"Should be discussed and celebrated more" - Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas lavishes praise on Diana Taurasi for excelling at 42

Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas recognizes greatness as he sees it. Competing against Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan in his playing years, Thomas made himself familiar with true greatness.

On Wednesday, Thomas turned his attention to the 42-year-old WNBA star Diana Taurasi, who, according to the Detroit Pistons legend, should be celebrated more across the league for her longevity and sustained quality of play.

“Let it be known @wnba how @DianaTaurasi AT AGE 42 is playing @PhoenixMercury should be discussed and celebrated more, like her male @nba counterparts #Respect,” Thomas wrote on X.

Taurasi was drafted first overall in 2004 before garnering 10 All-Star nods and three WNBA championships.

She is also the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, putting her in the same echelon as her male counterpart, LeBron James, who has played over 20 seasons in the NBA. This season, she also passed NBA great Michael Jordan for the most 20-point games after turning 40 years old.

However, in her 20th season this year, Diana Taurasi was outshadowed by the arrival of popular rookies like Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese. Despite this, Taurasi remained one of the most effective guards in the league, averaging 16.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists to lift the Phoenix Mercury to an 8-7 record so far.

Just like LeBron, Taurasi will also compete in the Paris Olympics in her sixth Olympic stint.

Diana Taurasi opens up on being the oldest player in the WNBA

Diana Taurasi has been the longest-tenured player in the WNBA, and in an interview, she shared that the players she used to hang out with are now the coaches.

"I had a moment at the last USA Basketball training camp where we had a lunch. I looked around, and I was sitting with all the coaches. 'Damn, I’m old! I'm hanging with the coaches?' And I played with most of them!" Taurasi said in an interview with GQ Sports.

Diana Taurasi is six years older than the league’s second-oldest players, Alysha Clark of the Las Vegas Aces and Dewanna Bonner of the Connecticut Sun, who both are 36 years old.

However, Taurasi remained humble with her age, saying that this opens up opportunities to learn more about the game, like a rookie in her first WNBA game.

“If you're the oldest one, you're almost a rookie in a lot of ways, just on the other end of the spectrum,” Taurasi said.

Diana Taurasi’s contract will lapse at the end of the season, putting her at the crossroads of retiring from the game or continuing her legacy.