Isaiah Thomas, accompanied by Celtics assistant coach Jerome Allen, returned from the most solemn trip of his life last night, after attending the funeral of his sister yesterday in Tacoma, Wash.

Timing can be cruel — or maybe in this case distracting — as the Celtics point guard has a nanosecond of time to prepare for Game 1 today at the Garden against the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

But the man he was named after, and who remained in communication with Thomas via text since the death of Chyna the day before the playoffs, has been struck by his ability to not just contribute, but excel despite the family tragedy. It can be difficult for even friends to find the right words at a time like this, and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas kept his simple.

“Continue to lead through positive inspiration,” Isiah Thomas said of his message. “Keep inspiring your team with your positivity.”

The Detroit Pistons legend takes his namesake’s performance and determination not to miss a game as the greatest indication of his dedication to the Celtics and their fans.

“He’s had the world on his shoulders,” said Isiah Thomas, now a Turner Sports NBA analyst. “But this guy is all-in — all-in with the Celtics and winning. It’s very rare that you find someone willing to give so much to an organization and the team. He’s all about being a Celtic. His relationship with the team, and him playing in every game is just part of his remarkable journey that he’s been in. But I just want everyone to realize how all-in he is.

“He’s all for Boston. That’s a special thing for any team, a rare thing.”

Isiah Thomas also understands Isaiah Thomas’ dedication to the first team that, by its actions, has shown that it recognizes his value. Not long ago the two men were on the phone, at the 2015 trade deadline, and Isiah Thomas remembers the then-Phoenix Sun as being disappointed.

“He absolutely needed a place that was going to appreciate what he does,” Thomas said. “The night he got traded, I called and told him this was the best thing that could happen to you. He was really down. He was on the other end of the phone and he was very depressed, and there I am clapping and joyous for him.

“I knew that the city of Boston would embrace who he is as a person and a man once he got there.”

The timing of the trade also was fortuitous for the Celtics. The NBA’s crackdown on perimeter contact was liberating point guards with the ability to score across the league.

Speaking as one of the greatest scoring point guards in league history, Isiah Thomas wonders what he might have been able to accomplish under the same circumstances.

“Safe to say I would have won one or two more championships,” he said. “Not only Isaiah benefits from this. The rules now favor perimeter offense, and Danny (Ainge) could see what this would do for Isaiah. It’s all changed for guys like Isaiah – when I was playing I was criticized for doing both, scoring and assisting. I wasn’t labeled a pure point guard because I had the audacity to score. Now, in today’s NBA, you can’t win if your point guard doesn’t score.

“That’s why I’m so happy for where Isaiah is now. He’s in a city that truly appreciates him for who he is.”