NBA Legends Explain Why Isiah Thomas Was So Good (Even Jordan admits it)

#isiahthomas #michaeljordan #nbalegends
In this Video NBA Legends explain why Isiah Thomas was Better than everybody
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[@anonbattler]

Isiah Thomas is the only franchise player in NBA history who can legitimately claim to have beaten Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan in their primes to win an NBA championship. And he did it twice.

[@stevemays1478]

The Only One!!!!

[@vincent5318]

He also lost to them all!

[@021881mt]

@@vincent5318 🙄 FTR Jordan lost way more times to Isaiah but nice try. 👍 To the original comment.

[@anonbattler]

@@vincent5318 Not before he took two trophies away from them. He was like the party-crasher to the whole Magic-Bird-Jordan glory-fest in the late 80s.

[@nothingnothing7648]

Add Kareem, Worthy, Parrish and McHale to that list too. Sidney Moncrief, Terry Cummings, Clyde Drexler, Reggie Miller, Charles Barkely, Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkens, his epic battles with Bernard King in 84. Isiah still doesn't get enough respect honestly.

[@lurking0death]

Isiah Thomas had more guts and heart than any other professional athlete I ever saw. Period.

[@christophermorris2434]

More guts then Mario lemioux who won a hockey scoring title.after battling cancer .I don't think so

[@user-cn8nu6lq4w]

Larry Bird? Michael Jordan? He had those things, but more?

[@johnwhitworth9074]

@@user-cn8nu6lq4w Yeah .. he had as much as or more...Those guys you mentioned scored more...but as a point guard that wasn't Isah's job. Isaih WILLED the Pistons to be better....and beat the Celtics and Lakers when people said the Pistons couldn't beat those teams. Back to Back,,and COULD have been 3 or 4 championships in a row with a few miniscule breaks.

[@user-cn8nu6lq4w]

@@johnwhitworth9074 Right, but we're talking solely about guts and heart. Nobody had more than the two I mentioned.. they would play through anything. Not saying Isiah wasn't tough as nails, he was.

[@johnwhitworth9074]

@@user-cn8nu6lq4w No argument...all 3 had heart and were winners in their own way.

[@JimJamJ4]

Isaiah Thomas is on of the most important people in Detroit basketball history. He did a lot for the city and the sport and should never be forgotten, man was one of the best to ever do it.

[@Chris.M]

And the NBA...

[@doctorofenglish68]

I have always said, he was the best little man to ever play in the NBA

[@joshpope9701]

Thank you for being the only person who spelled his name right

[@aaronflowers8881]

100

[@aaronflowers8881]

@@joshpope9701 He didn't spell his name right. Yall are so slow. It's ISIAH.

[@johnnyblingg]

Most underrated PG in history.

[@roderickcampbell2105]

Hi JB. I know what you mean, but Zeke was/is an icon. I cannot agree that he is underrated. He was a great player, but everyone knew that, right? He is rated pretty darn high. Underrated? Vinnie and Dumars.

[@sheneedsme]

@@roderickcampbell2105 I agree with you about Joe, who was equally tough on defense. A quiet assassin who was such a nice low key man he got overlooked by his more outlandish teammates. There is good reason the NBA Sportsmanship Trophy is named after him. He declined to do the walk off and shook hands with Jordan after he lost. He also named his son Jordan Dumars. A great husband, father and human being and I’m glad to know him.

[@roderickcampbell2105]

@@sheneedsme Hi David. I did not know about Jordan Dumars. If you know Joe, you're a lucky man. Good for you! Now, I need to see some replays of Joe. Mostly defence I guess, but I was a big K.C. Jones fan so that's okay :)

[@masonmalone4853]

I think he is the Goat of PG !

[@nuftis]

I don't think he's underrated at all. He just wasn't liked. The guy beat Jordan, bird and magic to win a championship. Twice. And he should of been on the dream team. Excellent player

[@PastorFunK]

I love MJ! “No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game!” 💯🐐

[@StevenC32]

I wish people would say the same about LeBron, but some people take a personal dislike to LeBron, I think the media has a lot to do with it. But when LeBron hangs up his sneakers, there will be a generation of fans who will miss his unselfish style of play. LeBron actually led the league in assists during the 2019-2020 season averaging over 10 assist per game. It is unusual for a guy that can score like LeBron also to be able to pass like that.

[@the.wayne.b]

imagine if thomas thought like that, he would have lined up at the handshake line.

[@Sley_5281]

@@StevenC32 I respect both MJ and LeBron, I don’t care if you say either one is a 🐐. Just come with logic and don’t be biased asf.

[@RBF7499]

@@StevenC32 I am not a LeBron hater but he brings forth his own hate. The decision, the not 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...and loses 6. "That one right there made you the greatest of all time" "playoff mode activated..." "Keep that same energy at the end of the season..." tries to remake space jam and can't even play himself, will speak out against the USA but radio silent on the atrocities in China, gaslighting social injustices but again silent when 3 black teens beat a white teen to death. He's bought and paid for and that definitely puts a shadow on his on the court greatness

[@021881mt]

Everything gotta be about Jordan ATT🙄 I thought this was about Isaiah Thomas? People who were really around back then don't claim Jordan as thee ENTIRE NBA legacy. Fanatics of stats and popularity based on a majority rule, not real objective original points or from being a true fan of the game.

[@johnhansen7499]

He's underated because he was hated leader of the pistons and if you weren't a Detroit Pistons fan, well then you couldn't like the leader. In saying that, after so much time has gone by, I have to say that Isiah Thomas was a incredible basketball player. It's time to let that hate go and appreciate the player he was. Back in those days the Celtics would put the late great DJ on him, who was a great defender, and Isiah would do a little dancing and go by him like he wasn't there. No one in the NBA could stop him one on one, and he could pass. Unbelievable handle, of the basketball. He would put the defender in a trance and if they reached for the ball, it was all over.

[@carlwallace1129]

Facts

[@BobbyHo2022]

The biggest insult wasn't that Isaiah was left off the team, but that his Piston's Coach, Chuck Daily was the coach of the team.

[@MylesWMiller]

✊🏽

[@winstonburnham891]

Hi

[@Peakfreud]

@@BobbyHo2022 I'm old enough to remember when that team was assembled I was in Highschool And people were furious. Christian Laitner was despised, Zeek use to give Stockon the Business And Ewing couldn't beat Zeek, Bird & Magic had lost to him. It made no sense he wasn't on that team until you looked at the roster and realized a 6'1 Guard had Gave everyone from top to bottom the business. He even beat Barkley's Sixers.

[@enriquemoranmartunez6736]

Dude these are good memories. Became fan of NBA in the 1980s and Thomas was one of the main reasons. A clutch player and a Pistons' legend. His performances against Lakers, Bulls, and Celtics are legendary and you can still feel the excitement from those years. The bad boys wouldn't have existed without him.

