Recently there’s been a lot of "Bieber Fever" going on for Chicago Bulls point-guard Derrick Rose. The lead candidate for the league’s MVP, Rose has been advocated by the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) Michael Jordan and Chicago-native, sports-columnist/analyst/author Mike Wilbon. In fact, Wilbon has done more then advocate Rose for MVP. As a visible and influential figure on ESPN game telecasts and other programs, Wilbon has taken the lead in spearheading the Rose campaign. Well I think it's time that this author advocates his point guard from a different era and for different reasons. This author is here to remind you how great Isaiah Thomas was as a player and to properly credit him amongst the best point guards in NBA history.
To understand this sentiment, let's examine my dynamic between Detroit and Chicago. Being that I lived in Chicago and Detroit as a youth, I consider both of them as home. But that's now. I come from the era when the Pistons and Bulls had the most bitter rivalry in the NBA. Withstanding the team colors, they were the Crips and Bloods of the league! Imagine a young boy leaving St. Mary's of Redford grade school in Detroit in January '91 to move to Chicago's William H. Ray School on the Southside. At the time, Detroit was the defending champion and had successfully eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs three years in a row. My assimilation to the school was tumultuous initially, but things smoothed out. Fast forward 5 months and I'm hosting a house party for my birthday (May 22) and all my school buddies are there. Game Four of the Bulls/Pistons ECF is on, and by the time the game is over everyone at my party is happy and celebrating except me. I'm in the corner of the room sulking as I knew the Pistons’ reign was over. I even remember listening to EPMD's "Rampage" as this unfolded. If you thought the Pistons walking past the Bulls without giving them dap was foul, imagine a 14 year old 'Martin Payne' kicking folks out with gift or no gift!
In fact, if it wasn't for Michael Jordan retiring in '93 and making the league so boring to watch (NBA League pass wasn't available then so I couldn't watch a certain rookie play for the Warriors), I wouldn't be the converted Jordan/Bulls fan that I am today. I'm uber proud that Michael Wilbon is campaigning for "Pooh" and isn't apologetic or afraid to show it. At the time of this blog, the Bulls were tied with Boston for the best record in the East. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had Lebron James slated as the MVP. But during a succession of national televised games, Lebron's MVP stock plummeted with each late game meltdown while Rose conversely became a hot commodity as the stand-out in big wins versus the league’s elite teams. Also, isn't this year and current Bulls team eerily reminiscent of the 2001 Sixers team that made the Finals and featured league MVP Allen Iverson? I'm not saying Rose is better then A.I., but the sum of the parts sure are. The Bulls no doubt defer to Rose like that Sixers team did, but Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng are better then Aaron McKie, Matt Geiger, or Eric Snow. Initially I thought Wilbon was delusional (even Rose too for his MVP slam cover that preceded the season), but he may have been on to something.
I just wish the influence of Michael Wilbon was prevalent in the late 80s/early 90s for another Chicago point guard: Isaiah "Zeke" Thomas. In my humble opinion, Zeke is the second best point guard in NBA history right behind Magic. If it wasn't for his off-court controversy, Isiah would've been etched along Magic, Bird, and Mike on the NBA’s Mt. Rushmore of greatness. Every time a player mentions the all-time greats as inspiration and Isaiah or those Bad Boy teams are omitted, it boils my blood! Who's the only player in NBA history to successfully beat Michael, Bird, and Magic in the playoffs? The answer is Zeke. Who's responsible for making Jordan and the Bulls battle-tested, tough, and ready for winning? The truth of the matter is that Isiah's insatiable desire to win (or "killer-kill" if you will) can only be matched by a hand-few. People forget that Isiah dropped 25 points in the 3rd quarter against the Lakers at Los Angeles with a broken ankle in the '88 Finals. Bird may have beaten the Pistons in the '86 playoffs thanks to the infamous out of bounds steal, but Detroit came right back the next year and defeated them. Before Michael Jordan became the great MJ we all remember, he had to overcome the Pistons hurdle, who beat them in the ECF 3 straight years! When most people think about a player scoring points in a flurry in the playoffs, Reggie Miller versus New York comes to mind but in 1984 Zeke scorched the Knicks for 16 points in 94 seconds! . Who was the first player throwing bounce pass alley-oops to Dominique Wilkins in the All-Star game or to Gerald Glass in regular season games? ZEKE! But more importantly, Isiah Thomas was the leader and heart and soul of the vaunted "Bad Boys." That hard nosed style of play and tough image the Pistons portrayed, perfectly personified the people who patronized the Palace, of Auburn Hills. The "Bad Boys" are to the NBA what the "Fab Five" are to the NCAA. Instead of transcending style of dress as Michigan did, the Bad Boys changed the league's style of play from finesse to defensive minded and gritty (i.e. Jordan led Bulls, Pat Riley Knicks/Heat).
When I look at celebrated players in the past or present achieve accolades that Zeke didn't amass, it makes me sad. What accomplishments do I speak of? How about MVPs and Olympic selections! Steve Nash is a two-time MVP but his career numbers pale in comparison to Zeke not to mention he's never made it to the Finals. John Stockton made the Olympics in '92, but up to that point trailed Zeke in career scoring and assists, yet he and his 13 straight All-Star Starts stayed home to watch his colleagues travel to Barcelona and make global history(shout out to Jason Kidd of 02-03, and Chauncey Billups of '06—you guys should've won MVP as well).
Let's be real. The main, if not only reason, Zeke has been ostracized from his just due and recognition is because of his poor relations with Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Mike Jordan. I'm not here to criticize or defend Zeke's off court transgressions, but on the court there's no denying he's a monster. Pound for pound (all 6'0" and 180 of them) no one may have possessed the skills Isiah had. For those who didn't have the pleasure to watch him play,imagine a player the size of Chris Paul, who's handles, and crossover were more crispier then Allen Iverson, had the passing abilities of Magic Johnson, the heart/"killa kill" of Jordan and you have Isiah Thomas. If the Fab Five film taught us anything, it is that there can be a healing or transitional period where the villain can become hero. On the court, there were few who were more heroic then Zeke, so can we PLEASE cite him and those "Bad Boy" teams when we mention the greatest teams and point guards of all time?
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