Not many can claim to have one up over names like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, but Isiah Thomas is a different breed. Yes, both Mike and Johnson have more championships and accolades to their name than Zeke. However, the Detroit Pistons legend has one rare advantage over not just them but, as per his claim, over the likes of Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul Jabbar as well. The revelation came during a recent episode of The Mark Jackson Show. 

“As a small guy, to say that you and your team is the best team in the world. And you winning, beating all the Giants, man… Your ego and your feel good. Ain’t nothing like it,” Thomas said. He further mentioned the giants he was referring to: Magic, Larry, Kareem, and MJ. “I can walk into a room today and I can look at [the aforementioned legends]… And I can say, I beat you more than you beat me. My team beat your team more than you… That’s a hell of a feeling…” Zeke added.

The 2x NBA champ, however, has a good enough reason to be this snobby on his end. He highlighted on the show that when these legends meet the players who they have beaten more; they are no different. “I hear how Jordan talks to everybody. I hear Magic, Turner. They don’t talk that way to me. You can talk to him like that [but not me] because I won,” Thomas said.

While most of the aforementioned legends have been involved in trash talk at one point or another, Michael Jordan has had the most terrible reputation when it comes to being rude and outspoken. The fact he didn’t even spare one of the closest persons in the league, Kobe Bryant, is proof of this. As much as they respected each other off the court when it came to game time, neither held back. The 2003 NBA All-Star Game was no exception.

Picture this: Jordan and Bryant locked in a playful debate over a foul call. Kobe, ever the trash-talker, fired off, “Oh, I know you ain’t talking, I KNOW you ain’t talking”. MJ, ever the competitive one, wasn’t about to let that slide. His comeback was pure Michael Jordan. “Hey, you only got 3 now. I got 6. I would get that foul. You only got 3 now.” Ouch!

Now, this is a comeback that Mike can use against Zeke as well, considering his 2 championships. Thomas, however, is not wrong when he says he has won more games against ‘His Airness’. But he’ll first have to be on talking terms with Mike to even use this card.

Isiah Thomas not speaking with Michael Jordan without an apology?

The NBA world has seen its fair share of rivalries, but few are as legendary—or as personal—as the one between Thomas and Jordan. While their on-court battles during the Detroit Pistons-Chicago Bulls rivalry are etched in basketball history, their off-court relationship remains as frosty as ever.

Isiah opened up on his present relationship status with Mike during his appearance on The Draymond Green Show this year, when he was asked if things with Jordan could be salvaged. His answer was firm—“Until he [Mike] apologizes on international television, ain’t no conversation.” 

And the 2x NBA champ wants this apology to be public because the nature of the insult to him was the same. The message on The Draymond Green Show was loud and clear: Thomas won’t be taking any disrespect. Even if it’s from Michael Jordan. Something he referred to on The Mark Jackson show, too. What are your views on this intense rivalry? Tell us in the comment section below!