Isaiah Thomas began his basketball journey 37 miles south of the University of Washington, in his hometown of Tacoma. Growing up, he said, he always dreamed of being a Washington Husky. He wanted to play in Hec Edmundson Pavillion and earn a degree from UW.
On Saturday evening, his No. 2 jersey was retired in the rafters of the Huskies’ home court, as he was forever immortalized as one of the greatest players the program’s ever produced.
It’s official.
— UW Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) February 18, 2018
Congrats, @isaiahthomas. #2TheRafters pic.twitter.com/aPbvtySVXF
“Knowing that my name and number will last there forever means the world to me,” Thomas told NCAA.com in the week leading up to Saturday's ceremony.
And his legacy is being preserved for good reason.
During his three seasons with the Huskies, Thomas averaged 16.4 points per game, dished out 6.1 assists per game in his final campaign and led UW to three consecutive conference championships in a roaring stretch of Pac-12 domination. He finished his career in eighth place on the Huskies' all-time scoring list, with 1,721 points, despite playing just three seasons.
The Huskies also ventured to three consecutive NCAA tournaments during Thomas’ time in Seattle, reaching the program’s seventh-ever Sweet Sixteen in 2010, where the 11-seed Huskies knocked off 3-seed New Mexico before falling to 2-seed West Virginia in the regional semifinals.History.
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) February 18, 2018
Watch live as we retire Isaiah Thomas' jersey at Alaska Airlines Arena. #2TheRaftershttps://t.co/ZeHfuglDfh
His No. 2 jersey joins Brandon Roy’s No. 3 and Bob Houbregs’ No. 25. Houbregs scored the sixth-most points in Washington history; Roy ranks 15th.
Tonight we send No. #2TheRafters.
— UW Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) February 17, 2018
>> https://t.co/ufl41RF20f pic.twitter.com/bpvZkRWStS
