Who is the greatest point guard to ever play in the NBA? There is a wide range of answers, given the historic depth of the position. Magic? John Stockton? Oscar Robertson? Jerry West? There are arguments to be made for every one of these players and more. In short, the NBA has no shortage of great players at the position.
However, it is a hotly debated topic. And there are some choices that people would say were the “wrong” choice. Additionally, in that vein, Cam’Ron and Ma$e are catching some flak for their choice.
Cam’Ron and Ma$e, hosts of It Is What It Is, were in Phoenix this past weekend for Game 4 between the Suns and Nuggets. While there, they caught up with Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. Filming a video together, Cam’Ron boldly announced, “We here with the best point guard ever. Ever, what the fuck is you talking about? Listen, man, ever n-gga. It Is What It Is.” Furthermore, Thomas would later post a photo with Ma$e with the caption “Let it be known #badboys”. This referred to his time on the “Bad Boys” Pistons of the 1980s and Ma$e’s links to Death Row Records. The hometown Suns won Game 4 129-124. The game was highlighted by Nikola Jokic crashing into Suns owner Mat Ishbia. The Nuggets star was later fined for this contact.
However, fans don’t appear to share their opinion. “C’mon man… Even I know Magic Johnson was the best PG EVER and he was before my generation,” wrote one commenter. “Lying to that man on camera is crazy!” said another. Thomas, a career Piston between 1983 and 1994, was a two-time champion as well as the 1990 Finals MVP. Bleacher Report ranked him as #6 on their list of the 50 greatest point guards of all time. But the wide consensus is that the likes of Magic Johnson top the list. However, what do you think? Where does Isiah Thomas rank in terms of point guards? Let us know in the comments below.
The Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas beef continues 30 years later. We all know about MJ, but Zeke was no slouch, either. A Hall of Famer, in fact. He’s no Jordan, but Thomas paved the way for small point guards in the NBA. You can’t be mad if Zeke gets annoyed that people always talk about Michael Jordan and the Bulls. After all, he did beat them convincingly for years.
Also, Isiah and the Pistons beat Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, as well as Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. No other player can say they beat all three, but Isiah can. Isiah has had an amazing basketball career. He was a McDonald’s All-American, NCAA Champion, Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and number two overall draft pick. Zeke is a two-time NBA Champion with one Finals MVP. Zeke deserves his respect.
With Jordan playing for his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, it was only right that the city of Chicago hated Isiah Thomas. Even though the former Hoosier Guard is from Chicago, MJ was the man that everyone loved. Hence, the start of the Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas beef. Zeke and the “Bad Boy” Pistons were in the way of the city getting a victory parade. Not to mention, Detroit enforced pain on their stars every time the teams met. Surely to this day, Chicago fans still don’t like Thomas.
That goes for Michael Jordan as well. The two still can’t seem to hug and make up. Despite having said nice things about each other at times, their relationship is far from good. Let’s dive into what we know about the infamous Michael Jordan & Isiah Thomas beef.
Battles On The Hardwood
Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan first met on the basketball court in 1984. In an exhibition game, the Collegiate U.S. Olympic team beat the NBA All-Star team, 84-72. The NBA All-Star team included Magic Johnson and Thomas, but Jordan poured in 27 to lead all scorers. This was the second time Jordan and his Collegiate Olympic squad beat the Thomas-led NBA All-Stars.
In 1985, Jordan was selected to his first All-Star game, but it didn’t go as he would’ve liked it. This is remembered as the “freeze-out” game. Allegedly, Zeke convinced the other veterans not to pass Jordan the ball. It was rumored that Thomas and the other veterans believed Michael was too cocky throughout the weekend. Just like that, the Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas beef is born.
Afterward, Thomas and Jordan declared they had no issues with each other. We all know Jordan takes everything personally. The Pistons and the Bulls met two days later, and let’s say Mike wasn’t over the “freeze-out.” He put up 49 points to go with 15 rebounds and a win, while Thomas just managed 19 points.
Michael Jordan Vs. Isiah Thomas Beef Erupts
When they met, Jordan kept killing the Pistons, including a record-breaking 61-point performance in Detroit in 1987. He broke the scoring records for all Pistons that night. The Pistons were known for being the “Bad Boys” and weren’t afraid to get physical. The following year, in a matchup against Detroit, as Jordan went to the hoop, Pistons center Rich Mahorn threw Jordan down to the ground. A fight erupted amongst Mahorn, Bulls forward Charles Oakley, and Bulls Head Coach Doug Collins.
