Isiah Thomas on “Bad Boys,” Pistons GM rumors
Isiah Thomas joined the show to talk about the documentary Bad Boys and much more.
Dan asked the reaction to the film. Thomas said that people are talking to him about the teamwork and closeness of the team. Thomas also said people have noted how much the Pistons respected the Celtics and how much Michael Jordan respected his team.
Thomas tried to explain that teams played a physical style in the 1980s. “The rules of the ‘80s were geared toward players in the post,” Thomas said. “You had to have a physical team to win.”
Dan asked more about some of the relationships. He said that he wasn’t really close friends with Larry Bird, but there was respect. He said that he was very good friends with Magic Johnson …. until they go to the NBA Finals. Isiah said during the season when they played, Magic would have him over for dinner and get him and Mark Aguirre a car. That didn’t happen in the playoffs.
Dan asked if he had any regrets about how he handled Dennis Rodman’s quote about Bird being overrated because he was white. “My job as the leader of the team was to protect family,” Thomas said. “Had we a chance to do it all over again, knowing what we know now, we definitely would have handled it differently.”
Dan asked if LeBron was greater than Larry Bird. Thomas said that LeBron was certainly a better athlete. But today’s players aren’t as smart as players like he and Bird were in the ‘8os.
Finally, Dan asked about reports he could become the Pistons GM. After a long pause, Isiah said “not that I’ve heard of.”