The rivalry between Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas is one of the most toxic and enduring feuds in NBA history, defined by physical confrontations, disrespect, and the ultimate act of revenge. Decades after their playoff wars, Jordan’s hatred for Thomas remains “pure unfiltered bitterness.”
The Jordan Rules and The Walk-Off
The root of the hatred began in the late ’80s when Thomas, as the leader of the Detroit “Bad Boys” Pistons, orchestrated the “Jordan Rules.” This defensive strategy was simple: “Hit him. Hit him again. And if he gets up, hit him harder,” turning Jordan’s drives to the rim into an exercise in physical violence. To Jordan, this was not just competition; it was a war fueled by betrayal from a fellow star.
The feud reached its boiling point in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals when Jordan’s Bulls finally swept the Pistons. With seconds left on the clock in the decisive Game 4, Thomas led his teammates straight off the court, refusing to shake hands or offer congratulations to the Bulls. Jordan saw this “silent retreat” as the ultimate sign of disrespect and a defining act of cowardice. Years later, in The Last Dance, Jordan flat out called Thomas an “asshole” for the move.
The Dream Team Snub: The Ultimate Revenge
The culmination of the feud—and Jordan’s ultimate act of power—was Thomas’s exclusion from the 1992 “Dream Team,” the greatest collection of basketball talent ever assembled.
Thomas’s Qualifications: By resume, Thomas should have been a lock for the team, holding two championships, multiple All-Star selections, and a Finals MVP award.
Jordan’s Influence: The video reports that Jordan used his rising influence to guarantee Thomas was excluded, allegedly telling the selection committee, “If Thomas is in, I’m out.” No one was willing to risk losing Jordan, the face of basketball worldwide, for Thomas.
The Price of Power: Thomas’s exclusion was seen as proof that politics, grudges, and power mattered just as much as talent in the NBA. For Thomas, being left off the most iconic team in history was not just missing a tournament; it was being “erased from the biggest page in the sports storybook,” a permanent gap in his legacy that Jordan cemented as his revenge for years of humiliation.
The Jordan-Thomas beef never cooled off and never led to a reconciliation, remaining one of the nastiest and longest-lasting feuds in sports history.
News
The Border Lie: How a Half-Eaten Bowl of Popcorn, a Mojave Grave, and a Single Cell Phone Ping Unmasked the Killer of the McStay Family
The story of the McStay family disappearance began on a quiet street in Fallbrook, California, on Avocado Vista Lane. Joseph…
The Thump, The Lie, and The Shattered Spine: How a 2-Year-Old’s Autopsy Uncovered a Boyfriend’s Dark and Unspeakable Secret
The call that arrived at AdventHealth Waterman Hospital in Tavares, Florida, on May 3, 2022, was a harbinger of unspeakable…
The Man, The Truck, and The Totes: Inside Shawn Lannon’s Gruesome Serial Spree That Shocked Two Nations
The case of Shawn Lannon began not with a bang, but with a whisper—and then a stench. What unfolded after…
A Mother’s Confession, A Father’s Wounds: The Domestic Knife Attack That Exposed A Family’s Nightmare
In the quiet, often unseen corners of suburban life, raw human drama can unfold with shocking intensity, leaving scars that…
Exonerated By Autopsy, Condemned By Hashtag: D4vd Cleared of Homicide After FBI Reveals Celeste Rivas Died of Fatal Overdose
The saga of David Anthony Burke, the 20-year-old indie sensation known as D4vd, has become the definitive cautionary tale for…
The Toxic Lie That Rocked Hollywood: Medical Examiner Confirms D4vd’s 15-Year-Old Girlfriend Was NOT Pregnant, Shattering The Internet’s Biggest Conspiracy
The music world has long served as a stage for both dazzling artistry and dark secrets, but few events have…
End of content
No more pages to load
