“There wasn’t anything my mother wouldn’t do for her family.” Isiah Thomas was loud and clear about the kind of love and devotion her mother had for her children. No wonder that the first grand gesture that the 2x NBA champ made after his basketball career took off was for his mother. However, it turns out the gesture, in addition to his love for his mother, was also motivated by a strategic investment that’d pay off in the long run. And considering Thomas now stands at a net worth of $100 million, there’s no doubting his business genius.

The heartfelt gesture in discussion is Thomas buying a house for his mother in the early 1980s. During a recent interview on Nasdaq’s The Winning Formula, IT revealed, “As soon as I got into the NBA, the first thing I did was I bought my mom a home… And that was, that was a business decision… Because that’s how, you know, owning a house is… A great way to start the family off in terms of getting started into generational wealth.”

Think about that for a second. At a time when many young athletes fall into the trap of overspending, Thomas was already thinking about long-term financial stability—not just for himself, but for his family. That mindset has since propelled him into the world of real estate, where he’s making an even bigger impact.

Through his company, Isiah Real Estate, the NBA Hall of Famer has focused on revitalizing distressed communities. Particularly on the West Side of Chicago, where he grew up. His first major real estate investment came in 2013 when he purchased a six-story, 20-unit apartment building in Evanston for $7.3 million.

But for Thomas, this wasn’t just about business—the motivation was personal. “We definitely want to play more in the affordable-housing arena,” he said. “There’s a need there, and there’s an emotional tie for me to come back home.”

Growing up in North Lawndale, Thomas understood the struggles of affordable housing firsthand. Now, at 52, he’s actively working to change that reality for future generations.

What’s Isiah Thomas’ most recent take is on his real estate investment side of the business?

Not many might know this but the Detroit Pistons legend has built quite a business empire with his brainchild Isiah International LLC. In a 2024 interview with Forbes‘ Jabari Young, Thomas opened up about the real estate side of his company, sharing his vision for the future.

For those unfamiliar, Isiah International LLC isn’t just a passion project—it’s a powerhouse. As Chairman and CEO, Thomas oversees a diverse portfolio spanning real estate, sports & entertainment, champagne imports, cannabis, waste removal, and even ticketing technology.

So, what’s next for him in real estate? His focus remains on multi-family and affordable housing. “It all depends on the interest rates… Will you have access to capital the way you did maybe eight to nine years ago? That’s going to be the driver. But I do think that home ownership is still the best way to build wealth and equity.”

Still sticking with his initial approach when he first bought the house for his mother, that’s Isiah Thomas for you.