Photo Credit: Guyism.com

Michael Jordan On Tape Saying He Wouldn’t Play On Dream Team With Isiah Thomas

Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas experienced a ruthless competition against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during the late 1980s and 1990, when the Pistons eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs for three straight years (1988, 1989, and 1990). The Bad Boys Pistons were an obstacle that Jordan couldn’t clear at first. The heated matchups between Isiah and Jordan eventually formed a bitter atmosphere between the two, that still lasts today.

Their rivalry peaked when the Bulls finally got the upper hand in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals and Isiah Thomas and his teammates left the court before time expired, without a handshake or any congratulating gesture.

A year later, Jordan then helped Magic Johnson and other teammates to keep Isiah Thomas off the 1992 Dream Team, after Thomas had feuds with many players. While Isiah Thomas is 100% sure that it was Jordan who kept him off the Olympics team, Jordan has always denied any involvement in Thomas not making the Dream Team. 

28 years later, the truth finally is revealed. Jordan is now on published audio admitting that’s exactly what he did. In Episode 3 of the Dream Team Tapes with Jack McCallum with the title ‘The Cool Kids All Sign On…But They Don’t Include Isiah’ (starting at the 9:52 minute mark).

Rod Thorn called me. I said, ‘Rod, I won’t play if Isiah Thomas is on the team.’ He assured me. He said, “You know what? Chuck doesn’t want Isiah. So, Isiah is not going to be part of the team.”