Isaiah Thomas (basketballer) Bio: Age, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, Kids, Parents, Height, Contract

Biography

Isaiah Jamar Thomas, born February 7, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington, is an American professional basketball player known for his explosive scoring and playmaking as a 5’9″ point guard—one of the shortest in NBA history.

Nicknamed “The Pizza Guy” or “King in the Fourth,” he was drafted last (60th overall) by the Sacramento Kings in 2011 after a standout college career at the University of Washington.

Thomas earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors and later became a two-time NBA All-Star (2016, 2017) during his peak with the Boston Celtics, where he averaged over 28 points per game in 2016-17 and earned Second-Team All-NBA recognition.

He famously scored 53 points in a playoff game against the Washington Wizards in 2017. A hip injury suffered in the 2017 playoffs significantly impacted his career trajectory. He has since played for multiple teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets, and Phoenix Suns, as well as in the G League.

Thomas continues his professional career with the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League, showcasing his enduring passion for basketball despite challenges from injuries and roster changes.

American professional basketball player
Isaiah Thomas
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Isaiah Jamar Thomas
Stage Name:	Isaiah Thomas
Born:	7 February 1989 (age 36 years old)
Place of Birth:	Tacoma, Washington, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	Curtis Senior High School, South Kent School, University of Washington
Height:	1.75 m
Parents:	Tina Baldtrip, James Thomas
Siblings:	LaQuisha Thomas, Chyna Thomas
Spouse:	Kayla Wallace (m. 2016)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Jaiden Thomas, James Thomas, Journey Thomas
Occupation:	Basketballer
Net Worth:	$16 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Isaiah Jamar Thomas was born on February 7, 1989, in Tacoma, Washington, where he was also raised. He is the son of James Thomas, a lifelong Los Angeles Lakers fan, and Tina Baldtrip.

His name has a unique origin. James made a bet with a friend: if the Lakers failed to defeat the Detroit Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals, he would name his son after Pistons star Isiah Thomas.

Though Thomas was born months before the series, his father followed through. His mother insisted on the biblical spelling ‘Isaiah.’ As a child, he was nicknamed ‘Bighead‘ or ‘Head‘ by his father and ‘Zeke‘ (after Isiah Thomas‘s nickname) by his mother.

Thomas is African-American and has publicly expressed Christian faith, often sharing prayers and references to God on social media during personal challenges.

He grew up with at least two sisters: an older sister, LaQuisha Thomas, and a younger sister, Chyna Thomas, who tragically died in a single-car accident in 2017 at age 22, just before the NBA playoffs. In 2024, Thomas also mourned the loss of LaQuisha.

For education, Thomas attended Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington (near Tacoma), where he excelled in basketball, averaging over 30 points per game in his junior year. He later transferred to South Kent School, a prep school in Connecticut, for his senior year to boost his college recruitment.

He played college basketball at the University of Washington from 2008 to 2011, earning All-Pac-10 honors before entering the NBA Draft.

Career

Isaiah Thomas was the last pick in the 2011 NBA draft, chosen 60th overall by the Sacramento Kings after a strong college career at the University of Washington. Even though he is only 5’9″, he quickly stood out for his scoring, speed, and fearless play, earning All-Rookie Second Team honors in his first season.

He spent his early years with the Kings, where he scored a then-career-high 38 points in a 2014 game. Midway through the 2014-15 season, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

Thomas truly broke out after joining the Boston Celtics in February 2015. He became their offensive leader and was named an All-Star in both 2016 and 2017. During the 2016-17 season, he averaged 28.9 points per game, ranking fifth in the league, led the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring, made the All-NBA Second Team, and had standout moments like a 53-point playoff game against the Washington Wizards and a career-high 15 assists in a regular-season game.

He helped Boston reach the Eastern Conference Finals that year. However, a serious right hip injury during the playoffs changed his career, limiting his explosiveness and leading to a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2017 as part of the Kyrie Irving deal. The injury affected his time with the Cavaliers and later teams, including the Lakers, Nuggets, Wizards, Pelicans, Mavericks, and Hornets, as well as brief returns to the Suns and Lakers.

With limited NBA opportunities in the early 2020s, he moved to the G League, playing for teams like the Salt Lake City Stars (Utah Jazz affiliate). He continued to show his scoring skills, including a 40-point game in January 2025.

Thomas remains active with the Salt Lake City Stars, demonstrating his love for basketball despite injuries and frequent team changes. Over 556 NBA games, he has averaged 17.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game, with a 43.4% field goal percentage and 87.2% free-throw shooting.

Thomas is known as one of the most successful undersized players in NBA history, earning a reputation for clutch performances and the nickname “King in the Fourth” because of his determination and scoring ability.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Isaiah Thomas (basketball)
• Instagram: Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas)
• Twitter: Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) / Posts / X
• Facebook: Isiah Thomas (@IamIsiahThomas)

Personal Life

Isaiah Thomas, born on February 7, 1989, is currently 36 years old. He stands at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall, making him one of the shortest players in NBA history.

Thomas has been married once, to Kayla Wallace, his longtime partner, whom he wed on August 20, 2016, in a ceremony in Seattle after dating for several years (they reportedly met around high school or early adulthood).

The couple has built a family together and shares three children: sons James Thomas (born around 2010 from Thomas‘s previous relationship) and Jaiden Thomas (born in 2012), and daughter Journey Thomas (born in 2018).

The family has remained together through his career ups and downs, with Thomas often expressing pride in his role as a father.

Net Worth

Isaiah Thomas, the 5’9″ NBA point guard born in 1989, has an estimated net worth of $16 million. This figure, commonly cited by sources like Celebrity Net Worth and ClutchPoints, stems primarily from his NBA career earnings, which total around $34-35 million across his 556 games and various contracts from 2011 onward.

His peak earnings came during his standout years with the Boston Celtics, including a four-year deal worth about $27 million signed earlier in Sacramento (with portions paid in Boston). Despite a strong 2016-17 season that positioned him for a potential max contract, a career-altering hip injury limited his market value, preventing larger deals in free agency or extensions.

Later contracts were mostly short-term or minimum deals with teams like the Cavaliers, Lakers, Nuggets, Wizards, Pelicans, Mavericks, Hornets, and Suns, as well as recent low-salary G League stints.

Additional income likely comes from endorsements, appearances, and post-NBA ventures, though details remain limited. Note that estimates can vary, and this is distinct from the Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas (no “a” in the first name), whose net worth is around $100 million from a different era and business pursuits.

What People Ask