Jaylen Brown and Isaiah Thomas were teammates on the Boston Celtics for the 2016-2017 NBA season. Brown, then a rookie, played alongside Thomas during a campaign that saw the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Their professional relationship has remained a subject of interest for Boston fans due to their shared history during a transformative period for the franchise.
Shared History with the Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown joined the Boston Celtics as the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. At that time, Isaiah Thomas was the focal point of the team’s offense, coming off a career-best season where he earned All-Star honors. According to Basketball-Reference, the two shared the court for 62 games during the 2016-2017 regular season.
During that single season together, the Celtics finished with a 53-29 record, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The team’s run ended in the conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This season marked the only time Brown and Thomas were active roster teammates before Thomas was traded to the Cavaliers in August 2017 as part of the deal for Kyrie Irving.
Professional Trajectories After 2017
Following the 2017 trade, the careers of the two players diverged significantly. Jaylen Brown remained in Boston, developing into a cornerstone of the franchise. He earned multiple All-Star selections and played a central role in the Celtics’ 2024 NBA Championship run.
Isaiah Thomas, meanwhile, played for several franchises following his departure from Boston, including the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and Washington Wizards. Despite facing injuries that hampered his mobility and effectiveness, Thomas continued to pursue opportunities in the league, eventually returning to the court for brief stints with various teams, including a 2024 return to the Phoenix Suns.
Context of the 2016-2017 Celtics Roster
The 2016-2017 roster is often cited by analysts as the foundation for the current era of Celtics basketball. Under the guidance of then-head coach Brad Stevens, the team integrated young talent like Brown with veteran leadership.
| Feature | Details |
| :— | :— |
| Season Together | 2016-2017 |
| Brown’s Role | Rookie (Drafted 3rd overall) |
| Thomas’s Role | All-Star Guard |
| Team Achievement | Eastern Conference Finals |
The connection between the two remains a point of reference for how the organization manages player development. While Brown evolved into a two-way star, Thomas’s tenure is remembered for his high-scoring output and leadership during that specific transition year for the team.