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Former Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons player Brad Sellers had a theory on why Isiah Thomas hated Michael Jordan. In an interview back in 2020, Sellers explained his theory that points to the city of Chicago.
Sellers, the current mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, told Jerry Bembry of Andscape two years ago why Thomas hated Jordan. He pointed out that "Zeke" was from Chicago and didn't like the way "His Airness" arrived. MJ went on to become the most beloved sports figure of the city.
"The bigger issue was that Isiah was from Chicago," Seller said. "He worked to be one of the top players to represent that city, and Mike came in and eviscerated that. There's jealousy in this game, and when you peel back the layers of the onion, a lot of it is territorial.
"I can't imagine what that felt like for 'Zeke,' to have an outsider come in and have the entire city behind him. There was no love left for him in Chicago, except from family."
The beef between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan has been on-going for more than 30 years. Thomas has refused to end the feud following Jordan's comments about him on "The Last Dance" documentary.
"When I was watching 'The Last Dance,' I'm sitting there and I'm watching it with my family, and I’m thinking everything is good. And then this guy comes on television and he says that he hates me and then he calls me an asshole. And then I proceed to watch a whole documentary about him being an a**hole.
"I'm like, 'Wait a minute. Time out.' Until I get a public apology, this beef is gonna go on for a long long time, 'cause I'm from the west side of Chicago."
Charles Oakley offers same explanation on why Isiah Thomas hates Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan's former teammate and close friend Charles Oaklay has the same explanation why Isiah Thomas harbors hate against "His Airness." Oakley told The Chicago Tribune earlier this year that Thomas started to dislike Jordan when he came a superstar with the Bulls.
Oakley added that Thomas hated Jordan even more when he was not selected for the Dream Team in 1992. He also branded the Detroit Pistons legend as "sensitive" for getting his feelings hurt.
"He's mad he wasn't on the Dream Team," Oakley said. "When he didn't get on the Dream Team, it hurt his feelings. He's sensitive. He's mad Mike came and took his hometown, Chicago. He's a mad guy."
Isiah Thomas was born and raised in Chicago before playing college basketball in Indiana. Thomas was drafted by the Detroit Pistons and went on to win two NBA championships with them in 1989 and 1990.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan arrived in Chicago and became a legend by bringing six titles to the city. As for the Dream Team issue, Jordan was reportedly not the only player who didn't want Thomas on the team.
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