From a feud with Michael Jordan to a disastrous Knicks tenure, how chaos cast a shadow on the legacy of one of the NBA’s greatest superstars

The 1987 NBA season was one of the best ever. The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers continues. But a new team is making waves. The year before, the Lakers barely beat an up-and-coming young guard in the Finals. The Detroit Pistons and their stars are on the rise, and teams are taking note of their threats. In addition to competition between teams, there is also competition between players. Michael Jordan became the best player in the league in the 1980s. But when facing the Pistons, he always fell short.

A player often surpasses Jordan. But years later, his legacy is remembered very differently.

The Detroit Pistons legend didn’t have the best career after basketball

Rich Cohen, a 55-year-old nonfiction writer, has released his latest book, “When the game was war: The NBA’s greatest seasons“. He captured the stories and battles of the 1987-1988 NBA season. Cohen recently published excerpts from the book, in which he wrote about the rivalry between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan. He first recounted how Zeke Become a figure that NBA fans hate.

Thomas is the leader of the bad boy Pistons. Everyone knows how they play. But no one can contain them.

They got into physical altercations with their opponents. All plays are considered basketball moves, regardless of how they affect the opponent. Even though he won two championships, fans still remember his association with the Pistons’ brutality.

His reputation took a further hit when he failed to achieve anything as head coach of the Indiana Pacers for three seasons. But his biggest disappointment was his time as general manager of the New York Knicks.

He was in charge of the team from 2003 to 2008, but his decisions did not lead to any progress. During the 2005-2006 NBA season, the Knicks were the team with the highest payroll in the NBA. So if they spend money on top players, they should have a top team, right? No. The Knicks have the second-worst record in the league.

These memories tarnish the legacy of Isiah Thomas in the minds of the people. But mostly, it’s rampant in the Windy City.

How Michael Jordan Changed Zeke’s Legacy

Isiah Thomas grew up in Chicago, but it’s safe to say he’s also the most hated person in Chicago.

After that, by the late 1980s, the Chicago Bulls didn’t survive until they faced Isiah and the Pistons in the Eastern Conference. Jordan has not yet evolved into the player he will become. He’s still young and still improving. But that didn’t stop Zeke from knocking out him and the Bulls in three straight playoff games.

In the 1990 NBA playoffs, the Bulls finally defeated the Pistons. Since then, Jordan has won six championships, and Isiah remains a spectator. Cohen noted in his 2023 book: “The bitter battles with the bad boys became part of Jordan’s legacy and turned the Pistons into villains.“

What do you think of Rich Cohen’s comments about Isiah Thomas? Let us know in the comments!

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