NBA stars follow Isaiah Thomas home to Tacoma for annual tournament

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nba/article79920232.html



NBA stars follow Isaiah Thomas home to Tacoma for annual tournament

The 24-team showcase event at Foss High School will feature 12-14 NBA players




Boston Celtics' Isaiah Thomas (4) goes up to shoot between Brooklyn Nets' Jarrett Jack, left, and Brook Lopez, right, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Michael Dwyer AP


BY TODD MILLES
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com



To cap off what has been an unbelievable year — and possibly the start of many NBA All-Star Game nods — Tacoma’s Isaiah Thomas wants to do something in basketball this weekend he’s never done.

Win his own hometown tournament.

Two years ago, when the Memorial Day Zeke-End Basketball Tournament debuted at Foss High School, his squad lost in the championship game.

Last year, the former Curtis High School and University of Washington standout said he played too much basketball heading into it. Seattle product Tony Wroten’s team captured the tournament title.

“He’s reminded me of it,” Thomas said.

The 24-team showcase tournament, featuring a variety of current and former NBA stars, will start up Saturday and run through Monday.

To see how much Thomas is liked and respected in his fifth NBA season and second year with the Boston Celtics, just look at how many professional players committed to play in his tournament:

From the Celtics — Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger and Terry Rozier. (Avery Bradley would have come, but he and his wife just had a baby).

From his former Phoenix Suns team — Eric Bledsoe and Archie Goodwin (as well as Gerald Green, who played in Miami last season).

From his former Sacramento Kings team — Ben McLemore.

He has corralled many of the guys from the Seattle-Tacoma area, including Jamal Crawford (Los Angeles Clippers), Rodney Stuckey (Detroit Pistons), Spencer Hawes (Charlotte Hornets) and Wroten (New York Knicks).

And, of course, he has drawn many former UW athletes, including Brandon Roy, Will Conroy, Abdul Gaddy and Jermaine Kearse.




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My 3rd annual Memorial Day #ZekeEnd basketball tourney! Come out support and have a good time
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“When I ask guys, they do not think twice about being here, so it shows how they feel about me,” Thomas said.

Surprised?

“It is what I expect,” the 27-year-old said. “Overall, I am generally a good person. My former teammates … say I was a pretty good dude. That is the way I am. Ever since I was on basketball teams, people have liked me — liked the way I play, and the way I lead.”

In fact, Thomas admitted he had other NBA players ask to come and play in it, sparking the question — could it grow in the future?

“Maybe in a few years,” Thomas said. “When we announced it for 2016, (sign-up) sold out in a couple of weeks. It says a lot from where it started.”

Thomas will sponsor two teams in the tournament — at $300 a pop. One is Team IT, and the other is Team Zeke. He said he isn’t sure which one he will play on.

As for his season, well — it was a memorable one. He averages 22.2 points, 6.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He was selected to the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Last week, he told reporters he wanted to play until he was 40.



bob



.

I was impressed with the way Isaiah carried himself on ESPN the other night before game five of the Eastern conference finals game between Toronto and Cleveland. He looked like he belonged in that seat!
Very well spoken, although Jalen Rose naturally tried to steal the limelight!