Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics star, after first All-NBA honor: ‘I want to be so much better’
WALTHAM — After earning his first All-Star berth last season, Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas pondered what his next goal should be. With a smile, he told the media he wanted to make an All-NBA team next.
“That’s another goal of mine,” Thomas said then, “that I’m going to try to push towards and see where it takes me.”
The goal seemed far-fetched at the time given how many great guards play in the NBA, but the pushing worked. After a remarkable season, Thomas officially earned second team All-NBA honors Thursday, becoming the first Celtics player since Paul Pierce in 2008-09 to qualify for the first or second team. No Boston player had reached All-NBA status since Rajon Rondo in 2011-12.
“It’s a blessing, a blessing from God, for the Celtics for giving me an opportunity to be myself,” Thomas said after a Celtics film session Thursday. “And my teammates, it’s not just, I guess, something for me, it’s for this team. They allow me to be who I am and they like me for who…