[@Charleybones]

well said Enrique. Zeke was ice cold under pressure. He'd do whatever was necessary to win: pass it it, take a hard foul on defense, mix it up under the boards against people who were a foot taller than him, or shoot it himself.

[@rudolphpieters7918]

True. The "bad boys" had a team approach and as a person who loved that defense back then we I appreciated the team defense approach they had every game. The sum of the total was more , much more than the separate parts.

[@richardtrevino5516]

Think when they walked off the court when they lost to the bulls is the day the negative talk started about him had the y not done that things most likely would be different?

[@froty1794]

I bumped into him at the World Championships in Hamilton, ON during summer of ‘94, turned around and there he was. I shook his hand and it was the softest and most padded hand I’ve ever felt. No wonder he had such good handles. That Dream Team 2 team was pretty good too.

[@TheGr8-1]

So overlooked and underrated. He’s top 10 ever. Best ‘little man’ the NBA has seen. Isaiah’s handle was clean as F*

[@BoosterGoldEarth6]

Top 10ish. He Def top 15 and top 20.

[@texalinsug7525]

top 10 is a stretch for someone who haven't won Mvp

[@TheGr8-1]

11-15 I’ll agree.

[@patriciamccormick9321]

Tex: He was a bad boy so no way was the league giving it to him despite their winning the title twice in the 80’s against those great Boston LA and Chicago teams.

[@kennethbailey6634]

I agree with you man.It was Isiah Thomas fire and his laughter smile that irritated people. That a Muhammad Ali talk 'S' manifested in playing ball. He was laughing and smiling because of his personality. It also was him laughing because you can't check me. And people still don't get the black athlete's edgy arrogance.Because they don't get that this is a natural manifestation that goes with great God given ability. But Isiahs height says you can't it not suppose to do it.But he did and nobody can take that away .The joke of people is thinking you can diminish ones greatness by not liking them.

[@T3l3MuNd0]

As a lil kid, I only saw Isaiah on NBA on NBC as an announcer, & my dad who watched Magic. . . Said ,"That's Isaiah Thomas, & daaaaammmn he was REALLY gooood as a Player. " The year was in 1998 & computers, internet, tablets, phones, were ALL Separated & not just one device like we have today. But him telling me that was planted in my head since then. Fast forward to the 30 for 30 BAAAD BOOOOYYYS documentary, & I NOW realize what my dad was talking about. Game 6 1988 NBA Finals & the Lakers almost lost because Isaiah Thomas carried the team on his back with that broken ankle. Pistons lost by 1 point & there was a Game 7 that Lakers became back to back Champs that year. But the respect my dad had for Isaiah Thomas, I now know why.

[@thatguyfrom313]

Your dad knew what he saw. Your dad wasn't lying!. I saw it growing up.

[@martyemmons3100]

Even during the interview, Jordan looks like his eyes are watering up. Is he getting ready to cry? Jordan is NOT going to let that go!

[@freeguy3751]

The Bad Boys were literally trying to end Jordan's career anytime he's played against them when they came up with "The Jordan Rules." That's scary man everytime you go to the basket you'll get beat up, that's just savage man. If I was Jordan i'd be pissed too even to this day. I think it was a trauma for him, understandably so.

[@martyemmons3100]

@@freeguy3751, wow! You, too!?! I've never noticed what a huge amount of 'traumatized' Michael Jordan fans there are. So all I have to do is comment that Isiah Thomas is a nice guy, and the flood gates of butt-hurt prima donna Michael Jordan fans over run the levees? What about when Kevin McHale clothes lined Kurt Rambis? Or when Magic Johnson threw an elbow straight at Isiah's face while he had the ball and was in the air. I mean, Magic never even tried to disguise the elbow by 'going for the ball'. Then there's the Bill Laimbeer 'take down' of Larry Bird. And the Robert Parish revenge sucker punches to Laimbeer! Every one of those were more career threatening than anything that happened to the soft (with a hard 'T') Michael Jordan. It's just that Magic, Bird, McHale, Laimbeer, Parish, Rambis and yes, Isiah are MEN. None of those grown men went crying to every sports reporter about how 'they' were trying to end my career! Maybe you should be seeing a therapist because of the trauma you're 'suffering' from. It's prognosticated as, The Bad Boys horrific beatdown of Jordan that his fans are still crying about 32 years later.

[@danielbullman2035]

I always love the true point guards that are also scorers fearless like Zeke, Allen iverson, Tim Hardaway sr, Stockton was on the level of Isaiah on passing but scoring Zeke would take johnny to the woodshed

[@ronaldwilson1431]

Stockton had a one dimensional game called Karl Malone who also sucked!

[@chimpozillapumpumslayer4639]

Love him or hate him he could play , he was fire.

[@andrenelson3828]

After he walked out without shaking hands with the Bulls really hurt his image. But his game, my opinion one of the best points guard to ever play the game!

[@chimpozillapumpumslayer4639]

@@andrenelson3828 antics aside he was a true point god.

[@mytimemanagement2796]

Out of respect for the game I get on here everyday and say #MagicDaGOAT #2 Bird #3 Kar...Jorda...Isaiah. It's cool to have an opinion but these dudes actually played and we were fortunate to see true basketball greatness.

[@drobson8004]

Well said

[@gusthekat]

No denying his talent. And it's unfortunate he was so vilified. As much as I'm firmly in the MJ-as-GOAT camp, Isiah had everyone's number in the 80's and it can't be stated strongly enough that he was a champion in the SINGLE MOST COMPETITIVE decade, and arguably in the most competitive years of that decade. I detest Bill Lambier, but he was a great defensive player. And Isiah was on one of the all time great teams of ALL TIME, even if I do still to this day despise the Pistons, esp that Pistons team. But there is no denying that Isiah was a GOAT in his own right.

[@bobbresnahan8397]

All this talk about "the point god." What I don't like about it is they never talk about Isaiah. the real point god, the one with championships to prove it.

[@thespaceram2879]

There are no idols and there are no other Gods besides Lord Jesus Christ as we all will find out on judgement day. He does judge idolaters later if those keep doing it and don't stop doing it. Unfortunately there is no rest for the unrepentant and the disbelievers in the lake of fire and brimstone. It is the second death.

[@wesleyearldavis503]

Chris Paul point guard God lol 😆 Chris couldn't carry Isaiahs jock scrap

[@2amaysn]

The NBA wants to paint the picture that the Pistons were bad for basketball. That's why Zeke doesn't get the credit he deserves.

[@ronaldwilson1431]

Isaiah would fight ANYBODY!

