Isiah Thomas Gets Destroyed by Michael Jordan—Again and Again

Back in the day, the Bulls-Pistons rivalry was fierce, with Isiah Thomas leading the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons against Jordan’s Bulls.

The animosity was real, fueled by physical play and high stakes.

But since the release of the documentary The Last Dance in 2020, Isiah has repeatedly resurfaced this rivalry, often to his own detriment.

On the podcast All The Smoke, Thomas publicly begged Michael Jordan for an apology over past comments Jordan made on national television.

Jordan had called Thomas an “a-hole” in reference to the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals, specifically criticizing Thomas and the Pistons for walking off the court early in defeat—a move widely viewed as disrespectful and unsportsmanlike.

Jordan’s comment was made in the past tense and reflected a specific moment of frustration.

Yet, Isiah has since clung to this label, demanding Jordan retract it or apologize.

At 61 years old, many see this as a bit pathetic—holding onto a rivalry that ended decades ago and seeking validation from a man who clearly wants no part of it.

Jordan’s respect for Thomas as a competitor is well documented.

He once ranked Thomas as the second-best point guard of all time, right behind Magic Johnson.

Jordan’s disdain was never personal bitterness but rather a reaction to Thomas’s on-court antics and the Pistons’ physical style of play.

Isiah’s other grievance is Jordan’s admitted hatred toward him, expressed in the present tense during The Last Dance.

Jordan said he “hated” Thomas with a passion, a sentiment that, while harsh, is not unusual given the intense competition and personal clashes of their era.

It’s important to understand that not everyone in sports—or in life—will like or befriend you.

Jordan, now 60, is unlikely to apologize or soften his stance, especially after decades of history.

Thomas’s repeated public calls for reconciliation come across as desperate attempts to stay relevant rather than genuine efforts to mend fences.

Adding context, other legends like Larry Bird and Bill Laimbeer also expressed disdain for the Pistons, reflecting a league-wide frustration with Detroit’s aggressive and sometimes dirty style of play.

The “Bad Boys” reputation was earned through hard-nosed basketball that many fans and players disliked.

Thomas’s ongoing criticism of Jordan extends beyond personal slights.

For example, Thomas has claimed LeBron James is the greatest of all time (GOAT), a statement that Jordan fans find provocative.

Both Thomas and Laimbeer’s insistence on LeBron’s superiority appears to be a veiled jab at Jordan, illustrating their lingering bitterness.

Thomas’s arguments often lack consistency.

He praises Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s GOAT case by citing his undefeated high school and college career, then compares Jordan and LeBron without the same criteria.

By this logic, Jordan’s decorated college career should place him high in the GOAT debate, yet Thomas’s narrative seems designed to undermine Jordan rather than offer objective analysis.

One of Thomas’s worst claims is that Jordan was “only a scorer,” ignoring Jordan’s all-around brilliance.

In the 1991 NBA Finals, Jordan averaged an astonishing 11.4 assists per game—the highest ever for a non-point guard in Finals history—alongside his scoring and defensive contributions.

From 1989 to 1993, Jordan averaged 34.4 points, 6.8 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game, showcasing his complete dominance.

Comparing Jordan’s prime to LeBron’s peak in Miami, Jordan’s stats remain superior in scoring, assists, and steals, while LeBron’s rebounding edges him slightly.

Yet Thomas’s narrative attempts to downplay Jordan’s versatility, falsely painting him as a one-dimensional player.

Ultimately, Jordan’s worst insult toward Thomas was calling him an “a-hole” in the past tense—hardly a devastating attack after 40 years.

Meanwhile, Thomas has repeatedly tarnished Jordan’s legacy on shows like Undisputed and countless podcasts, appearing increasingly desperate for attention by invoking Jordan’s name.

In conclusion, the Jordan-Thomas rivalry today is far from balanced.

Jordan has moved on, having aired all grievances publicly in The Last Dance, while Thomas continues to seek validation and stir controversy.

The dynamic feels less like a rivalry and more like one man chasing the shadow of a legend.

As fans, it’s clear that Michael Jordan’s legacy remains untouchable, and Isiah Thomas’s attempts to challenge it only highlight the gulf between their careers and reputations.

This rivalry, once fierce and competitive, now serves as a reminder of how time settles scores—and how some grudges simply refuse to fade.

Thank you for reading this deep dive into one of basketball’s most enduring rivalries.

Stay tuned for more stories about the legends who shaped the game.