As reunion games go, it’s not quite LeBron James v. Cleveland, circa 2010. But Phoenix Suns point guard Isaiah Thomas plays against the Sacramento Kings Friday for the first time since leaving via free agency during the summer.

The 25-year-old who was the last pick (No. 60 overall) of the 2011 draft has made it clear that he wanted to return to Sacramento, where he averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists last season for the Kings team that – as was also the case in the 2012-13 campaign – was 28-54.

But while the Kings showed some interest in bringing Thomas back, they viewed him in the sort of sixth man role that he has always tried to avoid and ultimately opted to sign Darren Collison and Ramon Sessions to fill the point guard void. That plan is certainly working early on, as the 4-1 Kings are the surprise team of the NBA to this point.

The Suns (3-2) came hard for Thomas, signing him to a four-year, $28 million deal while ultimately convincing him to play a prominent role off the bench behind the likes of Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic.

Thomas chatted with USA TODAY Sports recently about his time in Sacramento and why he believes he’s not there anymore.

I know you’ve said you didn’t understand why the Kings didn’t show more interest, but I’d heard they were certainly making efforts (during free agency), including (Kings general manager) Pete (D’Alessandro) going up to (Thomas’ home area of) Seattle to visit with you on a trip where you guys didn’t connect. How did you see that?

Thomas: I mean they were interested, but it wasn’t enough. I felt like if they wanted me as bad as they said they did, they should have been the first to show more interest than others. That’s the only thing that caught me off guard, but at the end of the day I thought, ‘Man, it’s a business and things happen.’ They looked in a different direction, and that’s what they wanted. People always say I feel bitter, but I don’t. People always ask me the question, so I’m going to answer it, and people always bring it up. So it is what it is.”

What about the idea, which I’ve also heard, that some of the guys weren’t necessarily lobbying for you to be back?

Thomas: I’ve heard those things too. I don’t know, because I didn’t hear them say it, but I’ve heard people say it and more than one person. I’ve heard Rudy (Gay), and some things about DeMarcus (Cousins) saying some things, but I didn’t hear it, so I can’t say if it’s true or not.

But I know if them guys wanted me back then I probably would be back. And that’s as simple as it gets … The only thing is I wanted to be back because I loved the coaching staff. I love (Kings coach) Mike Malone. He was in my corner 100%. I know that for a fact. And then the city of Sacramento, with the love they showed me. (Sacramento mayor and former NBA player) Kevin Johnson. That was all I knew coming into the NBA. But at the end of the day, I wanted to be wanted – that’s what I keep telling people – and I didn’t feel like they wanted me as much.”

Looking back on your three years there, what’s the takeaway on your time with DeMarcus?

Thomas: It was good, man. I mean we had our ups and downs. We butted heads because I’m going to speak up no matter what. I’m not going to hold my breath. Some people may do that towards him, but I’m going to always say how I feel and it’s the same thing with him. So we would butt heads, but at the end of the day, when we were out there on that court we would run through a wall for each other.

He did some good things this summer (at FIBA World Cup in Spain) and seems like he may be figuring some things out, but you were there every day with him (in Sacramento). Do you feel like he’s going in the right direction?

Thomas: I hope he figures it out, because like I tell everybody, he’s the best big man talent-wise maybe in the world. But he has to figure the other things out. He took steps forward, and that’s just having new ownership, new coaching staff, holding him accountable.

He definitely took steps forward, but he still has a long ways to go. That team is going to go as far as he takes him, no matter who you bring in. It’s the other things. Off the court, how he leads. On the court, how he talks to his teammates. Preparation, preparing for games, all the little things that the best guys do at a high level.”