“They Weren’t a Very Successful Team”: Isiah Thomas Continues Slamming Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls

For former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan was not among the top three players of all-time. 

Talking in an interview with CBS Sports, Thomas held higher regard for the players in the 1980s generation. His top three players comprised of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, followed by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Jordan came fourth I’m Thomas’ list with Julius Erving being the fifth.

Thomas and Jordan were arch rivals during their playing days. The rivalry was unsurprising considering the rivalry between their teams. The beef between Jordan and Thomas started during the 1985 NBA All-Star game. It continued for the next few seasons. 

Thomas’ Pistons eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs in two consecutive seasons and went on to won both titles in 1989 and 1990. In 1991, it was the Bulls that eliminated the Pistons from the playoffs. It culminated an infamous incident where the Pistons refused to shake hands with the Bulls.

1980s teams were better than Michael Jordan & his Bulls, feels Thomas

Given the rivalry between the two, it wasn’t surprising as to why Jordan wasn’t among the top picks for Thomas. Thomas’ list, however, doesn’t lack quality in any aspect given the players he has chosen.

He also felt that the league was much more competitive in 1980s. Apart from his Pistons side, Thomas felt, there were Los Angeles Lakers,  Milwaukee Bucks with exceptional players competing for the title. He felt that the 1990s Bulls team wasn’t as good as those teams.

“When you put Jordan and his basketball team in the ’80s, they weren’t a very successful team,” Thomas said in the interview. “They just weren’t. When you talk about Jordan and his team dominating, they dominated the ’90s. But when you put him with those Lakers teams and those Pistons teams and those Celtics teams, they all beat him. They just did.”

The Bulls side, however, had achieved two three peats in a span of eight years. An achievement that many could only dream off. But Thomas felt that it was not a three part against the likes of Magic Johnson or Larry Bird.

“What separated Jordan from all of us was he was the first one to three-peat. But he didn’t three-peat against Magic, Larry and Dr. J,” Thomas said.