Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas didn’t participate in the new Boston Celtics doc because of how NBA icon Michael Jordan made him look in The Last Dance docuseries.
Jordan had editorial control over The Last Dance doc, which didn’t shine a good light on Thomas.
“I decided not to do the Boston documentary because of what Jordan and The Last Dance did,” Thomas told SiriusXM NBA Radio. “They totally set me up and blindsided me. I wasn’t gonna get fooled twice. I just decided not to participate in the documentary and be able to talk about it. I wasn’t gonna go on film and sit there and potentially be set up again like I was set up in The Last Dance.”
Thomas had a fierce rivalry with the Celtics and Chicago Bulls during his legendary run with the Pistons.
Jordan called Thomas an “a**hole” in The Last Dance while talking about the Pistons’ walkout.
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.
For what it’s worth, Jordan did call Thomas the second-best point guard in NBA history.
“I respect Isiah Thomas’ talent,” Jordan said in The Last Dance doc. “To me, the best point guard of all time is Magic Johnson and right behind him is Isiah Thomas. No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game.”
Thomas finished his career with averages of 19.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.3 blocks. He made 12 All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams and won the 1990 Finals MVP Award.
Meanwhile, Jordan has career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks. He won five MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, six Finals MVPs, three steals titles and 10 scoring titles.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
