The 1987 NBA season was one of the best ever. The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers was still ongoing. But a new team had been making waves. In the previous year, the Lakers were barely able to get the win over an up-and-coming young guard in the finals. The Detroit Pistons and their star were on the rise, and teams noticed the threat they were. Along with the rivalry between teams, there was rivalry among players as well. Michael Jordan became the best player in the league during the 80s. But he always fell short when he faced the Pistons.

One player frequently got the better of Jordan. But years later, his legacy is remembered very differently.

This Detroit Pistons legend didn’t have the best career after basketball

55-year-old nonfiction author Rich Cohen has published his newest book, “When the Game Was War: The NBA’s Greatest Season“. He has captured the stories and battles from the 1987–1988 NBA season. Cohen recently published an excerpt from the book, where he wrote about the rivalry between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan.  He began by talking about how Zeke became a hated figure among NBA fans.

Thomas was the leader of the Bad Boys Pistons. Everyone knew how they played. But no one was able to contain them.

They were physical with the opponents. All plays were considered basketball moves, no matter how they affected their opponents. Even though he won two championships, the fans remember him for his association with the Pistons’ brutality.

His reputation took a further hit when he became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers for three seasons and failed to achieve anything. But his biggest disappointment was his time as the general manager of the New York Knicks.

Read More: Despite Being Marred With Injury, Isiah Thomas’ Otherwordly Resilience Earned Him the Original “Baby Face Assassin” Name

He was at the helm from 2003 to 2008, but his decisions didn’t lead to the team improving at all. In the 2005–2006 NBA season, the Knicks had the highest payroll in the NBA. So if they are paying for top players, they should have a top team, right? No. The Knicks had the second-worst record in the league.

These memories have tarnished the legacy of Isiah Thomas in the minds of the people. But mostly, this is rampant in the Windy City.

How Michael Jordan changed Zeke’s legacy

Isiah Thomas was raised in Chicago, but it’s safe to say that he has the most haters from there as well.

After, in the late 1980s, the Chicago Bulls were only alive until they faced Isiah and the Pistons in the Eastern Conference. MJ had still not been elevated to the player he would become. He was still young and getting better. But that didn’t stop Zeke from eliminating him and the Bulls in three consecutive playoffs.

The Bulls finally defeated the Pistons in the 1990 NBA playoffs. Following that, Jordan went on to win six championships, and Isiah remained a viewer. In his 2023 book, Cohen stated, “The bitter struggle with the Bad Boys became part of Jordan’s legend, turning the Pistons into villains.“

What do you think of Rich Cohen’s comments on Isiah Thomas? Let us know in the comments!

Watch This Story: “Didn’t Say You Can Talk”: After Threatening His “Girlfriend’s” Replacement, Shaquille O’Neal Publicly Troubles One Fan for 1 Annoying Reason