[@ronaldwilson1431]

@@thespaceram2879 and now... the homily.

[@jimsaunders4136]

It sure didn't hurt having Joe D as a backcourt mate! And Vinnie coming off the bench? Man, that was fun to watch.

[@toddjohnson271]

Pistons were not as good as the all time greats....but we were deep. Rodman, Salley, Edwards, Dantley, Aguirre

[@booniedavillier504]

Microwave was his name ya??

[@emojimr4427]

The crazy part is even Magic Johnson put Isaiah after himself and people got the nerve to believe he wasn't a good point guard......

[@mojebi3804]

He's the 2nd best PG in history.

[@antwahnredding6294]

@@mojebi3804 Stephen Curry is the second greatest point guard ever.

[@djevanp]

@@antwahnredding6294 curry is shooting guard if we wanna talk about basketball.

[@ranmangolf]

It's hard for me to say who was better, Isaiah Thomas or John Stockton. Offensively, taking over the game, I'd give that edge to Isaiah. But when it comes to assists, hands down, no one can beat John Stockton's record along with the pick and roll. Both were great and fun to watch.

[@swankmastermind7407]

@@antwahnredding6294 he ain’t even the point guard on his own team

[@anthonycook4441]

Isiah Thomas was one of the greatest PG to have ever played that position. He was only 6'0 and Dominated until he got Injured in the Playoffs and wasn't able to return to his dominance.

[@edhuff2087]

Great video Thomas is underrated. Joe Dumars Kevin Mchale. Bernard King. Alex English Sidney Moncrief are all under rated and need videos too

[@mightywisdom88]

IMO, Isiah Thomas is the greatest PG of all time, not just for his size. He was Michael and Magic at 6'1"

[@DickNasty480]

Isiah was not a very good defender at all. MJ dominated on BOTH ends of the court- Isiah was great at offense and that is why is not even close to being anywhere as dominant as MJ was. Most people look at MJ from his offensive stats- he was 1st team all defense 9 times, defensive player of the year in 1988. Isiah Thomas was NEVER on any All defense team in the NBA and that is why he cannot hold MJ's jock. Some nights your shot is not going down but you can always play defense , Isiah rarely did.

[@donaldgradford9466]

Zeke is my starting point guard on my all-time team if you know you know if you don't you don't but I watched him play. He was a combination of Steph and Iverson and the heart of a lion. Real talk

[@bOmBAsTiK]

Wow...combination of Steph and A.I., that is a PERFECT description...

[@differentlystill1846]

🎯

[@roderickcampbell2105]

Very nice review of Zeke. Now, I really want to see Vinnie Johnson covered. Dumars too.

[@dixon4184]

I second this

[@enriquemoranmartunez6736]

Totally and let's add bad boy by design Mr. Lambeer please he was a son of a gun too.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Nice! Respect to Isiah Thomas!

[@Kingbossdon]

Zeke is my 2nd favorite point guard of all-time bar 🍸 none give the man his respect he may not have been liked by alot of people but, he was respected

[@MrRETROPSY]

Hello, im so glad youre channel exists and you are such a big 90s NBA fan as i am. Watching in my Kemp Jersey, from Germany!

[@nathanlawson313]

And thank you for Detleff, Dirk, Mo n Franz, and oktoberfest!

[@eugenedantzler4485]

23 in one quarter on one good ankle....... IN A FINALS GAME....!!!!!! GOAT STATUS

[@michigan2400]

it was 26

[@albertpringle4918]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO I lived in Belleville Michigan during the time of the BAD BOYS PISTONS repeat Isaiah Thomas helped put DETROIT on the map

[@itz-luigi1210]

Hey Mark. It's Charlie. Dustin Sizemores cousin. We both say hi.

[@mikebeck3014]

Good point guard. Not the athlete others would want on their team

[@albertpringle4918]

@@mikebeck3014 FOESHOW

[@albertpringle4918]

@@itz-luigi1210 Hi Charlie You know who this be tell Dustin I said Hi

[@ronaldwilson1431]

Albert: Belleville put Detroit on the map🤣🤣🤣

[@leechrec]

Isiah was nasty and a crazy competitor. He and MJ as a duo was fkn fantastic at all star games.

[@virgilrobertsjr7870]

Isiah Thomas was an absolutely amazing NBA player! 😎

[@MentalPistol]

Happy to see Zeke still kicking and getting his props after all the character defamation and propaganda of the past. Also was one of the first people to get metoo'd before that was even a thing. Peace to the great Isiah Thomas..

[@carlwallace1129]

Isaiah Thomas and Clyde Drexler were 2of the most over looked top 50 greatest Legends .

[@kingchakazulu7762]

Those two were never overlooked, smh.

[@carlwallace1129]

@@kingchakazulu7762 ur right about Zeke but this younger than 40yrs old generation over looks Clyde Drexler the way they put Wade ,Ray Allen ,Clay, and quite a few others in the top 12 shooting guards conversation. CLYDE is rarely mentioned

[@kingchakazulu7762]

@@carlwallace1129 You're talking the younger generation, c'mon man, their options dont count.

[@carlwallace1129]

@@kingchakazulu7762 ur right but some of them analysis on these newer platforms are starting to ride this new wavy analytics and way of thinking.

[@ronaldwilson1431]

Carl: drexler could dunk...if he didn't dunk in a game, he didn't do anything else.

[@kevincamacho7190]

I think what made thiis era great was the level of competition at each position. The eastern conference was loaded at the point guard position.

[@slimjimmy4070]

This era of basketball is even more loaded at the PG position throughout the whole NBA. If you watch NBA TV ex players like Isiah Thomas and Steve Smith always mention this.

[@kevincamacho7190]

@@slimjimmy4070 I agree, when we have these discussions about the greats most of us that got to witness it remember all the good and great competitors. When somebody tries to tell me about Labron, I always ask name me 5 players at his position that are good? Name me someone that makes him work for it. Alot of people start having a hard time with that one.

[@slimjimmy4070]

@@kevincamacho7190 I disagree with your LeBron take. Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram and many more who play the SG/SF position at a high level. I respect both Jordan and LeBron and all the rest of the all time greats.

[@kevincamacho7190]

@@slimjimmy4070 Maybe it just me. But due to offensive terms like LOAD MANAGEMENT we don't get to see enough of what I got to see as a fan during the 80s and 90s. Nagging injuries didn't stop stars from being stars. It was a tougher game back then and competitors answered the bell. Alot of people point to points, the defensive rules of todays basketball allow more points.

[@slimjimmy4070]

@@kevincamacho7190 I agree about the injuries. When it comes to load management the only player to actually load manage for a whole season was Kawhi. Other players might miss a few games but not every other game or back to backs like Kawhi did that one season with the Clippers. As for offense yes the defense is not as physical and it take more skill to stop players but there is no denying that players have evolved offensively and we can also thank the high number of 3's being shot and made to the high scores.

