Michael Jordan sure knows how to hold a grudge.
During the most recent episodes of ‘The Last Dance,’ Jordan claimed once again that even though he and Thomas had their issues at the time, he had nothing to do with him being left off the 1992 Dream Team.
In saying that, Jordan also stated he “hated” Isiah at the time, he says he respected his game:
“Before the Olympics, Rod Thorn calls me and says we would love for you to be on The Dream Team,” Jordan said. “I said, ‘Who’s all playing?’ He said, ‘What’s that mean?’ I said, ‘Who’s all playing?’ He says, ‘Well, the guy you are talking about and you are thinking about is not going to be playing.’ It was insinuated I was asking about him, but I never threw his name in there. You want to attribute it to me, go ahead. Be my guest. But it wasn’t me.”
“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,” Jordan said. “It was insinuated that I was asking about him (being left off) but I never threw his name in there.”
Jordan’s use of the word “hate” came as a surprise to Thomas:
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“I’m really surprised that he has that kind of hate and anger,” Thomas told Beard. “I’ve never experienced that being around him. My son was wearing Michael Jordan jerseys and shoes. They have Jordan jerseys on from the Olympics and the Bulls jerseys that I bought for them.”
Former Pistons and Bulls big man John Salley noted during an interview that Thomas’ nephew wearing Jordan jersey really bothered him back in the day.
Thomas insists he has no grudge against Jordan, but Jordan is not ready to let it go.
