All Things Basketball with GD - Week 13 Player Spotlight, Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas (00:30)6'1", 180 lb; played PGBorn April 30, 1961 in Chicago, IL; family of 9 children (7 boys, 2 girls)Grew up in roughest & poorest part of town (Chicago's West Side)His mother Mary Thomas had a TV movie based on her lifeWent to St Joseph HS in the Westchester area; led them to state finals as a juniorAs a top prospect, goes to Indiana University; many thought the combo of coach Bob Knight & Isiah would clashFinished freshman year being named 1st team All-AmericanSelected to US Olympic team in 1980; US boycott those OlympicsLed his team as a sophomore to a NCAA title over UNC; named tourney's Most Outstanding PlayerAfter declaring hardship for 1981 Draft, 2nd overall pick by DET (#1, friend Mark Aguirre of DePaul to DAL)In 1981-82 the drafting of Isiah & Kelly Tripucka (12th overall) with the trade for Bill Laimbeer propelled them to 39-43Started in the 1982 All Star Game as a rookieHis obvious competitive drive led Laimbeer to give him the nickname Zeke (Isiah's alter ego)A leader & floor general in only his 2nd seasonWith the hiring of Chuck Daly in his 3rd season, became more aware of getting his teammates involved; finished 2nd in assists (11.1 APG)Participated in highest scoring game in history: DET beating DEN 186-184 in 3 OTs (47 points, 17 assists, 5 rebounds & 4 steals)In his 1st taste of playoffs; loses in 5 games to NYK (scored 16 points in 94 seconds to force OT in Game 5)Sets assist average record with 13.9 in 1984-85; lost in the playoff semis to BOS1985 All Star Game also known as the "freeze out game"; rookie Michael Jordan supposedly not being passed to which was arranged by Isiah who strongly denies thisMade major strides in 1986-87 finishing 3rd in the East; had their most crushing blow in losing to BOSWith DET ahead 107-106 with 5 secs left in Game 5; he threw an inbounds pass that Larry Bird stole & threw it to Dennis Johnson who scored the go-ahead basketAfter winning Game 7, brass rookie Dennis Rodman said Bird's overrated & that if he were black he'd be just another good player which Isiah agreed with (later does a press conference with Bird present to refute what he said)Took yet another step in 1987-88 exercising the demons by defeating BOS to reach NBA Finals vs good friend Magic JohnsonWhile leading 3-2 Isiah sprains his ankle & playing on one leg scored 43 points (25 in a quarter) before losing to LAL in Game 6 & then Game 7Finally reaches the summit in 1988-89 winning his 1st NBA title knocking off BOS, MIL, CHI & LAL; included controversial midseason trade: Adrian Dantley to DAL for Isiah's buddy AguirreFor 1989-90 he captured back-to-back title defeating IND, NYK, CHI & POR (Finals MVP); started out slow but went on a 25-1 run & finished 59-23Efforts at a 3-peat thwarted in 1990-91 by CHI in a season; more controversy: walked off the court with his teammates (something done to them by BOS)In Chuck Daly's last season they were eliminated from playoffs, 1st round to NYK; left off the inaugural Dream Team rosterFor 1992-93 he made one last All Star appearance; missed the playoffsWas in the twilight of his career during 1993-94; in his final game he torn his AchillesACCOLADESRetired as 3rd all time in assists & 5th in stealsStill holds DET records as all time leader in minutes, points, assists & stealsHis #11 jersey retired & named to the 50th Anniversary Team in 1996; 75th Anniversary Team in 2021Inducted into the Indiana University Sports Hall of Fame (1993), Michigan Sports H0F (1998) & Naismith HoF (2000)12x All Star (2x MVP), 5x All-NBA, 1 Assist Champ, 2x NBA Champ with a Finals MVP