Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas shared a great rivalry in the NBA that often resulted in some serious competition on the court. Thomas’ Detroit Pistons had the edge on Jordan’s Bulls as they knocked Chicago out of the playoffs on three straight occasions in the late 1980s and early 90s. However, Michael Jordan’s team finally took down the two-time defending champs Pistons in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals, making way for their first championship victory and the inception of a dynasty that won two three-peats in the 90s. Recently, Pistons legend Isiah Thomas blamed himself for the rise of the Michael Jordan dynasty with the Bulls in a bold statement.

Isiah Thomas led the infamous Detroit Pistons to two straight championships in 1989 and 1990. He was on course to win the franchise’s first three-peat during the 1990-1991 playoffs. But, the Bulls and Michael Jordan ended their season in the conference finals. Incidentally, Thomas recently made a courageous claim that things could have been different if he was at his best.

Isiah Thomas regrets letting Michael Jordan win

In a recent appearance at The Pivot Podcast, Isiah Thomas joined co-hosts Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor & Ryan Clark. During the interview, the 12-time All-Star stated that the NBA made changes in the rules so that Michael Jordan could win a championship. He suggested the league followed some aggressive tactics, but the NBA banned such plays, so MJ could dunk. Moreover, Thomas pointed out that the rule change instilled in him a desire to beat Jordan more instead of feeling frustrated.?

Further, Isiah Thomas stated,?“Dude, If I don’t mess up my wrist. This is how I feel, they don’t win. Now, they may feel different and they are supposed to feel different. But, this is how I feel.”

The 1990 finals MVP reckoned that if he was fit enough during the 1991 playoffs, things might have gone the other way. Moreover, Thomas added, “Now, the other thing is, if they don’t change the rules for you. So you can’t win, this is different, it’s different.”

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Isiah Thomas felt that Michael Jordan’s Bulls might not have been so successful if the NBA did not change the rules and provided Chicago a chance of winning their first championship in 1991.

Thomas revealed why the Pistons walked off after the defeat

The Chicago Bulls swept the Detroit Pistons by 4-0 during the Eastern Conference Finals in 1991. However, several Pistons players including Isiah Thomas walked off the court without acknowledging the Bulls team.?

Thomas revealed that a day before the game, Michael Jordan and former coach Phil Jackson criticized the Pistons. The Detroit legend reckoned that MJ called the Pistons ‘bad for basketball‘ and ‘undeserving champions‘. In addition, Thomas joked that despite Jordan’s comments, the Bulls acquired half of the Pistons team later.?

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Therefore, the Isiah Thomas-led Detroit Pistons decided to walk off the court without shaking hands with Jordan and the Bulls team.