Isiah Thomas Didn’t Know Michael Jordan Hated Him Until Watching ‘The Last Dance’

NBA legend Isiah Thomas told Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green that he didn’t know Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan hated him until he watched “The Last Dance.”

Jordan called Thomas an “a**hole” in “The Last Dance” while talking about when the Detroit Pistons didn’t shake the Bulls’ hands after getting swept in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. 

"Until he apologizes on international television… ain't no conversation"

—@IsiahThomas tells @Money23Green why his relationship with Jordan isn't salvageable pic.twitter.com/sUXuXr7Jq2

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) March 12, 2024

"All these years you've been standing behind a tree throwing stones"

—@IsiahThomas tells @Money23Green he didn't know Jordan felt the way he did until The Last Dance pic.twitter.com/RlfycV8h8l

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) March 12, 2024

The Bulls and Pistons had a fierce rivalry during the Jordan-Thomas days. Detroit beat Chicago in the 1988, 1989 and 1990 playoffs and created the “Jordan Rules,” a four-step plan to prevent Jordan from scoring.

Former Pistons coach Brendan Malone explained what the “Jordan Rules” were in “The Last Dance.” Detroit didn’t want Jordan to go baseline and wanted him to go left instead of right. The Pistons were also going to trap Jordan every time he got the ball in the post and knock him to the ground when he got into the paint.

The Bulls swept the Pistons in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals after losing to their rivals in the playoffs for three straight years. Before Game 4 ended, Thomas and the Pistons walked off the court and didn’t shake the Bulls players’ hands.

Ever since then, it is believed Jordan and Scottie Pippen lost any respect they had for Thomas.

Jordan and Pippen got revenge on Thomas by playing a significant role in Thomas not making the 1992 Dream Team. Jordan and Pippen didn’t want Thomas on the roster and got their wish.

Team USA won the gold medal in Barcelona. Jordan admitted in “The Last Dance” that the chemistry was great since Thomas wasn’t on the team.

Jordan and Thomas will likely never be friends. The NBA greats didn’t talk to each other in Cleveland in 2022 during the top 75 players ceremony. 

Jordan won six titles with the Bulls, while Thomas won two rings with the Pistons.