Isaiah Thomas (IT) will wear number 24 with the New Orleans Pelicans in honor of Kobe Bryant.
The Pelicans officially signed the point guard a 10-day contract on Saturday. Thomas responded to the team’s tweet detailing his jersey selection by saying, “Kobe !!!”
IT started his career at 22 with the Sacramento Kings and has worn 3, 4, 7 and 0 at other times in his career.
Thomas will be available to the Pelicans from Sunday’s game in Houston. And they may need it right away.
The Pelicans are currently facing injuries with five players among their injured. Zion Williamson (right thumb strain), Brandon Ingram (first MTP irritation right), and Lonzo Ball (right hip flexor strain) are listed as questionable. Williamson and Ingram have missed two games in a row, while Ball has missed seven in a row.
Pelican guard Josh Hart (torn UCL in right thumb) is expected to miss a lot of time due to his injury and back-up point guard Kira Lewis, a rookie who had a career-high 21 points in Friday’s game against Atlanta, has doubts about a jerk. the right. calf.
Thomas has not played an NBA game since February. February 3, 2020 when he was a member of the Washington Wizards. He played two games for Team USA in February and led the team in scoring FIBA Ranking victories in the Bahamas and Mexico, shooting 50% from deep (6 of 12).
During the 2019-2020 season, Thomas averaged 12.2 points and 3.7 assists in 40 games with the Wizards.
Thomas, 32, is a two-time All-Star and was selected for the All-NBA Second Team in 2017 after averaging 28.9 points per game for the Boston Celtics helping them become the Eastern Conference’s favorite. But a hip injury sustained that season has limited him ever since.