Isiah Thomas is widely recognized for his remarkable skills on the basketball court and his numerous accomplishments as a former NBA player and coach. At the pinnacle of his career, he came as the leader of the Detroit Pistons. With his exceptional ball handling, court vision, and scoring ability, he played a pivotal role in the team’s 2 championship wins.?
However, not many people know about the struggles he faced growing up in Chicago’s West Side. Hardship, poverty, and a constant struggle for necessities like food and clothing marked his early life. In a recent interview, Thomas shared some of his embarrassing memories from his childhood, shedding light on his difficult upbringing.
Isaiah?s candid interview reveals his embarrassing moments
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In a candid interview, Thomas opened up about his early life. He had six brothers and two sisters. Isiah spoke about the daily fight for food in a large family and the embarrassment of having to wear his sister’s clothes to school because his brothers’ clothes were too big for him. He recalls, ?You know we didn?t have a lot of clothes and a lot of food.?
He often had to wear ?hand-me-down? clothes from his siblings.“I had to button up the blouse on the left-hand side, wear her shoes and I was like Mom I can’t go to school like this. She is like, ‘No you are going to school just like that,’ so every day I went to school I had to fight,” Thomas recalled.
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His eighth-grade picture even features him wearing his sister’s blazer.
Rise to fame in the NBA
Despite the hardships, he had a very successful career. The Detroit Pistons selected him as the #2 overall pick in 1981. After that, he remained with Pistons for the rest of his career. His commitment paid off as the Detroit Pistons won two championships, in 1989 and 1990. He was named the MVP in the 1990 season.
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Despite the hardships, Thomas’ journey from wearing his sister’s hand-me-downs to becoming an NBA legend is a testament to his unconquered spirit. His legacy got him into the Basketball Hall of Fame. So, what are your favorite moments from the legend?s career? Tell us in the comments!