[@jabbarinnewyork7778]

ISIAH....OH NOW THEY WANT TO SAY IT!!!! GOD BLESS YOU ISIAH! YOU, MAGIC, MARK, AND MICHAEL KEPT ME FROM OFF THOSE GHETTO HOOD STREETS...THANK YOU!

[@UFOsAreRealArea51]

Isiah Thomas was the very 1st NBA player i ever seen play as a child. I seen him dribble the ball in between his legs on TV and as a 5 year old kid tried to dribble the ball in between my legs just like him but my legs weren't long enough so i would jump in the air in between bounces. 😆 Thanks for the childhood memories Isiah!!!

[@Grinchroy1]

the thing is MJ and Zeke paired so well together

[@TheEV3RGRAND]

Every All-Star Games...It's easy 2C the influence that combo had on Dwayne Wade.

[@brandoncarr8671]

I loved watching them play.

[@khalilminorel747]

The true pre internet old skool sports fan will always be able to observe, acknowledge and admit true talent and give credit where credit is due. Isaiah Thomas was a top notch p.g. and floor general. Wether in collegiate or the pros he was the ultimate leader and fierce competitor period. I, like many played sports from the time I could run, throughout high school. Wasn't good enough to make it to the next level yet continued to play as an adult for the sheer enjoyment and excercise. I like many others may not have been collegiate players or pros yet innerstand the game well enough to see the game for what is is and isn't. Some of us even innerstand the aspects of the game more so than half of the non athletic talking heads, sportscasters and analyst well enough to watch several sports with the volume muted and know exactly what's happening. I do this because just like the news sportscasting is a monetarily motivated profession that hires talking heads to fill air space and not competency or truths. I say all this to say that true players and observer are not influenced by media, haters, biases, emotions and unknowledgeable people about who is, isn't, and or was or wasn't good, great or not so great. Isiah Thomas has always and will always be a top tier player wether anyone else, player or not says he is or isn't.

[@LoyalOpposition]

"Isiah Thomas is the GOAT" - Rasheed Wallace (smartest basketball player in modern history - just drank too much beer, couldn't stay in tip-top shape)... I saw Isiah. He made his young team invincible. He not only made his teammates better, but mentally tough, but also this confidence and toughness. If the tiniest guy in the league will stand up to anyone, so will the rest. Best Bulls every 3 out of years. Beat the Celtics and then the Lakers for their first title. Isiah beat those guys more than they beat him. 36-29 against MJ. The problem is that Isiah is from Chicago, so the love turned to hate. Isiah's own family hated the Pistons, too. And the NBA was making their money selling the East vs. West, White vs. Black, Larry vs. Magic, so the press followed, because if the league did well, so did they. If it didn't, they could be cut just like anyone else, so this narrative was followed. Forget highlights. Watch a handful of full games - they're on KZbin, and if you played basketball, you'll know why Sheed called him the GOAT.

[@OlJackBurton]

You may have seen Isiah, but did you really pay attention in 1989? Sure, the Pistons beat the Celtics, but Bird wasn't playing. Kevin McHale was playing through foot injuries and was no longer great and was permanently a bench player after that season. Robert Parish was no longer great and hadn't been for a few years and was still arguably their best player along with a young sophomore Reggie Lewis. Dennis Johnson was on his last legs and couldn't even average 20 mpg. They had zero depth after losing Bill Walton and Scott Wedman to career ending injuries in the 1987 season. There was nothing impressive about that series win. The Pistons then go on to sweep a 49 win (on paper) Bucks team that was down their two top starters including their star Terry Cummings who got injured early in the first game. Paul Pressley also completely missed the playoffs. They had to rely on their sixth man (Ricky Pierce) to lead the team as Jack Sikma and Sidney Moncreif were just shells of themselves by then. The Pistons then faced a young 47 win Bulls team with a sophomore Pippen and a sophomore Horace Grant that had traded away Charles Oakley, that already shocked the world by beating the 57 win Cavs and the 52 win Knicks. They were on pace to shock the world once again by going up 2-1 against the Pistons, and then the Pistons go crazy with the Jordan Rules and some of the ugliest and dirtiest style of basketball in Game 4 in Chicago where the Bulls lose that game by 6 points in a game that MJ missed 5 of 17 free throws. He was that shook up. The Pistons would then win a relatively close Game 5 and then in Game 6, Pippen is taken out in the very first minute by a dirty Bill Laimbeer elbow that concussed him. Even so, that game was still close. MJ was truly something else those playoffs and those young Bulls were the only team that truly scared the Pistons. In the next series in the Finals against the Lakers, Byron Scott (the number 3 guy) was out of the playoffs after tearing his hamstring in the previous series. Magic would also tear his own hamstring early in Game 2. He would try to play 5 minutes in Game 3, but the Magic were basically down 2 of their 3 best players for most of those Finals, relying on James Worthy and a 42 year old Kareem in his last few swan song games, who both actually kept all 4 games pretty close. MJ was so competitive, he would have been livid if he would have won a title in those circumstances, not playing a single team at full strength due to injuries (legitimate or dirty) or attrition, with most of those games against a team without their clear best player. 1990 was a slightly more impressive year for the Pistons, in that they actually faced relatively healthy teams, but certainly no world beaters or elite championship level teams. They went through a 42 win Pacers team that was a much worse version of the mid and late 90s teams that would challenge the Bulls, Knicks and Lakers. The Pistons would then beat a 45 win Knicks team that was also a much worse version of the mid 90s Knicks team that would challenge the Bulls in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996 and go to the Finals in 1994. The Pistons then faced an overall slightly better version of the Bulls than the previous year (but a slightly worse version of MJ who wasn't feeling it as much and sharing the ball more) that took the Pistons to 7 games, but then Pippens migraines happened at the very worst time. I guess you could compare this to Isiah spraining his ankle at the worst time against the Lakers, except that Isiah could run on adrenaline before his ankle completely blew up, while Pippen was terrible the entire close out game. Starting PG John Paxson also sprained his ankle in Game 6 of that series and couldn't go in Game 7, so the Bulls had no ball handling outside of MJ and ineffective Pippen and the Bulls were basically down 2 starters or 1 starter and a terrible decoy in Game 7, kind of like James Harden in Game 7 against the Bucks. MJ had so little help in that game compared to Isiah who still had HOFers Joe Dumars, Adrian Dantley and Dennis Rodman along with Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson to share the load. Even James Edwards and John Salley were more effective in Game 6 of the '88 Finals than Craig Hodges, Bill Cartwright (the other 2 Bulls excuses of starters in that game) and rookie BJ Armstrong were in 1990. Even Horace Grant was terrible in that game. So the Pistons dodged another bullet against the Bulls who had the Pistons on the ropes. The following year when the Bulls were healthy, whole and ready, they annihilated a slightly worse version of those Pistons. The Pistons would then beat their only high level fully healthy opponent in the 59 win 1990 Portland Trailblazers, which featured Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey and Buck Williams in their prime. Even though they won in 5 games, every game was close. However, this again wasn't the best version of those Blazers. The 1991 and 1992 Blazers that were beaten by the Lakers and Bulls respectively, were even better as Cliff Robinson became a key player instead of being just a rookie in 1990 and the Blazers added former All-Star Danny Ainge to the team, although in hindsight, they should have kept Drazen Petrovic, but he wasn't going to get any meaningful minutes as a pure SG playing behind Drexler, Porter, Kersey and Robinson. Anyway, this was Isiah's best playoff series (that he won) against a team at full strength and he won his only FMVP. Besides that, he had no real signature series (in a winning effort) against a great team except maybe an aging Celtics with zero depth (literally 5 players and scrubs) in the 1988 ECF. Isiah wasn't that good in the 1990 ECF with his only very good games coming in losses in Game 3 and 4 (his greatness didn't help his team win) and a decent game in Game 7 against an undermanned Bulls. Isiah (and the Bad Boys) did have one great game in a must win Game 4 in the 1989 ECF against the Bulls, but those Bulls (MJ really) were overachievers and near complete world shockers those playoffs as they could have definitely beaten a Lakers team without Byron Scott and with a 42 year old Kareem, with or without Magic, never mind that MJ would have hated winning in those conditions after beating the Cavs, Knicks and Pistons at full strength. Sheed was definitely smoking something calling Isiah the GOAT...

