- Jordan made the comment when asked about Thomas’ snobbery toward the 1992 Olympic team.
- Both Naismith Hall of Famers were part of the Pistons-Bulls rivalry in the ’90s
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Isiah Thomas said the only way he could bury the hatchet with Michael Jordan that’s if the six times NBA the champion apologizes to him on “international television” regarding his comments made on the Detroit Pistons caption in “The Last Dance”.
In 2020 Netflix and the ESPN Films miniseries, which focused on Jordan’s personal evolution to form a dynasty with the Bulls in the ’90s, “His Airness” opened with the rumor that he was behind the snub of Thomas toward the 1992 Olympic team, denying any involvement in roster selection.
Jordan, however, did not hide his feelings towards Thomas.
“The crowd’s reaction changed his perspective,” Jordan said, reflecting on the Bulls’ playoff rivalry with Thomas’ Bad Boy Pistons. “You can show me anything you want, you can’t convince me he wasn’t an asshole.”
On Wednesday, while appearing on “The Draymond Green Show,” Thomas – a two-time NBA champion – was interviewed by the Warriors of the Golden State power forward if his friendship with Jordan is salvageable.
Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan’s relationship deteriorated after the release of ‘The Last Dance’ in 2020
Thomas’ Bad Boy Pistons and Jordan’s Bulls were the most memorable NBA rivalry of the 1990s.
The two friends cut ties after Jordan called Thomas an “asshole” in the Netflix miniseries.
‘Dude. No, Thomas says at the beginning. “This guy went on national television…international television and called me an asshole…someone who was really nice to him…
“And until he apologizes on international television…we…no conversation…
Thomas then pointed out to Jordan, “You can’t apologize and have a private dinner. [with me] when you finished, you embarrassed me publicly,” adding that “if you didn’t mean it… say it publicly.” Now, if you really meant it, forget it. I’m OK with that.
Despite the feud between the two Naismith Hall of Famers, Thomas said he didn’t realize Jordan felt that way about him until the documentary series was released.
“Even until I watched ‘The Last Dance,’ I didn’t realize that he felt that way about me,” Thomas said on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast in 2020.
“I never had any bad words with him or anything like that. We played. His team won, my team won. We went home, they went home.