After the game, Jordan declared Detroit “one of the dirtiest teams around.” They met a few more times that season with Detroit getting the best of Chicago, but in their last meeting in Detroit, Michael made sure to put on a show. He scored 59 points in a win. Although, in the playoffs, Thomas and the Pistons would defeat Jordan and the Bulls in five games en route to being the Eastern Conference champions. Jordan and the Bulls were no match for Thomas and Detroit.
In 1989, their rivalry continued, with Detroit winning the season series against Chicago, 4-1. A year after meeting in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, both teams met again in the Conference Finals. After Jordan’s 46-point performance in Game 3, Thomas urged Coach Daly to implement the “Jordan Rules,” and they won the next three games to clinch the series. The “Jordan Rules” helped again the following year in the Eastern Conference Finals for Detroit. They beat the Bulls in seven games en route to their second NBA Championship.
Bulls Finally Dethrone Detroit
It was a fresh decade and time for a new champion. In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Bulls finally dethroned their bullies and swept the Detroit Pistons. For the third consecutive year, the teams met in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the “Jordan Rules” didn’t work this time. Michael averaged 29 points through the four games en route to his first NBA championship. What people won’t forget about this game is that the Pistons left the court with 7.9 seconds remaining. They did not show the Bulls any respect as they walked right past their bench. After the game, Jordan spoke about the “Bad Boy” Pistons.
“You see two different styles with us and them. The dirty play and the flagrant fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct, hopefully that will be eliminated form the game with them gone…You never lose respect for the champions. But I haven’t agreed with the methods they’ve used. I think people are happy the game will get back to a clean game.”
Isiah responded to Jordan’s comments: “People will look back at this team and say we were one of the greatest teams to play basketball. We were great champions. He should be classier than to talk like that.”
Zeke Does Not Make the “Dream Team”
After watching Jordan win back-to-back championships, Isiah had to sit back and watch him win a Gold Medal. Thomas believes Jordan had something to do with him not being on the infamous Olympic “Dream Team” in 1992. Instead, Jordan’s teammate, Scottie Pippen, was selected. In The Last Dance docuseries, Jordan declares that Rod Thorn assured him Isiah wouldn’t be playing when he asked who was on the team. He remains that he never even mentioned Isiah’s name. In a book titled Dream Team, it is said that Jordan told Thorn that if Isiah were on the team, he wouldn’t play. We still do not know the truth to this day.
In the ’90s, Isiah’s career started to dwindle as he dealt with injuries. He retired in 1994 but didn’t leave the game entirely. Zeke was an executive for the Toronto Raptors as Jordan still won championships with the Bulls. Thomas then went on to be the head coach for the Indiana Pacers, even coaching Michael in his last few All-Star games.
Chicago Likes Mike, Not Zeke
In 2004, Michael had a conversation with Cigar Aficionado and discussed what the issues were between him and Isiah: “Isiah [Thomas] was from Chicago, and he wanted to come back and show he still dominated Chicago. I was the new guy in Chicago, and people were supporting the team. It became a dogfight between us. There was some real hatred there.”
Former Chicago Bulls player, Brad Sellers, also had similar comments to what his ex-teammate said. “But the bigger issue was that Isiah was from Chicago, he worked to be one of the top players to represent that city, and Mike came in and eviscerated that.”
TheLast Dance
When The Last Dance aired in 2020, Isiah took issue with Jordan calling him an “a**hole” on national television. He didn’t see it that way; he felt that he took care of Jordan while he was in Chicago. He explained his feelings on the Pivot Podcast. “Now, this is real talk; go back and document it. You can go back on the west side of Chicago; I ain’t talking bout Michigan Avenue, where they used to kick me off for shining shoes. … They kicked me outta there. On the west side of Chicago, that’s where I’m from, OK? … When Michael Jordan got to Chicago, I made it real easy for him to walk those streets on the west side of Chicago. My family took care of him, my sister and his brother hung out as friends, my little nephew lived with Michael Jordan. … I’m being extremely good to this dude. I’m calling his house during this period of time. So all this, ‘Isiah was an assh–e,’ no, no, no, dude, I was looking out for you.”