[@Argee52]

I agree

[@Argee52]

I agree w/ Loyal opposition, don't want to hear negative excuses why Thomas out played jordan.

[@kylanmangum4943]

Top three point guard of all time. Can’t stand when people try to put John Stockton or Steve Nash Over him y’all forget this man had 2 chips back to back

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

And 0 mvps or all defensive team selections.

[@gregbailey8253]

@@joeyjo-joshabadu9636 Please tell me you really don't think Nash should have won two MVPs when Shaq and Kobe were dominating? Nash is the least deserving MVP in history, he's a poor man's John Stockton.

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

@@gregbailey8253 Nash probably doesn't deserve 2 but I don't even think Zeke finished in the top 3 of MVP voting. Stockton didn't either but his stats speak for themselves. Isiah had a relatively short career, was an inefficient scorer and was unremarkable defensively. He did however benefit from playing on one of the all-time great defensive teams, and as a result is greatly overrated.

[@gregbailey8253]

@@joeyjo-joshabadu9636 Does Zeke absolutely dominating Stockton (to the point that one time Karl Malone split him open with an elbow because he was pissed his friend was getting annihilated) just about every time they played count for anything? How about being a clutch player that his team could always rely on when the game is on the line? Sure, he didn't have the greatest ppg average, but with the Pistons dominating defense that you mentioned, he didn't need to score as much. But when they needed him to score, he could dominate a game offensively. Sixteen points in 94 seconds in a playoff game, 25 points in one quarter of a Finals game. Defensively, he wasn't as good as Stockton, but he wasn't too shabby either. He's still 17th on the all-time steals list. Stats don't always mean everything, Zeke could go. It sounds like you're not a big fan of his, and I respect that. But for me, the only PG I'm taking over him is Magic.

[@Zamppa86]

@@gregbailey8253 Zeke definitely is a top 4 point guard of all time. Magic is the greatest pg of all time without any question but the spots 2-4 go to Big O, Zeke and Jerry West in some order. After that we can start to argue about Stockton, Curry, Frazier, Kidd, Payton and so on.

[@drcharlesbombay]

Isiah is one of the High-Priests in the religion of Basketball...

[@mrflynn01]

I’m from Detroit and we don’t give a fuc what ppl think about the Bad Boy Pistons!! Period/T

[@RazorReg]

Isaiah and Dominique supposed to be on Dream Team 1.

[@kevinmorrison6093]

D wilkens blow his knee out acl the year

[@aaronjackson9385]

@@kevinmorrison6093 it was his achilles.

[@davidsolomon7966]

Isaiah was short. The common misconception was that he was 6'2". He was not , he was slightly taller than 6', maybe 6 1/4" tall. I wish I could remember who said this but I don't remember, I remember the interview . The NBA player said had Isaiah been blessed with any heights at all , let's say 6'3", he would have gone down as the greatest player of all time.

[@kevsamuelsdiedwafathookeri2254]

Yep. Allen Iverson Syndrome.

[@nothingnothing7648]

I think Dr J said that if I'm not mistaken.

[@RaiderGannon12]

Isiah Thomas was probably around 5"11 to 6'0. When he on that episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith was taller than Isiah Thomas, Will Smith is around 6'1.

[@_stoatchaser]

A most splendid player in an era of splendid players. Not to say todays players are awful but his era was just better all round. Would love to see an all star team from the early 80ties rip through today’s league

[@anthonycook4441]

What Era Rules are they gonna use in this Simulation.

[@_stoatchaser]

@@anthonycook4441 the proper ones. Not the ones todays ballerinas use

[@_stoatchaser]

@@anthonycook4441 the proper ones. Not the ones todays ballerinas use

[@christophermorris2434]

Yeah that era was so great they moved in the 3 point line and the scoring went down cause no one can shoot..5 hall of fame point guards from 80s magic dj isaih cheeks moncrief what do they all have in common they all have a lower 3 point percentage then these 5 centers.embid townes jokic davis vucevic. So now we know you didn't have to defend 3 point line is it easier for 5 guys defend 18 feet from basket or 25 . The players today would kill them on floor spacing alone.

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Zeke was fire bruh! I had season tickets to IU hoops from 1978 until I move to Ohio in 1979. Zeke was fire!

[@libertypastor1307]

Isiah is so overlooked. Thanks for doing this video. A preacher friend of mine from the mid-70's (Chris Carter) told me once that Isiah Thomas shot baskets with him and an old preacher named Tom Malone from Pontiac, Michigan. I don't remember any particulars, but I always liked Isiah since because he would condescend to play with an old man, and someone not near as good as him. (He said this old preacher had a pretty good set shot!) This was in the 80's. I'd love to hear confirmation of this from someone else who played a lot with Isiah in the off season.

[@davidjsouth231]

Finally! You feature a Detroit Bad Boy! Despite your love affair of MJ

[@ILOV3BUTT3R]

Best ball handler I've ever seen. I haven't played much basketball since I stopped playing little league but this man has the cleanest and smoothest handles I've ever seen (sorry Kyrie) and was a hell of a warrior against those Lakers in his first finals. 25 points in a quarter is nothing to scoff at, but it's even more impressive on a broken foot.

