"Slow grind elite" - Isaiah Thomas reacts to 7'3" 7th grader dwarfing opponents in viral clip
Isaiah Thomas has been a huge supporter of up-and-coming basketball players. He often joins pro-am games to give fans and aspiring hoopers a look at NBA talent. The former Boston Celtics star has even hosted, promoted and coached in such events for the growth of the sport.
The renowned MSHTV Camp, which hosts some of the best grade school basketball players in the USA, is in Indiana to hold a competition. The most eye-catching participant has been Canadian Jeremy Grohier. Although only 13 years old, Grohier already has a towering 7-foot-3 frame.
More than just the size and the length, Grohier caught attention because of his mobility and skills. He can shoot, dribble, post up and even lead fastbreak attacks. The prodigy literally looked like a man among boys.
Isaiah Thomas reacted to a post by Ballislife showing a clip of Jeremy Grohier’s exploits:
“SLOW GRIND ELITE we need em!!!!
Thomas is right about needing talents such as Grohier. The comparisons to the seventh grader could be San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and OKC Thunder center Chet Holmgren. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman was already considered a generational talent leading to his entry into the NBA in 2023.
Chet Holmgren is another similar reference for the youngster. The Oklahoma star is 7-foot-1 and, like “Wemby” combines fluidity, size and skill. Wembanyama and Holmgren could be the next biggest rivalry in the NBA.
Isaiah Thomas, despite being just 5-foot-9, became a two-time NBA All-Star. Size, length and skills do not guarantee success in the pro ranks. He is emphasizing the “slow grind” as a building block to progress to the highest levels in basketball.
Isaiah Thomas’ NBA career seems over
Isaiah Thomas promotes and supports the youth to develop their basketball skills as his career in the NBA seems to be over. He has stubbornly asserted that he isn’t ready to retire yet but teams have not lined up for his services.
Last year, he signed a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns before it became a rest-of-season deal. Phoenix needed healthy bodies and “IT” was available. He played six games and averaged 1.3 points in 3.2 minutes per game.
Isaiah Thomas has played 115 games since the 2017-18 season. During that span, he suited up for seven different teams. The most number of games he played during that stretch was 40 when he was with the Washington Wizards.
Having reached the twilight of his NBA career, Thomas is concentrating more on helping and encouraging emerging basketball talents to realize their potential.