Isiah L. Thomas' Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech 

Yeah what a BEAST he may have had more heart any other player ever

Maaaaan! He gave LA the business that night. If it wasn't for some BS call at the end, that would've given Zeke the perfect championship ending.

So is this Laker

Los Angeles Lakers win that finals in 1988 whem Isiah Thomas injured in game 6.

Ty..a lot of people forget or don't know

For those who followed the game during the eighties he is one of the greatest ever,Isiah had it all,at least the same class with John Stockton,if not better.

No disrespect to Stockton. But, Isiah was a greater PG then he was despite setting records in assists and steals. With a National Championship and 2 World Championship he's in another stratosphere.

gerizzyYMcrew I'm not gonna waste my time on a dumb ignorant ass like you. It's obvious you do know anything about basketball so I won't waste my time responding back because its not worth it.

gerizzyYMcrew are you stupid?

y u hate the greatest pg ever

Ezekiel Major ya momma

Ezekiel Major sadly that’s the main reasons why he had a short career

May 16, 1980 In the NBA Finals Championship Series, point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson as a rookie scores 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the Lakers to victory and was named Most Valuable Player of the finals. That is the best NBA single performance ever. No other great, as a rookie has had a better NBA single performance.

Magic Johnson also played all 5 positions during that NBA Finals Championship game, as a rookie that is insane when you think of the top 10 players of all time. Nobody could pull that off their rookie year, not Michael Jordan, not Larry Bird, Not Kobe Bryant, Not Lebron James, that may never happen again.

Reminds me of cp3 in that game 7

Me after watching Shaq and AI.

fr

Muniversity 13 lol

Stop playing me too...

for real for real - started with mj and kept on clicking

So-arrogant. Most people in Detroit don't follow basketball. Basketball has created false-hope for so-many young people. Basketballers are disgusting the way they live. Nearly, all-of-them betray their wives and all-of-them will promote harmful products to sustain their disgusting, un-natural lives 🌳💙.

My favorite in any sport...all❤

The whole team didn't want him. But Yes Isiah damn sure should have been on the dream team.

The failure to show sportsmanship after the bulls finally overcame them was a huge factor. Low class actions at the wrong time and it cost him

@@waylonsteelman4577 Doesn't make sense. Chuck Daly was the head coach of the Pistons, and was selected to coach the so-called dream team.

@@chillbest14 Mostly Jordan and Pippen didn't.

He didn't make the dream team cause his personality was a nightmare.

Jeff Groth Daley

I couldn't have said it better myself. As a native Detroiter growing up in the 80s, Isiah and the Pistons brought me so much pride and joy!

Nice. Jeff. 🤝

A legend

Isiah. His name is in the title and you still got it wrong

WORD!

very well said thank you

Agree .. to bad the mainstream sportsmedia allows any former basketball player to just say nothing on TV.

too bad he was a dbag. so many of his peers hated him during his playing days.

@@yaotmacfrancis you mean MJ & Pippen?!?!

This gotta be the most accurate thing about him ive ever heard. He's very genuine. When honest people arent going to like you.

I want to say isiah Thomas is underrated and overlooked because of magic and bird what people fail to understand he had to go thru the bird and magic gauntlet to win the chip and for all you Jordan bandwagoners isiah has a better win loss record against jordan. Greatest performance by one man injured in the finals he refuse to quit

Oh and dont forget they were dirty players

The funny thing is that all these same players voted him to be the president of the players' association. If if they didn't like him, they still respected his intelligence.

they dont like him because jordan dont like him and they are MJ dickriders

Please! Tell us more. Very interested!!!

That’s some gay shit Wow good for you

FACTS!!!!!!

He's not better than magic but he was fantastic. I dont agree with things he's said and done but he deserved a spot on that dream team. Incredible player and leader

Good point. Man, was there mad talent in the game back then!

@@nicholaslee3241 Curry is my favorite player too but (GOAT in shooting)... Man they don't play on the same era. And this guy is 1.84m whereas Curry is 1.91m... Also Steph isn't clutch enough.

@@nicholaslee3241 I didn't say that he's not. I said that he's not ENOUGH. Ofc he's clutch bcs he convert all the FTs on the money time. And he already show some clutch shot (and especially a lot of daggers) but u can't compare him with KD for example. If MJ is 20/20 to clutch, Curry is maybe 14~16/20. That's my point.

Curly Neal of the Harlem Globetrotters is an alumni of Johnson C. Smith Univ Golden Bulls out of Charlotte NC.

He beat them in their primes.

@Devi Lisa Easy....I can respect opinions, but we are all too sensitive. My perspective was simply from a point guard's point of view. Cerebral! The whole basketball world knows that the early Celtics success were constructed around Bill Russell. But as a point guard, Bill Russell is NOT dribbling the ball up the court. And to correct you further, Bob Cousy has a strong basketball IQ (I personally reference greats in the present tense). His basketball IQ is definitely better than yours, mine or any other non-pro. Again, I'm talking from a point guard perspective. I'm not a Boston fan. But overall, I'm a basketball fan. And history doesn't lie. Cousy is recognized as one the best point guards in NBA history. Isiah would easily play in his era - I get that. I like Isiah simply because he's a true point guard. But I can say the same thing about how you compare Isiah to Bob Cousy with another point guard great. In your words, Magic Johnson would prison rape Isiah Thomas straight up. I know it doesn't sound fair. And I don't like talking in that way. But these arguments can go on and on if we base arguments on your terms.

