Although several players under six feet have made their mark in the NBA, the league is and will always be a big man's game. This tenet holds true today more than ever, especially with the tremendous impact of the San Antonio Spurs' rising superstar, Victor Wembanyama, who stands seven feet tall.
Therefore, Isaiah Thomas ' four-year run among the NBA's elite is considered an impressive feat. Although he stood a mere 5'9" and weighed only 185 points, he played larger than life on the court. He was a scoring machine, averaging 22.0 points per game and earning two All-Star selections from 2013 to 2017, highlighted by his memorable stint with the Boston Celtics.
But how did Thomas manage to excel in such an unforgiving league? The answer lies in his mindset and approach to the game. Despite his small stature, Thomas knew he had to be outstanding every time he stepped onto the floor. He couldn't afford to take plays off or coast through games – he had to give it his all every moment he was on the court.
IT had to be exceptional in every game
With the plethora of athletic and talented players over six feet tall in the NBA, Thomas knew he had to be unique and stand out. If not, he risked being replaced by someone taller and more physically gifted. But instead of letting this reality of life intimidate him, Thomas used it as motivation to sharpen his game.
"It's tough because you gotta be, like, super special. You gotta do things at a high level that most guys don't have to do. So I gotta be exceptional every time I step on the floor," Thomas told Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson on the "Knuckleheads" podcast.
More to it, IT said he couldn't afford to miss many shots or commit too many turnovers; in essence, his leash was shorter than most stars, given his height or lack thereof. However, he didn't rue any of this.
"It's not fair, but that was just the way of life—that was the way of how the game is. Because as you guys know, it's a big man's game, so it's like, when you do come in as a small guard, you gotta do kind of everything perfect. You gotta be... obviously, you can't be perfect, but you gotta be close," Isaiah added.
Related: "That's not a goal I want to achieve. That's not something I think I'll be good at" - Allen Iverson on why he would never want to be a coach
One person an integral part of IT's development
In that same interview, IT credited Damon Stoudamire —the 1996 Rookie of the Year—with helping him understand the things he needed to work on to make it in the NBA and thrive as a player under six feet tall.
"Damon Stoudamire was a big one for me. He was a lefty, he was from Portland, which is close to Tacoma and Seattle, and somebody that, like, once I got to meet him at a young age, that was kind of who I emulated my game after. Lefty that could shoot it, had super handles, was really quick. I got a Mighty Mouse tattoo because of him," IT relayed.
As Isaiah came into his own at the University of Washington, he began forming a relationship with Damon. He absorbed as much information as possible from the 13-year veteran who played for four teams in the league.
"He was a big inspiration to, you know, my life and my career. And once I got old enough, especially going into college, he was a guy that really paved the way and helped me with things that I was searching for, like, 'What do I gotta do to make it to the NBA as a small guard?'" Thomas shared.
"And he was a guy that was like, 'You gotta be able to knock down shots, you gotta be able to be creative in the paint, you gotta be able to be unpredictable.' That was the first guy that kind of gave me the game of how to make it as a small guy," IT stated.
Although IT's run alongside the league's best didn't last long, it was remarkable, considering how stacked the odds were against him. Standing at just 5'9", Thomas was often overlooked and underestimated, but he never let that stop him from chasing his dreams.
Related: “It was one of the weirdest moments of my life” – Isaiah Thomas looks back on his unforgettable 50-point game in the NBA Playoffs
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