Is Isaiah Thomas a top ten NBA player?

There is so much debate over the top players in the NBA. My 10 NBA players, in no particular order, are:

Everyone has different top 10. They are almost as unique as snowflakes. There is one name on my list that others typically do not have and that is Isaiah Thomas. Before he was traded to the Boston Celtics at the 2014-2015 trade deadline, Thomas was never known as a game changer. That changed when he came to the Celtics.

He made an immediate impact on the Celtics leading them to the playoffs. Every game Thomas continued to get better and this current season is averaging 29.9 points, 6.3 assists, 34.5 minutes and only 2.6 turnovers per game. He also is shooting a career-best 47 percent.

The NBA is all about stats which is fueled by double-doubles and triple-doubles and judge the best players in the NBA off of those stats. However, the best players in the NBA need to make teammates better and have a huge impact on a team. That is where Thomas comes into play.

This season, Thomas has played in all but four games for the Celtics and has been a model of consistency. In his last 35 (the Celtics have played 51 games this season) games he has scored at least 20 points and is averaging 34.5 ppg in the Celtics seven-game winning streak. The win streak has propelled the Celtics into second place in the Eastern Conference and it was catalyzed by Thomas taking his game to another level.

The Celtics with and without Thomas are two totally different teams, which is why he is in the top 10 active players. That is why players like Blake Griffin and DeMarcus Cousins are behind Thomas. Griffin missed 47 games in the 2015-2016 season but the Los Angeles Clippers only lost three more games than they did in the 2014-15 season. Cousins has not led the Sacramento Kings to a .500 season or better, let alone to the playoffs.

Thomas currently leads the Celtics in PPG, APG, and games played. He has carried the Celtics to the second spot in the East. Without him, they would not be in the playoffs. That is what makes Thomas a great basketball player, he wins.

Even though Thomas has recently emerged as the face of the Celtics, he has the talent to put himself in the top 10 NBA players. The way he turned the Celtics around and carried them this season, is a rare feat in the NBA. Since there are only five players on the court at a time, individual contributions are much more important in basketball than other sports. Thomas is a superstar in the NBA and will eventually lead the Celtics to an NBA Championship.