of my life. Obviously, in '17, my sister passed away, and like everything was downhill … but I laid on my support system — which is my family, my wife, my kids, and they kept me going.”

Thomas was grateful for the reception he received from the Timberwolves crowd.

“The dopest moment for me: when I checked into the game and they really cheered for me. And this is an away game. Those moments mean more to me than anything, just because people respect what I do and people respect the grind I'm on. And I think me being 5'9 helps. I'm the normal person's height. So people cheer for me just because of that. … I just never thought I would feel this way again. I have no limitations with my body, with my hip. and that's why I just smile so much: cause I'm just in a great place mentally and a great place physically.”

Yes, the Lakers were blown out by Minnesota for the second time this season, and who knows how long Thomas will actually be with the team. For now, though, IT's return counts as a feel-good story, at a time when the Lakers — paralyzed by COVID-19 and AD's knee injury — suddenly need one.