The leader of “The Bad Boys” defends one of the biggest villains in the current NBA landscape. Isiah Thomas, who was formerly President of Basketball Operations and head coach for the New York Knicks, has commented on Knicks owner James Dolan's perceived racism as a result of the billionaire executive's limited statements following the death of George Floyd, per Ian Begley of SNY.
“I would just say, from everything that I've seen in terms of his hiring practices with the New York Knicks, his hiring practices have been far more greater than a lot of owners of sports franchises who may say the right things but in terms of their hiring practices,” Thomas said of Dolan's Knicks. “His hiring practices can stand up against anyone in sports when you talk about the New York Knicks and race.”
Dolan was the man who hired Steve Mills and Scott Perry—the lone African-American president of basketball operations and general manager tandem in today's NBA. In spite of this, many commentators have felt that Dolan's very limited statement regarding Floyd's death and the subsequent protests across the country, which was not even meant to be released to the public, was a bad look for the controversial owner. Dolan is not a stranger to controversy, having issues surrounding his ownership and management of the Knicks for the past decade.
Thomas has been fighting against systemic racism his whole life, telling stories about his time as a child in Chicago, including having the barrel of a tank being pointed at his house.
“The barrel of the tank swerved around and was aimed right at our house as the troops marched in to secure the West Side of Chicago. This is how I grew up,” Thomas said. “My family and I have been in this fight for freedom and citizenship and equal rights since I was born. I don't remember anything else.”
Thomas will continue fighting for equal rights for everyone and hopes more will give James Dolan credit for what he has done, instead of attacking him for the words he says.
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