The NBA draft takes center stage Thursday night, but Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas remains focused on his recruiter role with the ultimate goal of luring free-agent-to-be Kevin Durant to Boston.

Appearing on Jason Terry's "Runway" program on Sirius XM NBA Radio on Wednesday night, Thomas was adamant that he can make an intriguing pitch to Durant and plans to stay in his ear.

"We definitely have a shot," Thomas said. "I know that for sure. And I’m just trying to reach out when I can and stay in his ear a little bit here and there. I know it’s a tough time for him because everybody’s probably trying to reach out and get him to go where they want him to go. But my relationship with him is real genuine, and hopefully I can get him to come to Boston and we can bring Banner 18 here."

Terry pressed Thomas on how he would pitch Boston to Durant.

"The biggest thing for me, especially when I got there, it was just seeing the tradition," Thomas said. "Just putting on the Boston Celtics uniform and knowing that all those guys who had done it before you, you gotta represent the way they did. It’s an honor to even be in the Celtics' organization. And I just think, with the fan base and the sports town that Boston is, it’s one of a kind.

"I’ve never seen anything like it. I haven’t played in the L.A.s or the New Yorks or things like that, but Boston, and what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, there’s nothing like it. And if you win in Boston you’ll be loved forever. So that’s the only thing I can tell him. I keep it real short and genuine, keep it real with him. Boston is one of the best cities that I’ve ever been a part of."

The Celtics, whose eight picks in Thursday's draft are headlined by the No. 3 pick they received when Terry was shipped to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce blockbuster, can help their recruiting pitch by bringing in more talent on Thursday.