
via Imago
Credit: Imago

via Imago
Credit: Imago
The most unlikely source is proving that friendship between Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas once existed. Stephen A. Smith, who is close to both NBA greats, listed the instances in which there wasn’t any bad blood between MJ and Zeke since handshake-gate in 1991. Yet, he also says that no one needs to apologize for how they feel.
“There’s no crime against people not liking other people,” Smith very accurately said before illustrating the mutual respect that was there between Jordan and Thomas. But went on to say, “If people don’t get along, they don’t get along.”
He then commented on Thomas seemingly contradicting himself. “The greatest part of that video was that Isaiah Thomas said, ‘hey, that’s how you feel about me, stand on it until he apologizes.’ I don’t have anything to say to him, that’s cool, that’s exactly how he should have felt from day one because that’s how Jordan feels until he doesn’t.”
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Thomas’ grievance against Jordan in recent years was about the latter calling him an “a**hole” on The Last Dance. The NBA community though wants him to move on because as Smith said, that’s not the worst thing to happen.
Smith also narrated the many instances that proved that Zeke and MJ’s erstwhile friendships survived through highs and lows. He claims that the 6x champion “doesn’t give a damn,” about what Thomas thinks. While Thomas brought up the 1985 All-Star game freezeout and the handshake snub to describe Jordan’s pettiness, Smith refreshed our memories about the happier times.
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Stephen A. Smith reminds us of the good times
Smith reminded everyone that Michael Jordan said in 2022, “I respect Isiah Thomas’ talent. To me, the best point guard of all time is Magic Johnson, and right behind him is Isiah Thomas. No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game.”
He also recalled the time Jordan went to Toronto to watch the NBA expansion team Thomas was leading, the Raptors, play right after back-to-back games. Thomas said he was grateful for MJ showing up in support back then.
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Obviously, things have changed tremendously between them. And their mutual friend, Smith, is bearing witness to it. He’s not keen on mediating anything, though. He feels both are entitled to their feelings as he said, “It is lesson for all of us – don’t spend energy wasted on somebody who don’t give a damn about you.” Leave it to Stephen A. Smith to turn a decades-old drama into a life lesson.
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