[@LIBlurr]

Maravich was right there or Superior as a pure ball handler to anyone !

[@StevenC32]

Isiah Thomas should have been on that Dream Team, he was way better than John Stockton. The best point guards in my opinion: 1. Magic Johnson 2. Oscar Robertson 3. Isiah Thomas 4. John Stockton 5. Tiny Nate Archibald. I consider Steph Curry more of a 2 guard in PG body, although Curry can handle the ball as well as any point guard, but his shoot first mentality makes him more geared for the 2 guard.

[@713anand]

Overall stats and body of work those guys all are ahead. A prime isiah Thomas dismantles all of those guys as he did against magic and Stockton on a regular basis. The finals record isiah set of 25 pts in 1 quarter against the lakers still stands today. And he did it on 1 leg

[@StevenC32]

@@713anand I would hate to play a street ball game against Isiah Thomas, because he would make people look silly. He had Harlem Globetrotter ball handling skills.

[@mongoslade277]

@@StevenC32 Great Harlem Globetrotters reference!! Looking at his handles you can tell the Marques Haynes & Curly Neal had a big influence on him

[@waelharp4060]

Isiah was the General on the Bad Boys that the league feared lol, I like that. The late 80's belonged to Isiah he beat Jordan, Magic and Bird and all the other legends in the 80's and he didn't have Kareem and Worthy or the Mailman he had a deep team that were castaways and they had a chip on there shoulder and Isiah was there General. Period. Isiah had the ability to take over a game, he was unstoppable that's how he beat the Celtics, Lakers and Bulls.

[@Twilightgatestudios]

Zeke is kinda like Bron. Who hasn’t he beaten??

[@CoachMikejvGahr]

Great content I am a big fan of the channel! Great work bro. Much love !! Keep dropping the videos

[@tianzi49]

If I had to pick a person to go into the trenches in this game and in real life outside of basketball, Isiah would be my top 5 ... he was only 6' - 1", but played like a giant in every phase of the game ... i.e., pretty handles, class act to this day, floor generalship, coming through in clutch moments, loyalty to the teammates and the organization and the fan base, that "Chi" town bred, never back down toughness, make points when team needed points ... my only regret is that because of jealousy of "we all know whom" he was not able to join the "Dream Team" and let the world witness the Houdini like magic on the court that is "Zeke" ... and you thought real friends backed you up when no one else would!

[@alanwest1067]

“If I ever had a player who came here to win, it was Isiah Thomas.”-Bobby Knight.

[@furnitureconsortium]

All of those points are true! The only chink in the armor of Zeke was that he was a horrible General Manager and a horrible businessman in general.....his run with the Knicks, his ownership and torching of the CBA, and his other business ventures that went tits up over the years. On the court....Zeke was exemplary and every accolade thrown his way was well-deserved and this is all coming from an old-school Pistons fan and michigan native

[@tianzi49]

@@furnitureconsortium you can say the same thing about countless people who failed despite of their best efforts in business, getting elected, or getting accepted to elite schools etc., but failed ... upshot: you can't fault 'em for trying unless you perfect!

[@furnitureconsortium]

@@tianzi49 that’s a really good point! I agree with that

[@mikelong8110]

Isiah Thomas is the only player in NBA history to beat Magic, Bird & Jordan. Just facts!

[@sheneedsme]

True I think he is the only player to have a winning record in the playoffs against those 3 giants of the game.

[@stevemays1478]

Facts

[@thatguyfrom313]

Dominique and Drexler

[@Pineapples-Mango_Smoothie]

​@@thatguyfrom313lol 😂😂 and what did they win?

[@brianclark641]

Definitely still the second best point guard

[@mightymikeamps9317]

I don’t like Isaiah, but I put him above Stockton as a pure point guard. Isaiah could put a team on his back in a championship scenario like Stockton never did.

[@robertdudley1258]

There are quite a few point guards in front of Stockton who played with Malone the greatest finisher and 3rd leading scorer. Stockton was steady and consistent but could not take a game over by himself, basically pick and pop off the pick and roll because of Malone. Magic, Oscar, Isaiah, Curry are tops. Tony Parker was better than Stockton in the playoffs and no one mentions his name, he only won 4 championships and the disrespect for him is unreal, Stockton never won a championship and never made it to a game 7 and true greatness has always been tied to championships.

[@mightymikeamps9317]

@@robertdudley1258 The Spurs are very disrespected because of their unselfish team play instead of stat padding.

[@robertdudley1258]

@@mightymikeamps9317 Duncan is well deserved as the premier power forward but Manu and Parker at times played some of the best basketball that I have ever seen and I am a Lakers fan

[@keithjoseph128]

You never watched Stockton.

[@mightymikeamps9317]

@@keithjoseph128 Yes I did, and my comment stands unless he won some rings that I missed.

[@stevewise1656]

Thomas and Dumars were a nightmare backcourt. The first time I'd heard about dribbling drills and watched his routine.

[@kingjames3949]

Love his game and heart. Just wish he didn’t burn so many bridges he would’ve been on the Dream Team

[@albertpringle4918]

FOESHOW FOESHOW FOESHOW FOESHOW

[@martyemmons3100]

Let's be clear, Isaiah Thomas didn't burn any bridges. The media is STILL hatin' on Isaiah until today. First 'they' hated that Larry 'Legend' Bird's Boston Celtics got 'beat down' by The Bad Boys. Then the media didn't want The Bad Boys to beat the Showtime Lakers. The Detroit Pistons SWEPT the Lakers, 4-0! Especially after the embarrassing/dirty way Magic Johnson played. Throwing elbows at Isaiah's grill while he was in the air, going to the hoop. And let's not forget the most unforgivable; in the media's opinion, deed of keeping the prima Donna Michael Jordan from winning! Then with Jordan complaining to any reporter, "they (Pistons) tried to end my career!". To this day Jordan is still traumatized (the poor thing!) by those two seasons (1988-89 & 1989-90).

[@marykuettner752]

@@martyemmons3100 Grow up and do some reading. Isiah came up with the Jordan rules. Meant knock him to the floor. Isiah was supposed to be Magic's bff. After Magic's HIV diagnoses Isiah went around asking reporters if Magic was gay and didn't call him. Bird never lost to Isiah until he had so many health problems he was spending the night in traction to be able to play. Isiah and Bird had to go to a press conference where Isiah said afterwards Bird saved his career. Isiah was a great player but that man could open his mouth and insert both feet faster than Shaq could dunk. Also why can't any of you spell the poor man's name the way he does?

