It has been more than two decades, but the conversation about the Dream Team hasn’t ended yet. One of the most heated debates on it remains the snub of Isiah Thomas. While he wasn’t on the roster, his snub is the one that is mentioned most often when talking about the Dream Team. After Charles Barkley’s statement, Scottie Pippen made a surprising revelation about the same 

The Pistons legend’s rivalry with Michael Jordan was very public. Whether it was the alleged Jordan freeze-out in 1985 or the Pistons refusing to shake hands after getting defeated by the Bulls, both fans and the organizations were well aware of it. Despite being one of the best players, Thomas wasn’t selected for the Dream team roster. And the feuding between the two was so obvious that several blamed MJ for his snub. 

But Pippen, in his recent interview, hinted that CM Newton, who was responsible for making the team, had also seen the bad blood. “When people say Michael did this or they didn’t put him (Thomas) on the team because of the Bulls, whatever, CM Newton was a fan of the game. He saw the bad blood between the Bulls and Pistons so how can he put oil mix oil and water together,” Pippen. While the basketball legend indirectly, it was quite obvious that he hinted at their feuding.

Pippen’s statement adds another layer to the long-standing debate about Isiah Thomas’ exclusion from the 1992 Dream Team. While there has been no official reason given for Thomas’ snub, the Pistons legend has kept his followers updated on the situation through frequent social media posts. These updates, though, were often based on rumors and assumptions—until Charles Barkley, also a member of the Dream Team, shared his take. His comments brought a new twist to the conversation, giving it a fresh perspective.

What did Charles Barkley say about the debate?

In a conversation with Football Hall of Fame Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay last year, Charles Barkley hinted that his former best friend Michael Jordan might have been responsible for the snub. However, Chuck wasn’t direct about his claims. But this was enough to set the debate in motion again. 

“I think @IsiahThomas was a better player than John Stockton. Isiah Thomas probably should’ve been on the team. … But apparently Michael Jordan didn’t want him on the team,” Barkley said. Thomas had also quickly taken to social media to address the matter.

“The years of fraudulent blatant lies being covered up by mass marketing and propaganda being exposed,” the Detroit Pistons legend Thomas wrote on X. The feuding between the two legends isn’t over yet. The recent beefing continues with Pistons legend’s demand of receiving a proper and public apology from MJ being unfulfilled. Considering how the 1992 team is still compared with the current teams as well as the snub of Thomas, the chatter will never end.