Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told local reporters on Wednesday the organization didn't think point guard Isaiah Thomas' rehab would take this long to complete.
Thomas underwent arthroscopic hip surgery on March 28, 2018. The lefty signed a one-year, $2 million free-agent deal with the Nuggets in July after splitting time last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Malone coached Isaiah Thomas with the Sacramento Kings, and the two have a very strong relationship:
Michael Malone today on Isaiah Thomas and Michael Porter Jr who are both without timelines to return.
On Thomas: “…I don't think any of us envisioned it going (this far into the season)…”
Porter has gone through non-contact parts of practice. “The guy has a pure jump shot." pic.twitter.com/Ws3ywQZBBk
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 16, 2019
After having one of the best seasons in the NBA during the 2016-17 season with the Boston Celtics, Isaiah Thomas has had a rough go of it.
The Celtics traded Thomas to the Cavs in the summer of 2017 in the Kyrie Irving trade. The two-time All-Star, who hasn't looked like his old self since he re-aggravated his hip in the 2017 playoffs, played in 14 games with Cleveland before the Cavs traded him to the Lakers at the 2018 February trade deadline.
Thomas averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists per game for the Cavs, but shot 36.1 percent from the field and wasn't a good fit next to star LeBron James.
IT averaged 15.6 points and 5.0 assists in 17 games with the Lakers before he underwent season-ending surgery. There is still no timetable for his return to the court this year.
Thomas is hoping he can rekindle the magic he and Malone had during their Sacramento days with the Nuggets.
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