@Devi Lisa Ahh,....I was wondering where the bitterness came from. In retrospect, I'm sorry that your grandfather did not get the opportunity to play. I do mean that. But we can't change history. Those things happened, and it's set in stone. Can't do anything about what happened in the past. I understand your frustrations. Let's be real, a Boston Celtics fan or fans broke into Bill Russell's home and defecated on his bed. That story wasn't immediately posted in the news. Especially when the Boston media controlled everything within that area. All, I'm saying are things from a point guard's perspective. I used Cousy simply because of the amount of championships he helped win. I am not a Boston Celtics fan. Never was. But hypothetically, if more black players were integrated into the league back in that era, would it make too much of a difference? The coaching definitely would have limited the play of black players during that era. The1960's and even the early 1970's preached an organized team game. And unfortunately, the Celtics were the best at it. Heck, I've heard stories and rumors that some personnel from Boston Celtics management helped influence the rules committee. In my opinion, I though Jerry West was greater than Bob Cousy. Unfortunately, Cousy has more rings - unfair or not. Basketball during that time was predominantly white. Let's be honest, fans at that time were not ready for black players. I'm glad I didn't grow up in that era. And we still have a whole lot of work to do now. Again, it was an honest comparison on comparing champions from my perspective. Regardless of damn race, I look at the game of basketball as much as possible without the damn race debate. Did race play a factor? You're damn right it did. But I just want to discuss basketball - "The Game! Overall, I respect your take.

@Devi Lisa Just deviating a bit from the basketball discussion, my late great uncle earned a "Q" Card to have the right to compete with professional golfers. But he could not play in the PGA as no sponsor would endorse him because he was a man of color. And clubs throughout the nation and world would not allow people of color access on their links. We all know about the history of Golf and people of color. Again, I respect your perspective, about your negative views of Bob Cousy, and I respect mine as well.

I agree.

That Made the bulls a better champion because of that

robert philip they only lost two years to the pistons

Bulls did something right for the pistons have to come up with the Jordan rules the only player that has a book out on how to try and stop the greatest player ever Jordan congulations Thomas on a great career

They played real dirty

@@Hawkeyespeedblitz but in all of honest as michael said .....when the bulls lost the games 89 & 90 .....michael was the first to shake hands.....next year 91 ....when bulls ....won the games ...bloody pistons .....left the stage ....like cunts ..and he admin that on the last dance ....that isiah is an asshole ...and after all these years he changed his excuse ....once that the celtics did that before so he thought that was normal and bla bla.....MR ISIAH THOMAS ....REAL MEN ... ACCEPT THEIR LOST ...but 91 pistons were great loosers ...and loose the game by just 2 players ....MJ and SCOTTIE....thats the story .......

+ADSkw1 Best 3 pointguards of all time are John Stockton, Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson. You can put them in any order you'd like, I personally liked Stockton the most, but they were all outstanding.

+ejmac11 and Jason Kidd , I think is pretty much a top 3 , cause of his overall career stats.

ejmac11 I agree tho I believe Stockton isn't as good as either of them as when they played Stockton would usually get lit up by them. Although Stockton might be better or equal to statistically as isiah, I think isiah was the 2nd best ever.

Besides Magic, Ill take Isiah over Kidd, CP3, Nash, Stockton, Payton etc.. Russell Westbrook isn't a proto type point guard, but I think he is on the verge to be #2.

The big difference between Zeke and Stockton as basketball players? When needed, Zeke could put up 40 on you and take over a game when needed.

+kedrick Y I admit I also didn't like him much, but only because I was (and am) a diehard Celtics fan, so I'm with you there. And there were some on-the-court things he did that I thought were uncalled for, but I think that was ultimately just Isiah's ultra-competitiveness more than anything. But even when he was playing for the Pistons, he always seemed like he was a good person. His smile lit up the room, and you could tell it was genuine, and that's where I like him. (BTW, I still hate Laimbeer's dirty playing self.)

Same here, grew up a bulls fan and couldn't stand Isiah Thomas. Only because he was giving my bulls hell during those "BadBoys" Era. But I'm touched and moved by your speech Zeke..

Beautifully put. ❤

I also didn't like Isiah against my bulls but I respected his game and toughness and how he grew up in chicago and succeeded thru it all. Also he is from Chi town and that's how his toughness was born thru...mad respect.

Facts

There was a reason he was named to coach the Dream Team. Amazing coach and person.

Would kinda be cool if teams could only take players from their state. Imagine Magic as a Piston. Isaiah as a Bull. Jordan as a Hornet. Bird as a Pacer. ETC

the chicago thing was the main reason Thomas had a problem wit Jordan. Untill jordan came along, chi town was Isiah's.

That midwest connection right there.

Very perceptive🤔 The irony of it. I never would've made that connection.