[@martyemmons3100]

@@marykuettner752, come on man! First, I think you're forgetting when Laimbeer took Larry 'Legend' to the floor. And Johnny Most the play-by-play saying, "the yellow gutless way they do things here!". You can't tell me Larry (butthurt) Bird likes Laimbeer.

[@marykuettner752]

@@martyemmons3100 Laimbeer isn't Isiah. Of course Larry can't stand Laimbeer. When Laimbeer wasn't named to the All Star team and the reporters asked Larry what he thought, he said, " Good, saves him saying How is it going Larry? and saves me saying F*ck you Bill."

[@markpajot9691]

He is the greatest 6' player EVER.!!

[@dragutintodosijevic4195]

No one who knows basketball is underrating him he is second best all time as a pg better than Stokton,Curry,Iverson,Chris Paul,Jason Kid.Steve Nash and on and on.He was skilled he had shooting penetration passing defense and leadership the complete basketball package with no weaknesses .Magic is the best because he is Magic but Isiah is right there with him and he beat him a few times.He is also the only pure point guard that won rings as the best player on the team as the main scorer and facilitator and everything.

[@jimsaunders4136]

Being a Detroiter, I watched all those games. But here's the thing. Isiah would have an outstanding game and I'd say "man, he might be the best guard in the league!" Then the next game Joe Dumars would come out, dominate and play just as good or better!

[@bennedictartclavecillas3452]

Most underrated player ever

[@flyonbyya]

This guys vidzzzz are FANTASTIC !!!

[@77iam97]

You know I never liked the Bad Boys Piston's but inside I always liked Zeke and Dumas

[@davidjsouth231]

Dumars. With an R. Dumas was another athlete. I was a Bad Boys fan being a teen during their late 80s and 90s good years

[@sheneedsme]

Dumars will always be my favorite player because of the way he conducted himself on and off the court.

[@larsmenken2679]

Isiah is one of the players I didn’t like back then but love now. Like Chuck. And Isiah is the GOAT of story telling, closely followed by Magic.

[@AveryBlackman]

I don't have to listen to another nba player say how good a player was. I saw Isiah Thomas play for Indiana in college and his career in Detroit. The Pistons should have three-peated 88,89,90. The Lakers won by the skin of their teeth in game 7. I was a Lakers fan and was shocked by the Pistons.

[@kevsamuelsdiedwafathookeri2254]

Yep. I taped the game on Beta cassette and I remember rewatching it and disbelieving the furious comeback the Pistons almost pulled off in the last 2-3 mins of Game 7. Isiah feeding Laimbeer who was hitting clutch 3's, Isiah hitting clutch 3's and penetrating/scoring against Green/Kareem/Mychal Thompson. Lakers deserved to win the series. But you could see the writing on the wall the following year that the Pistons had worn the Lakers out by making them play the fatigue equivalent of 10-12 games stuffed into 7 games, in that '88-'89 Finals.

[@rodcav3]

MJ is the GOAT no question but P4P isiah is the GOAT..If Isiah was 6'6": we wouldn't be talking about Jordan..He has beaten more HOF and 50 greatest players than Jordan and with less talent around him. When yo look at his roster and compare to those he had to beat to win chips..irts not even close on the same talent level Magic had Kareem, and Worthy. Bird, had McHale, Parish, Archibald and Walton, he also got pass Moses Malone, Barkley and Dr.J. MJ and Scottie, Clyde Drexler,

[@jaxonbrowne1273]

i think Wilt was better than MJ

[@JT9K]

i remember on one of the old NBA2K games, they had Isiah rated a '103' out of 100... - whats crazy is...it was an accurate rating

[@mateowannacomedyremasterz6605]

Well done my dude.

[@DEAD-ALIVE]

AWESOME !! I love watching your show brother. Your mini documentaries are one of the greatest of all time - your program should be the 1st program to go into the "Hall Of Fame" for basketball media. Your a champion. I would like to know if your a baller yourself? If you somehow actually read this it would be cool to get a reply. Peace ✌ 🏀 👊

[@MannyMensah94]

Another dope video

[@davidmaez7253]

Just subscribed, good stuff

[@juliusbarnes245]

Charles Barkley said it best that Magic Man is the "Greatest Point Guard ever because he was a freak of nature at 6'9 case sealed.. but the little true Point Guards was/is Isaiah Thomas and John Stockton case closed.. Peace Inward ✌️....

[@simonemiglioli1165]

Chris Mullin better than both in my opinion.

[@theodore29071981]

Eddie Johnson what a player , i remeber playing for Olympiacos....

[@pjpj2639]

Chi town basketball….Point guards, Isaiah, Ricky green, Maurice cheeks, Derrick rose, Tim hardaway….all had two things in common..1) tough 2) lightning quick……Isaiah a true point guard has to be one of the top three of all time, he, magic and the big O Oscar Robertson

[@mongoslade277]

A Ricky Green reference in 2022. 😎. Never knew he has from Chicago but thinking about his game you're absolutely right

[@pjpj2639]

@@mongoslade277 lol yeah many scratching their heads….who? Had some good years in nba with the jazz with mark Eaton etc….when I was a freshman in high school…..yeah and a white boy …summer league in the city ….played against him….man was lightening…..and from baseline to baseline…..cool you remember him…..

[@christopherblaisdel]

What were those 80s Pistons games originally filmed on? Is there any hope of ever getting good quality scans out of them? I would love to go back and watch some classic Pistons battles.

[@anthonywilliams5522]

Truly the best

[@josephwilson3531]

Zake is definitely in my top 5 point guards of all time that probably won't ever change I just don't know where to rank him in my top 5 because most days I feel like he had more potential as a point guard then even Magic but something stopped him from breaking that glass an he retired before fully breaking it. Then there are days where I think J.Kid might had caught up to Zake as a point guard. I honestly don't know where to rank him but he is definitely bouncing around in the top 2 an 3 right now overall. But as far as toughness as a point guard goes we talking a whole nother list all together Zake is agruely the best an number 1 defense an toughness is where he shines the absolute most in to me to me that's his playground

[@calfrye5343]

What are you talking about? He is the only guy at 6 ft to lead his team to championships. & should have 3 peated if not for a bad call… he’s top two point guard & maybe #1 pound for pound.

