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The rivalry between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan continues to remain strong to this day.
Throughout their illustrious careers, both Thomas and Jordan shared plenty of memorable battles on the NBA floor. Thomas was the superstar for the Detroit Pistons, better known as the "Bad Boys" for their physical playing style. Thomas and the Pistons won a pair of championships in 1989 and 1990.
But a new challenger arose to challenge Detroit's run. That team was the Chicago Bulls and their young superstar Michael Jordan. Eventually, the Bulls overtook the aging Pistons, becoming the alpha in the Eastern Conference. Throught numerous playoff battles, bad blood between Thomas and Jordan was established.
The story of the historic battles between the Pistons and Bulls was showcased during the Chicago Bulls' "The Last Dance" documentary. Thomas didn't appreciate how he and the Pistons were portrayed.
Speaking to the Greek NBA rights holder Cosmote TV during the Abu Dhabi NBA games, Thomas was asked about his rivalry with Jordan. The Hall of Fame guard didn't hold back his opinion of the 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.”
Isiah Thomas comments on beef with Michael Jordan
There's been no love lost between Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas. Both Thomas and Jordan were part of two of the top Eastern Conference teams in NBA history.
Thomas and the Pistons had a number of showdowns with the Bulls in the NBA playoffs. They understood that Jordan and the Bulls were a team on the rise. This didn't stop them from preventing them from advancing in the playoffs on numerous occasions.
Eventually, Jordan and the Bulls got the last laugh, sweeping the Pistons in the 1991 Eastern Conference finals. After that, the Bulls finished the job, beating the LA Lakers to win their first title of the 1990s.
All told, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls went on to win six of the next eight championships, cementing them as one of the best dynasties in NBA history.
One of the most telling developments of that situation was near the conclusion of the 1991 series against the Pistons. In the final moments of the game, Isiah Thomas and the majority of his teammates left the court early. It would spark tensions, as none of the Pistons shook hands with the Bulls. During the documentary, Jordan highlighted that as something that didn't sit well with him.