Jozay phil Never thought about that.

Listen to Iverson's That was also beautiful. So was Rodman's.

fuck jordan

Bad boys forever yep! 👊💪

Daly

And shouldve been on the Dream Team!

@@wingchundragon but he wasn't.

just like Kobe said that we're lucky Allen Iverson is just 6 ft tall..

@@gunradiahmad7742 👍🏻👌🏼🏀Yes.

I think he could be better than Jordan but not the best ever.

I think he could be better than Jordan but not the best ever.

@@Yugowars if he was better than Jordan, that would make him the best ever. Duh

IT would be acting the same way if he was the goat

@@stevieray7829 No, Lebron nor Kareem do it and they are the best ever depending on how you make the top 3, almost anyone does it aside those Jordan, Kobe and others examples, not even Shaq do it because even he knows how to limit himself. Zeke proved how he is higher than those said Jordan, Kobe etc etc NBA players types, he was one of the cases that didn't go the speech settling things and boasting himself.

Jian Qiu Zeke has nothing to boast about he’s a bum

That's because hes sneaky. He doesn't have the guts to speak his mind. Hes not humble.

@@ronaldlewis739 Zeke was better than most, you're just a jealous hater.

You forgot Larry Celtics.

@@Stgfre The HOF stacked Celtics? As if the Bulls and Lakers weren't HOF stacked. You're right, he should've mentioned Larry Legend, the best small forward in NBA history.

@@dmagical32 You wonder why he was not selected to the United States Olympic Basketball Team. Larry Bird was one of those basketball players that did want him selected on the team.

@@dmagical32 Who is the HOF?

@@Stgfre If Laimbeer gets in the HOF, it loses all credibility, it would devalue all the greats and their accomplishments, it would be a slap in the face to all the greats.

If he hadn't hurt his ankle the Pistons would've won that chip in '88. The year Isaiah threw the inbounds pass nd Bird intercepted and flipped the ball to Dennis Johnson for a layup, they probably would've won that year also. They should've won at least three, four chips but they did win back to back.

I think Isaiah was a better point guard than Magic because he was a better shooter, all Magic shot was a set shot, if you got in Magic's face he'd just try to drive buy you, Zeke would drive,stop and shoot a jumper.

@@aarondigby9859 this man is a winner. I don't think that Pistons team was talented but they were a great unified outfit.

Wael Harp yeah he beat Magic when he pulled a hamstring, let's not forget that

yes, people dont remember , he was great maaaan. one of top 2 pg of al time.

If he was a man of character, he would have been a Dream Teamer...

The man who destroyed the CBA

Wael Harp the best

Johnny L.Berry Jr.4358.. .....312 665847...chicago bulls 6 tuners with Chicago Bulls winners Phil Jackson..cacan winner ..winner Michel Jordan...all star..7 years.

I was thinking the same thing!! I'm from Detroit....I'm gonna ALWAYS LOVE those BAD BOYS!!

That was Karl Malone in 91-92

Curly Neal of the Harlem Globetrotters is an alumni if Johnson C. Smith Univ. Golden Bulls.

and thats why when stockton got inducted to HOF, he had isiah up there on the stage

@@crzctrlable Even if he didn't mention it, I'm sure he credits Isiah for making him step up his game when they met as teens.Isiah was so far ahead of guys his age.I respect John for that, despite what feelings Karl Malone might have towards Isiah.

I thought that basketball is a team sport. Moreover, is he therefore better than Magic, Bird and Jordan?

@@naturalblockade3412 he kicked their arse all in the same year.

@@aarondigby9859 is he therefore better than Magic, Bird and Jordan?

@@naturalblockade3412 that year HE WAS....

@@daystar73 but does make him (Isiah Thomas) better than Jordan, Magic and Bird?

@Mari Jata ¨hehe Shaq also has a high education :) lol but i guess he payed for it.

He even has given high plaudits to Jordan, Pippen and Malone during the 98 Finals; even though he personally dislikes these guys. Much respect.

that was because he fell victim to poltics

Edward Heart he was the 2nd best player hands down

☹️ he was the dream ☹️

That was because of Michael Jordans hateful syco minded hating self

@@lunyescott7705 GOAT

+dee essex HELL NO!

U crazy as hell Tysaun prince is

+Bitch Ass no one wants ur +Bitch Ass here

no one did it better then him

mark it's isiah

+Mark Reagan he would be a completely different player at that height...

+Mark Reagan Yep he would have schooled MJ. smfh How old are you? Oh I see you're a white guy with lots of tattoos. I wish you the best of luck with your career and toilet cleaner at White Castle.

Lol...same to, u suck me...hahaha;-) Jordan need education in basketball..

+The Truth So being white means you can't understand the game of basketball? That's pretty racist. That's like me saying because you're black means you can't know how to be a good father.

Undoubtedly! Bad luck away from winning 3 straight as best player! Hoosiers legend also!

@@superdopehiphop the Phantom Foul of 1988 robbed Him of 3 straight Rings.

Agreed. Plus The 1980 U.S.A. boycott of The 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Possible 2 Time Gold Medal Olympic Basketball Championships.