Michael Jordan and his time with the Chicago Bulls is nothing less than legendary. He won six NBA titles with the team and dominated the NBA for around a decade.
However, the Detroit Pistons, led by Isiah Thomas, always proved to be a problem for the Bulls. The ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons were infamous for their physical play and their tactics centered around Jordan.
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CHICAGO – 1991: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls jumps to shoot a basket against the Detroit Pistons as Cliff Levingston #53 of the Bulls, Dennis Rodman #10 of the Pistons and Isiah Thomas #11 of the Pistons watch the shot at the Chicago Stadium during the 1991 NBA Playoffs in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
Naturally, Jordan and Thomas, the two stars of the teams, were arch rivals. MJ has talked about his hate for Thomas on multiple occasions. And MJ is also accused of leaving out Thomas for the 1992 Olympic team.
The 1992 ‘Dream Team’ consisted of some of the biggest names in the NBA like Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Larry Bird among others. However, the selectors did not pick Thomas which raised a lot of eyebrows.
Jordan is accused of being one of the factors behind why Thomas was left out. However, he has denied this claim multiple times in the past. Interestingly, a leaked tape of Jordan talking to the man who assembled the team for the 1992 Olympic Team made global headlines.
Michael Jordan said during ‘The Last Dance‘ documentary, “It was insinuated that I was asking about him but, I never threw his name. You want to attribute it to me, go ahead and be my guest but it wasn’t me.”
However, an exclusive clip of Jordan busted his claims regarding Isiah Thomas. He said, “Rod, I won’t play if Isiah Thomas is in the team. He assured me.”
How did Michael Jordan perform against Isiah Thomas?
The Chicago Bulls share a historical rivalry with the Detroit Pistons which spanned across the 1980s and the 1990s. When MJ played against Thomas, he averaged a phenomenal 31.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 43 games.
On the other hand, Thomas averaged 21.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 9.3 assists in 43 games playing against MJ.
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What is your favorite memory of Michael Jordan against the Detroit Pistons? Let us know in the comments down below.
Written by
Edited by
Veer Badani