It looks like Zeke is expecting an apology but probably won’t get it. Before The Last Dance, the beef was quiet. Jordan stirred up the pot again with his latest comments. Over 30 years later, Isiah will never back down to Jordan.
Beef Is Never Over
On April 6th, the social media page Ball Is Life posted a video of Jordan scoring 59 against Isiah and the Pistons 35 years ago. Isiah retweeted the post with a caption praising his championship team. Zeke never misses a chance to shout out his Pistons. Just recently, Charles Oakley had something to say to Isiah on the All the Smoke podcast. He urged him to stop talking about Michael Jordan. Oakley played with Jordan and the Bulls from 1985-1988. He is familiar with Thomas and the “Bad Boy” Pistons.
“He came in your city and took your city. That’s why you’re really mad. He took over Chicago.” Isiah retweeted NBA Central’s post stating he never called Chicago his. The Hall of Famer alludes he doesn’t have an ego based off his upbringing. Zeke doesn’t forget where he came from. It’s a place where Oakley is not from. Over 30 years later, this Bulls-Pistons beef will never fade away. Isiah once had beef with Magic Johnson, but they sat down and patched it up. It doesn’t look like that will happen here.
Isiah Thomas is a believer in the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. The NBA Hall-of-Famer had an interesting interview with an ESPN Radio show on Wednesday morning. Thomas seemed to be slightly perturbed about a photo used of him during his phone interview with Keyshawn, JWill, & Max. He was actually so annoyed by the photo that Thomas hung up. The photo in question seemed to show a very serious moment, with Thomas not sharing a smile.
Thomas felt slighted by the serious photo. Because he felt the guests before him had photos of showing them in a happy setting. Whereas Thomas’ photo showed the former Pistons star in a more serious moment. Thomas teased show co-host Keyshawn Johnson about not looking out for him at the moment. Max Kellerman and Johnson both didn’t seem to take the issue too seriously. But after Thomas hung up over the matter, the feelings of Thomas seemed to start setting in. Check out the video of the moment below.
Isiah Thomas Not Happy With ESPN
Isiah Thomas hung up on ESPN because he didn’t like the picture they had of him pic.twitter.com/rxsLPe9GXy
Thomas has been no stranger to holding on to anger. Recently, the NBA analyst discussed his rivalry with Michael Jordan. In those discussions, Thomas stated that Jordan owes him an apology for the way he was portrayed in “The Last Dance.” However, Jordan has yet to make a public statement on Thomas’ desire for him to apologize. One would think that we also will never hear Jordan speak on the matter. Thomas and Jordan have long been rivals, and that isn’t changing any time soon.
Isiah Thomas’ moment on ESPN this morning was strange. Many are still of the belief that he was messing around with Johnson and Kellerman. However, it does feel like Thomas had real anger toward the photo used. Do you believe this is a non-issue that Thomas shouldn’t be worried about? Or is this issue just a small part of a more significant issue that Thomas and others may deal with? Leave us your thoughts on the situation in the comment section. For the latest sports news, keep it right here at HNHH.
The history between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan is a long one. The pair of rivals have enough stories to publish a book. The stories of their rivalry have recently re-entered the public space. As Thomas has asked Jordan for an apology for his comments during “The Last Dance” documentary. Jordan has yet to respond to Thomas’ request. However, a former teammate of Jordan seems to know the reason behind Thomas’s hate.
Jordan has repeatedly mentioned that Charles Oakley was pivotal to his early playing days. Oakley was a member of the Chicago Bulls when Jordan was drafted by the team. The NBA legend was known for his physical presence during his playing days. Now, Oakley isn’t holding back on his feelings between Thomas and Jordan. In a recent interview with SHOWTIME Basketball, Oakley mentioned it was a thing of pride for Thomas and the town of Chicago. A shot that Thomas isn’t letting Oakley get away with.
