Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas had an interesting reaction after hearing Michael Jordan's “hate” comment during the most recent installment of “The Last Dance.”
Jordan and Thomas were a part of one of the greatest rivalries in NBA history. Isiah led the Pistons to championships in back-to-back seasons (1989 and 1990), but Michael and his Bulls were coming.
In the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals, Chicago actually swept the Pistons. It was the end of an outstanding era for Detroit, and it catapulted Jordan and the Bulls to their first championship and the start of a dynasty.
The Bulls and Pistons shared several heated matchups during this era. In fact, some rose to physical altercations on the court. There were also those who said Jordan was the reason Thomas was left off the 1992 Dream Team, but His Airness claimed in “The Last Dance” that wasn't the case. No matter how much he “hated” Isiah at the time, he says he respected his game:
“I respect Isiah Thomas’ talent. To me, the best point guard of all time is Magic Johnson and right behind him is Isiah Thomas. No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game,” Jordan said, via Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “It was insinuated that I was asking about him (being left off) but I never threw his name in there.”
Jordan's use of the word “hate” during the latest installments of “The Last Dance” came as a surprise to Thomas:
“I’m really surprised that he has that kind of hate and anger,” Thomas told Beard. “I’ve never experienced that being around him. My son was wearing Michael Jordan jerseys and shoes. They have Jordan jerseys on from the Olympics and the Bulls jerseys that I bought for them.”
The fact that Thomas mentioned his son wearing Jordan jerseys at that time is an interesting element to this story. Former Pistons and Bulls big man John Salley recently noted that this actually bothered Isiah. In fact, Salley claims that this is where the beef between the two players really began.
Thomas insists he has no grudge against Jordan, but MJ can't seem to let his go, as “The Last Dance” continues to show.
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