Basketball Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas dropped a bomb this week. During his appearance on Come And Talk 2 Me with former NBA star Mark Jackson, he revealed that he’s been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. For months, fans had been picking up on signs that something was off with Isiah’s speech. His right side seemed a little “out of sync,” making it tough for him to get certain words out clearly. It wasn’t the first sight in the NBA, having been a hiccup in a few’s journey.

But if anyone is going to face this head-on, it’s Isiah. The ‘Bad Boy’ of the NBA is cut from a different cloth. He’s never been one to shy away from a fight, whether it’s on the court or off. Remember the 1988 Finals against the Lakers when he dropped a ridiculous 25 points in the third quarter, all while playing on an injured ankle? When asked about it at the pre-game conference, he fired back, “I’m going to play. This is the NBA Finals, and I’ll play with a broken arm if I have to.” 

That’s the kind of grit this man’s made of. It sure has earned a few points, with fans keen and concerned every step and the 2x champion acknowledges it. “I’ve gotten a lot of love from people saying, ‘Well, Isaiah’s sick. He’s going through something.’ I haven’t really told anybody, but I’ve got Bell’s Palsy. That’s why you see me like this.”

But Isiah isn’t alone in this fight. Let’s take a look at a few other NBA stars who have battled the condition and see how they have handled the grind.

1. Joel Embiid

Earlier this year in April, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. After an impressive 50-point performance, leading the team to a 125-114 win, the 2023 MVP made the revelation during the post-game conference. 

Although he noticed symptoms a day or two before the game against the Miami Heat on April 17th, Embiid initially brushed it off as nothing. He had a headache but thought, “It’s nothing” until he felt worse and decided to see a doctor. In the post-game conference he opened up by saying, “My left side of my face, my mouth, and my eye, it’s been tough…”

Despite battling issues so severe that he had to wear sunglasses to shield his eyes from any light that could trigger a migraine, Embiid didn’t flinch. He wasn’t scared, and he wasn’t about to let this possibly end his career. As he said, “But you know, I’m not a quitter… I just gotta take it as it is, but the one thing I’m not gonna do is give up.”

2. Evan Turner

This Philadelphia 76er is not just fighting on the court, he has been fighting his whole life. Evan was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy at just 10 years old, causing one side of his face to become paralyzed. While most players started battling on the court, for him the fight began much earlier. As a child, he had to struggle just to say a few words. As he said, “I remember going to speech classes, My mom really worked with me to get my speaking right, just made sure I enunciated my words.”

From a child who was too uncomfortable to speak in public until he hit high school, to becoming a Philadelphia 76er, the road was long and tough, fighting against the wind every step of the way. But he made it happen.

3. Pete Maravich

NBA Hall of Famer “Pistol Pete” Maravich was a spectacular showman who helped revolutionize the game of basketball in the 1970s. Over his 10 productive seasons in the NBA, he earned five All-Star Game selections and claimed one league scoring title. Back in college, during his senior season, Maravich scored 50 or more points in 10 out of LSU’s 31 games, setting an NCAA record for most points (1,381) and the highest scoring average in a single season. In 1970, he was also named College Player of the Year.

This legend also had to face Bell’s palsy. As a result, the right side of his face became paralyzed for three weeks, he had to tape his eyes shut to sleep, and he sometimes couldn’t eat. Lenny Wilkens said, “A lot of guys who might have been good cracked under such circumstances. Pete kept his wits. He hung in there. He survived.”

4. Trenton Hassell

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ guard was also diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a condition that left him struggling with basic functions many take for granted. For a long time, he couldn’t close his left eye naturally, a frustrating daily challenge. As he explained, “Just the (left) eye, not being able to close it regularly all the way,” adding, “Other than that, my face (muscles) can’t move.”

5. Additional Mention: Kim Mulkey

Hall of Fame former basketball player and coach Kim Mulkey received a Bell’s palsy diagnosis in 2012. But despite the challenges, this legendary coach, who led her teams to NCAA championships at Baylor in 2005, 2012, and 2019, and at LSU in 2023, refused to accept defeat. She stayed optimistic, making a promise to herself that nothing would stop her from doing what she loved. As she said, “When I smile, it’s crooked and when I talk and talk loud, the hollowness in my hearing is weird, but it’s not going to keep me from hollering.”

Despite the battles they’ve faced, these basketball legends continued to show that strength isn’t just about physical prowess on the court, it’s about fighting through adversity, both seen and unseen.