While most of his teammates had emptied out of the locker room in Philadelphia Friday night, Isaiah Thomas took a few forkfuls of the postgame spread. The Washington Wizards had just completed the five-game preseason schedule and Thomas — while recovering from left thumb surgery he didn’t practice at all through training camp and the subsequent weeks — burst with anticipation for the regular-season opener Oct. 23.
A plate of baked chicken couldn’t satiate his real hunger.
“I’m definitely playing next week though,” Thomas said over his shoulder as he left the Wells Fargo Center visitors’ locker room.