Isaiah Thomas is Like Bitcoin

Bitcoin was the best kept secret. It was cheap and the returns were astronomical. That was until there was a market correction. The cryptocurrency is still a worthwhile adventure, but no longer can one reasonably expect a ten-fold return (or more) on investment.

Isaiah Thomas is the Bitcoin of the NBA. He was the best kept secret, falling all of the way to 60th in the 2011 draft. IT then bounced around the league, playing in Sacramento and Phoenix, before Danny Ainge invested in the 5’9” guard in 2014. Thomas instantly became a folk hero in Boston; a fan-favorite. He went from dropping 15 a game with the Suns to dropping nearly 29 per game last season, finishing fifth in the league’s MVP voting.

Now? Just as Bitcoin recently tumbled, so has Isaiah Thomas. After tearing the labrum in his hip during the Celtics playoff run, IT was shipped off to Cleveland in a blockbuster deal that netted the Celtics Kyrie Irving. Danny Ainge, like the earliest Bitcoin investors, cashed out. Thomas’s struggles continued in Cleveland. After returning from his injury he played in 15 games for the wine and gold, averaging less than 15 points per game on 36% shooting. He went from being an All-Star to being the most inefficient, uninspiring player in the league.

Just as Bitcoin attempts rekindle its exponential growth, Isaiah Thomas looks to do the same. This time with the Lakers, while Danny Ainge is laughing all the way to the bank.