In a surprising turn of events, point guard Isaiah Thomas landed with the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a trade during Thursday's NBA trade deadline. Even more surprising was to find out that the Washington native had always dreamed of wearing the purple and gold.

“It hasn't really hit me yet,” said Thomas of his new experience, according to Ryan Ward of ClutchPoints. “I'm a lifelong Laker fan. I mean, my family is from Inglewood, California. I was brainwashed in to being a Laker fan as a young boy and Kobe [Bryant] has been my favorite player.”

Thomas, who is in his seventh season in the league, is now wearing a third different jersey in the span of eight months, but the constant movement hasn't deterred his excitement for this new opportunity in the City of Angels.

“I'm happy to be here. I just want to put on a show and try to take over this city like I try to do each and every other city I've been in,” he said.

Thomas wore a pair of Kobe Bryant's low-top Nikes in his 22-point, six-assist team debut in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, a show of the true respect of admiration he's had for the Lakers' legend since the two were playing against one another through the earlier years of his career.

The 5-foot-9 dynamo has started coming off the bench for coach Luke Walton and got the first official practice under his belt today, likely the first of many as the Lakers wind down the remainder of this NBA season.