Isiah Thomas Not Allowing Oakley To Discuss The Matter
Charles Oakley calls out Isiah Thomas for continuing to discuss Michael Jordan
“He came in your city and took your city. That’s why you’re really mad. He took over Chicago”
Oakley said he believes Thomas is angry that Chicago is now Jordan’s town. Thomas hails from Chicago, yet he is the furthest from being a hometown king. One of the reasons he isn’t a hometown king is Thomas’ Pistons owned the Bulls for some time. A moment in time that Thomas isn’t letting Oakley forget. Thomas tweeted back to Oakley’s statement, which was a good one. “I remember us kicking your ass a lot, some one please check my record vs any team he played on! Sit down be Humble,” stated the former Pistons guard.
Oakley did fail to overcome Isiah Thomas and the Pistons during his Bulls tenure. Even after moving to New York, Oakley never did grab that elusive NBA Championship. Now, after all these years, it seems as if the heat between the former players still burns. Athletes have long been known for having a strong-minded approach to the game. With Thomas and Oakley firing shots at one another, it seems the competitiveness never truly goes away. For more on the latest happenings inside the NBA, stay locked in here at HNHH.
Isiah Thomas ran the ship for one of the most iconic NBA teams of the 80s. The Detroit Pistons made their mark on the league with an attitude no one could duplicate. The physicality and talent of the “Bad Boy” Pistons were significant enough to earn the team two NBA Championships. Sadly, when discussing the greatest teams in league history, the Pistons are often forgotten. The franchise earned its back-to-back titles at a time when the league was having a changing of the guard. Thomas recently spoke about the Pistons’ place in NBA history.
During an interview on All The Smoke, Thomas told show hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson his feelings on the issue. Thomas stated, “What I would say, who’s been the most impactful team on the NBA, it’s the Detroit Pistons. When you look at our style of play, pick-and-roll basketball, stretch 5 in Laimbeer, small guards, you know, shooting from the perimeter. We didn’t have a post-up player. The way we influenced the game, little guys like myself, we weren’t supposed to win championships.”
Isiah Thomas Claims Pistons Are Most Influential Team
— Sportskeeda Basketball (@Basketball_SK) March 31, 2023
The term dynasty is for the elite. For most, the elite are franchises that have won three or more titles. The Pistons technically do not fit that description. However, it would be hard to tell the story of the NBA without mentioning the 89-90 Pistons. Those teams could arguably be the biggest adversaries to Michael Jordan’s legacy. The ‘Bad Boys’ are the reason Jordan potentially doesn’t have more than six rings. There’s a reason Jordan has noticeably had disdain for Thomas after all these years.
The Pistons were a problem for the entire league during that era. Unfortunately, their success is sandwiched between two iconic eras. However, if you’re old enough to remember or even read up on NBA history. You’ll know how important Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons truly are. Thomas should be proud of his time with the Pistons and what they accomplished. A franchise that was built by toughness and pure talent. For more on the latest stories from the NBA, stay locked in here at HNHH.
Isiah Thomas knows what it takes to win an NBA title. The former Detroit Pistons guard has two rings of his own. Thomas has recently been in the spotlight with his comments on Michael Jordan. As well as his thoughts on the current game. When asked who could be the most dangerous team in the playoffs this season, Thomas didn’t hesitate. The Basketball Hall-of-Famer believes that the old guard could be the most dangerous squad. Look out for LeBron James and the Los Angles Lakers.
Thomas appeared on NBA on TNT and announced his thoughts on the Lakers. Isiah stated, “A month ago, we had the Lakers dead… and now they’re 8th. I forget who said nobody fears LeBron. Them 7 teams, 1 through 7, there’s not one team that’s saying ‘I want to play LeBron and the Lakers in the first round.’” While no one should ever count out LeBron, the choice comes as a surprise. The Lakers will have a tough potential road to the NBA Finals.
Isiah Thomas Believes In The Lakers
“A month ago, we had the Lakers dead… and now they’re 8th. I forget who said nobody fears LeBron. Them 7 teams, 1 through 7, there’s not one team that’s saying ‘I want to play LeBron and the Lakers in the first round.'”
Barring a catastrophe, the Lakers will be one of the four teams in the play-in tournament. However, the play-in tournament will be no easy out. As it stands currently, the four teams in the play-in are only separated by one game. A potential meeting between the Lakers and Pelicans would be an NBA fan’s dream. The play-in tournament is set to begin on April 11th and run until the 14th. Both the Eastern and Western Conferences will participate.
