The GOAT debate in the NBA is the most talked-about theme in every barber-shop conversation, and Michael Jordan and LeBron James are at the forefront of it. Now, Isiah Thomas has chimed in with his take on The King James’ legacy and cleared his stance on the GOAT debate.
Featuring on the latest episode of Run It Back on FanDuel TV, Thomas expressed his thoughts on the eras debate. He seemed baffled at the fact that fans and analysts considered the Thomas and Michael Jordan era (1980s-90s) as ‘The Golden Era,’ while “the greatest player to ever play,” as per him, is playing right now.
The Baby Faced Assassin said:
“You guys are playing with arguably the greatest to ever play, y’all treat him like he ain’t nothing. I’m talking about LeBron… instead of pumping y’all era up, y’all say Michael Jordan is the greatest… LeBron is holding every single record. You’re looking at Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, but then when you say who’s the greatest, y’all talk about the guy who gave y’all some shoes and some warmups.”
As Isiah Thomas was a member of ‘The Golden Era,’ and he played alongside Michael Jordan, his words carry some weight. As far as longevity goes, LBJ is surely at the top with 23 seasons and the most points in the league. However, he has yet to overshadow MJ’s six championships and the dominance that he enjoyed during his playing days.
On the flip side, Thomas’ take on Michael Jordan is understandable. Their beef dates back to the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals, when the then-Detroit Pistons guard and his team walked off after being swept by Jordan and the Chicago Bulls without shaking hands with the winning team.
“If you didn’t mean it, say it publicly,” Isiah Thomas on his beef with Michael Jordan
In an episode of ‘The Last Dance,’ a documentary on Michael Jordan’s playing days, MJ highlighted the events following the 1991 Eastern Conference finals. He stated that the move was “disrespectful” and labeled Isiah Thomas an “a**hole” for doing that, which reignited their rivalry.
The two-time NBA champion has expressed his displeasure with Jordan’s statements multiple times, as he did last month on the Neighborhood Business Podcast on New Era Detroit’s YouTube channel. Reiterating his stance on the beef, Thomas said:
“He come out and say ‘I hate Isiah Thomas,’ that stuck…Afterwards, he got people calling and said, ‘Isiah I didn’t mean it and stuff.’ If you didn’t mean it and you said it to the world publicly, then apologize publicly…If you mean it stand by it, but if you didn’t mean it, say it publicly.”
While the beef between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan is still at an impasse, the GOAT debate is all up for fans to decide. Though comparisons between eras are not ideal, these debates shape competitiveness in the NBA and motivate the youngsters to perform better.
READ MORE: Anthony Edwards Makes Massive Claim About Matching Up vs Michael Jordan in His Prime
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