via Imago
Image Credits: Imago
via Imago
Image Credits: Imago
NBA legends Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas were on-court rivals and locked horns on the hardwood many times during their playing days. However, Jordan seemingly took their rivalry beyond the arena and to another level by calling Thomas ‘a******” in his 2020 docuseries, The Last Dance. The two-time champion Thomas was naturally unhappy with this and therefore has slammed?His Airness on multiple occasions ever since he got called names.
Another NBA legend who shared the court with IT and MJ weighed in on their beef last year. He claimed that Thomas was mad at Jordan because the city of Chicago embraced the six-time Chicago Bulls champion Jordan more than IT, a native. The 1994 All-Star made this revelation in a 2022 interview. A snippet of that interview was recently circulated on the internet and NBA buffs came across it. However, his opinions apparently didn’t sit well with the fans.
An NBA icon weighs in on the Isiah Thomas-Michael Jordan beef
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In a 2022 episode of ALL THE SMOKE, Charles Oakley joined co-hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson for a chat. The former New York Knicks star touched on multiple topics before giving his take on the Isiah Thomas-Michael Jordan beef. He started by informing Thomas that MJ didn’t want to be his friend, emphasizing, “For the fifth time, he does not want to be your friend!” The 14x All-Star advised him, “Stay on ESPN, keep talking on TNT.”
Oakley went on to outline the reason behind Zeke being mad at His Airness. The former Knick said, “Now you?re trying to say everybody?s better than Mike. It?s okay! You are not better than Mike. He came to your city and took your city. That?s why you?re really mad. He took over Chicago!”
Charles Oakley calls out Isiah Thomas for continuing to discuss Michael Jordan
“He came in your city and took your city. That’s why you’re really mad. He took over Chicago” 🥶
(h/t @ThePatrickPryor / via @shobasketball )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 4, 2023
Oakley was Jordan’s former teammate and therefore his take might sound one-sided but he isn’t entirely wrong. Jordan debuted for the Bulls in 1984 and soon started to thrive on the court. Chicago was dazzled after witnessing his on-court exploits. This made him more popular than Zeke who is a native of Chi-town.
However, fans were not pleased with Oakley’s words and took to social media to set things right.
Fans slammed Oakley for his take
Fans took to Twitter to express their views on Oakley’s comments. Most of them disagreed with the All-Star’s remarks. Here are some of the reactions from fans.
this Isiah Thomas hate is getting out of hand. He whooped jordan multiple times with less and gets disrespected the same way curry does for whooping bron
— Tilt Wilt (@TiltedWilt) April 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/Ventasion2/status/1643326825232302081?s=20
IT owned jorbum before he called in his superteam
— Not Scott (@RoscoesPisssuit) April 4, 2023
One fan stated that Thomas could also have been popular like Jordan if he was marketed like him.
With mass advertisement and marketing help.
If all those ads did the same for Zeke along with his legendary game status. They did for Mike, both would be neck and neck truthfully.
— [S.4.M.P/NO REFLECTION] (@JermarJS90) April 5, 2023
Bro what? MJ had to wait until the pistons got old to get past them 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Grant (@SkolVikings1997) April 4, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Isiah Thomas met Michael Jordan four times in the NBA Playoffs. Zeke eliminated him three times.
For their career they met 65 times. Isiah’s team won 36 times, the most wins of any player vs Jordan.
Charles knows this because he was part of one of those Playoff defeats. He mad.
— Marc Carman (@MarcCarmanSr) April 4, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What are your thoughts on Charles Oakley’s take on the Michael Jordan-Isiah Thomas beef? Let us know in the comments below.
Watch this story- ?I Never Heard It From Michael Jordan?: Hurt By The Last Dance Betrayal, Isiah Thomas Still Seeks An Apology
