Signs are pointing toward an NBA return for Isiah Thomas.
Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reported on Tuesday night that recent Suns owner Mat Ishbia “intends to bring on Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas to have a distinguished role within the front office.”
Thomas is on the board of Ishbia’s mortgage company, United Wholesale Mortgage.
Ishbia, who reportedly considered entering into coaching after playing Division I ball at Michigan State, purchased the team from Robert Sarver, who was forced to sell after an NBA investigation into workplace misconduct. In keeping with Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, the 43-year-old is value $6.19 billion.
Ishbia’s acquisition of the franchise, in addition to the WNBA’s Mercury was approved by the NBA with the transaction set to finalize this week.
“It began after I was about 7 years old,” Ishbia told Fox Sports of his passion for basketball. “I just fell in love with it, and I loved watching Isiah Thomas. The way in which he led his team and his competitive nature made me look as much as him. It made me wish to get to the NBA.”
Thomas, certainly one of the best NBA point guards of all-time, was the president of basketball operations and later coach of the Knicks. During his tenure with the team, the Knicks settled a lawsuit with a former worker Anucha Browne, who alleged sexual harassment, for $11.5 million. Thomas and the Knicks have denied the claims.
Thomas was executive vice chairman of the Raptors (1994-98) and coached the Pacers from 2000-03. He also served as president of the Latest York Liberty from 2015 until 2019. Thomas is currently an analyst for NBA TV.
The 61-year-old Chicago native was a 12-time All-Star over his 13-year NBA profession that saw him win a pair of championships and two MVP awards with the rough-and-tumble Detroit Pistons. His exploits with the league’s “Bad Boys” earned him entry into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
