Isiah Thomas’ Airport Disaster, Magic Johnson’s Gains And More: Here’s How NBA Legends Started 2024

The world has bid adieu to the eventful year of 2023 and welcomed the 2024 season with open arms. For the people who were once associated with the dynamic world of the NBA, stepping into the New Year is already allowing them to experience a few momentous occasions. While some people like the Lakers legend Magic Johnson are trying to follow up on their New Year resolutions, others like Isiah Thomas are experiencing an unpleasant start to the year.

Here is how various NBA legends are kicking off 2024.

Isiah Thomas experiences alleged “incompetence” while travelling

The Detroit Pistons Star has long enjoyed the reputation of being one of the few individuals who proved to be a worthy opponent to Michael Jordan. Despite being retired from the NBA for over 30 years now, Isiah Thomas still hasn’t bid adieu to the sport and continues to serve as a basketball analyst for NBA TV. However, a recent incident made it clear that not even celebrities are immune to traveling issues.

A few hours ago, Thomas took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to share his grievances with his 214,300 followers. In a tweet, he explained that he “experienced a level of incompetence and disrespect” while attempting to board his scheduled Delta Flight from Westchester County Airport. Tagging the official Twitter handle of Delta in his tweet, Thomas blamed the $25 billion company for not allowing him to board a flight for which he already had “a paid ticket and seat assignment”. The Pistons legend also mentioned that due to missing his flight, he will be unable to make his scheduled appearance for one of the first NBA TV shows post the new year. Therefore, it will be a disappointing night for NBA fans who wanted to turn on their TV and catch a glimpse of Zeke.

Fans were quick to respond to Isiah’s tweet, with a majority of them leaving behind Michael Jordan memes. When a concerned individual asked whether Thomas had reached the boarding gate on-time, the latter replied that he was present at least 2 hours before take-off. Furthermore, he even had time to take some photographs and sign autographs for a couple of flight agents.

Soon after the tweet went viral, Delta responded through their social media handle. They expressed their “regret” over Thomas’s experience and stated that they will look into the matter. While it may not have been ideal, Isiah Thomas’ start to 2024 was definitely a memorable one.

Magic Johnson brings a New Year’s resolution to life

While Isiah Thomas was busy highlighting his travel problems, Magic Johnson stayed at home. He prepared himself to lay the foundation for the New Year’s resolution that, according to Forbes Health, is the most common out of all of them: Improving Fitness.

A few hours ago, the Los Angles Lakers legend took to his official Instagram account to share a post with his 3.6 Million followers. It highlighted Johnson in the gym, lifting an astonishing 55 lbs weights over his head. With a stack of towels under his head, Johnson seemed determined and focused while pushing himself to the limit. A video attached to the post also showed the 64-year-old engaging in a leg exercise by hanging his hands and continuously lifting both his legs.

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Johnson wrote a caption alongside the post which read “How I started my New Year”. Judging from the comments section, many of the NBA fans who came upon the post couldn’t help but be left in awe to see their 64-year-old idol putting in such a rigorous workout. It definitely would have been a rush of motivation to all the 20-year-olds who are sitting idly at home.

Shaquille O’Neal ignites his ‘DJ Diesel’ avatar

Shaquille O’Neal created a prominent legacy for himself on the basketball court. His passion, however, was not something that was limited to the NBA. Alongside his professional sports career, the Big Aristotle has slowly and steadily been building up his own music career as a DJ and rapper. He has continued this passion even after his basketball retirement, often performing at various music festivals and private events under his stage name of DJ Diesel.

In order to give 2023 a proper farewell, Shaq joined 32 other artists on New Year’s Eve to take the center stage at the ‘Lights All Night’ electronic dance festival in Dallas, Texas. The former NBA legend was also accompanied by his 27-year-old daughter Taahirah O’Neal.

From the post shared by Taahirah on social media, fans were able to get a glimpse of the energetic performance that DJ Diesel put forward for the attendees. By spreading his arms out towards the crowd and getting busy with the DJ Tracks, the 4x NBA champion was seen matching the energy of the music and hyping up the crowd with his playlist. DJ Diesel’s performance did not stop at midnight, as he tirelessly put out another set 1 am to 3 am.

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Shaquille O’Neal kicked the new year off with a bang, while Isiah Thomas had to deal with some alleged incompetence. At the same time, Magic Johnson chose to get off the couch and hit the gym. Each NBA legend had their own experience with the new year, leaving them with a memory that neither they, nor their fans, will forget for a long time to come.