LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Isiah Thomas attends a WNBA game between the Los
Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty on June 24, 2018, at Staples Center, in
Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Isiah Thomas attends a WNBA game between the Los
Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty on June 24, 2018, at Staples Center, in
Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The NBA has lifted a lot of players out of difficult situations. In the rich history of the league, there are stories of players rising from modest beginnings, overcoming adversity and leaving a lasting impression on the game. Isiah Thomas, a 2x NBA champion and legendary member of the Detroit Pistons, is one such inspiring story. Unlike other players who have aspirations for joining the NBA at a young age, Isiah had his eggs placed in another basket.
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Most recently, the 2x NBA champion revealed how he had no aspirations of pursuing basketball in the league. Furthermore, he also disclosed a glimpse into the turbulent upbringing he had.
Isiah Thomas opens up about rough life in the windy city
Born in 1961 on the west side of Chicago, Isiah ‘Zeke’ Thomas lived through multiple assassinations including those of civil rights activists Malcolm X in 1965 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. It was a period of political unrest with continuous riots in Isiah’s neighborhood.
He recently appeared in an episode of ‘SWAY’S UNIVERSE‘ podcast where he talked about his upbringing. Zeke revealed how he hadn’t even thought about playing basketball in the league considering how his upbringing was. He said, ” I didn’t grow up with this NBA basketball dream. I grew up um you know wanting to be you know an activist fighting in Civil Rights.”
He said,? “First time a weapon was pulled on me, the National Guard pulled up off the Eisenhower Expressway.? I was living on Congress and Home in 3340 West Congress and pulled up out the tank. Back then we called it the army tank. The army tank pulled up, pointed the barrel right at our house.”
via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 13: Former NBA player Isiah Thomas attends NBAPA All-Star Youth Summit: Real Talk on February 13, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
Isiah Thomas’s family had a strong history of activism while they lived on Chicago’s west side. His parents actively took part in civil rights marches and protests, establishing action as a family tradition. Given his experiences, he could easily have taken on the role of a public activist.
What drove Zeke to consider life as an activist?
The Black Panther Party was quite influential in Isiah’s neighborhood.
He benefited from the free breakfast served by the Black Panthers as a child. His mother also worked with Fred Hampton, a dynamic figurehead of the group. Unfortunately, the tragic death of Fred Hampton in 1969 exacerbated the situation in the neighborhood. Three riots also broke out in Isiah’s West Side Chicago neighborhood during his formative years.
If Isaiah Thomas had gone into the route of Civil rights, we never would have never seen his basketball prowess. Even though he’s retired now, his unrelenting dedication to social justice continues to shape his legacy.
