Denver Nuggets point guard Isaiah Thomas claims retirement never crossed his mind while he was recovering from his hip injury.

Thomas poured his heart out to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears in an April 10 interview.

Did you seriously consider retiring while you were out with the hip injury?

‘Oh, hell no. I'm playing until I'm 40…I want to play until I can't no more. For sure.

Spears then asked Thomas how his health has been holding up.

I'm good, I'm good. All I know is to keep going. And I know, like I keep saying, if ever I get the opportunity again, I'm running back up and they won't be able to take it from me this time.

Thomas underwent successful arthroscopic right hip surgery on March 29, 2018. He was still with the Los Angeles Lakers back then.

Thomas's hip issues lingered for almost two years. His hip injury cut short his playoff stint with the Boston Celtics in 2017. He had to undergo eight months of rehab.

Thomas signed a one-year contract with the Nuggets on July 16, 2018. He returned to action against his former team, the Sacramento Kings, on February 13, 2019. Thomas scored eight points and recorded two assists in 13 minutes of play.

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The Nuggets finished the 2018-19 NBA season with a 54-28 (.659) win-loss record – their best finish in six years. Behind the exploits of players such as Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Paul Millsap, and Will Barton, Denver secured the No. 2 playoff spot in the Western Conference. They will face the seventh-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

Thomas told Spears on Wednesday returning to the playoffs means everything to him.

Everything. I'm comfortable on that stage, so it'd mean a lot to be able to get an opportunity, a real opportunity, to go and showcase what I can do and I can help this team.

‘Cause I know a lot of these guys haven't experienced that stage yet and it's tough, it's different from the regular season.

But if my name gets called, I'll be more than ready to put on a show, for sure.

A rejuvenated Isaiah Thomas should contribute significantly to the cause of a young and exciting Nuggets team in the postseason. Other teams better watch out.