[@josephwilson3531]

@@calfrye5343 you make a good point that for a 6 foot guard his is definitely probably number 1 but again I said his skills overall so when I try to stack up every point guard together it becomes a toss up when you add in every point guards steals points style toughness how an where they got their points passing blocks rebounds an everything. When you add everything up like that again I can't help but think where does he really go on that list for me he is still 1 of the best if not the best at the game as far as toughness an some of the other skills there are a few guys that come to mind like Pistol Pete John Stockton Muggy we can keep going but I think you get the point. Now on defense again you have some guys that need to be mentioned as well if you bring up the best defender's like for example Gary Payton is the first guy that comes to my mind. But like iam saying when I think about all that an add it up to me Zake is still in my top 5 but again imma all cap this so again everyone hears my opinion. I DON'T KNOW FULLY WHERE TO RANK HIM IN MY TOP 5 POINT GUARDS OF ALL TIME I DO NOT KNOW. So yeah my options can changes an on where I rank Zake in my top 5 point guards again you make a great point an if I was just going with guys that are that are the normal point guard height I would say Zake in my mind is most likely number the guy I would say is number 1 on that list

[@713anand]

@@calfrye5343 don’t forget he was the best player on a ncaa championship team too. If there’s any rivalry, it should be zeke and James worthy. The met in the national championship then in the nba finals twice

[@calfrye5343]

@@josephwilson3531 You're talking about stats... I look at impact... The fact is, in the mid 80's the league was about Magic, Bird and Isiah. Zeke gets ommitted because of Jordans popularity and he was percieved as the bad guy but if you grew up in the 80's you know how much of a superstar Zeke was. Plus he was winner in college & in the league. When he joined a team they won championships. No other player at that size can say that as the biggest star on the team & thats the reason why his stats arent gaudy because it cut his career short.

[@josephwilson3531]

@@calfrye5343 not just talking about stats either iam also talking about impact to the game as well is why iam still saying I don't know where to fully place Isiash again this is again a subject iam willing to look at all points because I do feel like people sleep on Zake an he is top 5 point guard of all time in my mind. So again iam hearing what your saying an my opinion might change on the subject of him being number or not but right now I think Magic might have him but again that's just my opinion right now when iam thinking about the stats impact the games I have seen or been courtside for from their skills to toughness an everything. I will think about both our options an everyone else's as well as watch even more game film later on when I get off work because again this is again something I do feel needs to be talked about here an there seriously I really feel like people don't realize how good his was an over look him. I do hope we can talk about this more later on hope you have a good day

[@futureDreamer4]

My favorite PG and to me is still the second greatest PG of all time and one of the greatest players of all time.

[@moderatedoomer2945]

IMO the ability to keep your dribble alive no matter what is just as impressive as any dunk or three pointer. It puts so much pressure on the defense. Teammates will get open or you'll get an open look because a defender makes a mistake, just keep dribbling and moving (within the your shooting range where the defense has to be on alert the whole time). It's akin to a quarterback who can scramble and get back to the pocket. Every tenth of a second that that play is alive increases the chances of a receiver getting open or you finding an opening to run the ball.

[@CHUCKMORRISIII]

👑

[@gunngangsta]

Was born in 1976. Born and raised in Detroit. 5'10" and was a basketball fiend. Played highschool ball at Detroit country day with Chris Webber. Isaiah Thomas was my favorite player!

[@joebuck4496]

Basketball according to the Book of Isaiah

[@jameswatson6]

The greatest pure point guard in the history of the nba. Yeah.

[@msgshillingford4324]

ONE OF THE BEST EVER ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ONELOVE. ISAIAH THOMAS........................

[@adamgrant5483]

He & the bad boys from Detroit ... Owned the NBA

[@Ricocase]

Yeah, give him his flowers while he's here.

[@billg2354]

Loved Barkley's comment - the pistons went from trying to outscore teams to beating them defensively. Isiah Great offensive player that changed his game to win championships. Interesting - Yzerman had to learn that lesson as well. And Jordan too. How did Isiah become such an underrated HOF Legend? When he changed gears in the 4th quarter to help his team win - gosh, those were awesome games. I do appreciate Stockton but people forget he missed 2 shots (maybe 3) in the final 2 minutes of Jordan's final NBA championship. Isaiah was golden.

[@thatguyfrom313]

Good point. Especially with Yzerman.

[@malignantmorningstar6289]

Dude was amazing. Worthy of all the praise and more.

[@shayduncan6208]

Not only were the Pistons a "physical " team, ( that is part of the game), they also played a dirty game and had possibly one of the biggest floppers in NBA history, in Bill Lambieer.

[@sheneedsme]

Perhaps but maybe that was part of the game too. He sacrificed his body, he hit 3’s when big men couldn’t do that, he hit his free throws, he led a the league in rebounding one year and actually averaged about ten rebounds a game during his career, even more than Hall of Famer Ben Wallace. He fed off the hatred of teams on the road and knew how to get into opposing players heads and under their skin. Everyone hated but they’d all love him if he was on their team.

[@gerardoarambula8613]

@@sheneedsme exactly then Rodman learned from him n took it to a different level. Then Jordan wanted Rodman on his real

[@Prerich45]

Everyone did that in the 80's....Jordan and Phil got the rules changed in 90-91 season. Thats when the real flopping and if you touch a superstar like MJ its an automatic foul.

[@georgepugb]

Thanks!

[@BTMBasketballTimeMachine]

Thank you. I only just this. Thanks a lot!

[@konstantinkoverchenko9587]

Well, IF he was really that good, why wasn’t he on the Dream Team? Hmm, even that overrated kid from Duke made the squad. Really, like WTF?! I’m being sarcastic. ~_~ Thomas is simply legendary.

[@vantablack9535]

If Chuck got drafted to Detroit he would have had 4 Championships

[@toddjohnson271]

Would have loved Barkley!

[@zzzz-ok7733]

Late 70's to mid 90's will never see great B-Ball like then again... We will see great players but all around it's not the same till the NBA cuts back on the fines, put away there whistles and let them play is it is meant to play!

[@87crimson]

Greatest floor general oll time. He commanded a pack of wolves and took down dynasties.

[@ericbaira-milos4717]

He is probably the greatest point guard of all time... a true Napoleonic conqueror 👑🏀 a stubborn guy and looking at that team in paper 📄 and what they did with it was amazing 🏀

[@mikealves929]

It's people in 20s think he was ok he's great anyone 40 n over know

[@marclaporte3710]

A small player with a giant heart. His hustle and drive carved him put a place amongst the NBA'S all-time best players.

[@chrisdell5679]

Magic was injured in 89 for two games and Kareem was 42. Yet, Isiah cites being 29 and banged up why Chicago beat them.

[@redrocker1055]

The fact that he never won an MVP was tragic. The fact he was kept off the dream team because of grudge is fucking criminal.

[@jaxonbrowne1273]

My all time starting 5 - Isiah PG, Iverson SG, Bird SF, Barkley PF, Wilt C. Laugh at me at your leisure but no team could defeat these legends.

[@localwear1]

Read an eighties book called the “ money 💰 player’s “ Great, insightful read.

[@schonique]

Isiah Thomas is 1# on my Point Guard List period!