Isiah Thomas may not be off base with his Lakers prediction. Maybe Thomas has seen what happened in March Madness and believes that anyone can bring home the crown. If the Lakers were to win the Finals, it would be among one of the most impressive feats of all time. Do you think Thomas’ prediction can become a reality? Are the Lakers a serious threat to the championship? If not the Lakers, then who will be holding the trophy in the end? Drop your predictions in the comment section below. For the latest NBA news, stay locked in with us here at HNHH.
The Last Dance documentary was must-see television. Not only because everyone was locked in their homes due to COVID-19 but because of how captivating it was. The documentary follows the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their quest to finish on a high note. During the documentary, fans quickly learned that old enemies don’t bury the hatchet so easily. Michael Jordan still seemed to hold a grudge against former Pistons guard Isiah Thomas.
Jordan shared his disdain for Thomas. Even going as far as to call him a few names that are NSFW. The reaction from fans of both Jordan and Thomas has been heated since the documentary. Many feel Jordan should apologize. While others feel Thomas is taking Jordan’s comments too seriously. Thomas wasn’t the only star to feel the wrath of Jordan in this documentary. Gary Payton and Reggie Miller could just as easily hold a grudge over Jordan. Whatever the case may be, Thomas has a simple solution for Jordan. If the comments weren’t serious, then apologize.
Isiah Thomas Awaits MJ’s Apology
Isiah Thomas spoke about what it would take to repair his relationship with Michael Jordan.
Thomas probably isn’t waiting by the phone for an MJ apology. He probably isn’t anticipating Jordan to mention his name on television. However, if these two are ever to be acquaintances, it seems Jordan has a lot of work to do. At times during The Last Dance, it did feel that Jordan was slighting Thomas. Jordan’s battles with the “Bad Boys” Pistons will forever be legendary. That Pistons squad had the right combination to not just beat the Bulls but get under Jordan’s skin in the process. The full interview with Thomas will be released on SHOWTIME Basketball. The interview will be dropped in parts, with part 1 coming Thursday.
A rivalry that has spanned over thirty years won’t be fixed overnight. In some way, it seems the two still enjoy the banter. The competition still spreads like wildfire between the two Hall-of-Famers. Nonetheless, everyone has a side in the argument. Where do your loyalties lie? Are you team MJ? Or Team Thomas? Let your voice be heard in the comments below. To continue following the best sports content in the game today, follow HNHH.
The beef between Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas has been going on for nearly four decades and has been highlighted in recent years due to Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance docuseries.
A new article by The Inquisitr highlights the inception of the feud which stems from the 1986 All-Star game that Jordan was apparently frozen out of. Their article is built around an interview Jordan did with Playboy in 1992.
When asked about the freeze-out, Jordan said “If you go back and look at the film, you can see that Thomas was actually doing that. Once it started getting around that he was freezing me out, that’s when the ill feelings started to grow between us.”
Jordan also spoke about the first time he met Isiah Thomas, and how after his encounter with him, he was labeled as “arrogant” because he didn’t speak to the Pistons point guard.
“I got on an elevator with Isiah Thomas to go downstairs for a league meeting,” Jordan said. “That was the first time I met him. And I said, ‘Hello, how ya doin’?’ That’s all I said. I was really intimidated because I didn’t know him and I didn’t want to get on his nerves. I didn’t want to seem like a rookie. You know, to just be so stupid. So I was quiet. I stayed in the corner. When I went down in the room for the meeting, I still didn’t say anything. After the weekend was over, it got back to me that I was arrogant and cocky and I wouldn’t even speak to Isiah on the elevator, that I gave him the cold shoulder. And I’m saying Isiah Thomas initiated it all.”
Thomas would go on to see The Inquisitr‘post on their Twitter, where he said he wishes Jordan would stop lying about being froze out of the game.
“Stop lying this story is not factual or accurate, tell the truth man,” Isiah wrote. “Dr.J, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Sidney Moncrief and I did not freeze you out. If memory serves me correct I was injured most of the second half and Bird had a broken nose. Magic and Sampson dominated the game.”
Stop lying this story is not factual or accurate, tell the truth man. Dr.J, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Sidney Moncrief and I did not freeze you out. If memory serves me correct I was injured most of the second half and Bird had a broken nose. Magic and Sampson dominated the game. https://t.co/B000xZ2VGO
