If you have been watching ESPN's Michael Jordan documentary called "The Last Dance," then you would know that Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons is a major part of the series. Thomas was one of Jordan's biggest rivals out on the court and his bad boy Pistons were notorious for roughing up Jordan in ways that would simply not fly in today's NBA. During Episode 4 of the series, the Pistons' antics were on full display, and fans were pretty shocked at how Jordan was being treated.
MJ fans were so hasty to send some hate Thomas' way that they started to confuse him with the Isaiah Thomas who is in the NBA right now. The more current Thomas spells his first name differently although the pronunciations are the same, thus leading to a whole bunch of angry messages in Isaiah's mentions. The former Washington Wizard was getting plenty of hate last night and made sure to address the fans who were getting him mixed up with the Pistons legend.
When you think about it, this is a pretty hilarious mix up although it's clear why Isaiah Thomas would be just a tad bit annoyed by it all. After all, if you're a diehard NBA fan, you should be able to tell the difference between the two.
Russell Westbrook & Kyrie Irving Pay Homage To Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle was tragically murdered on this day, one year ago.
Numerous hip-hop fans have been reflecting on the life of Nipsey Hussle as today is the one year anniversary of his tragic murder. He was shot and killed outside of his store in California and the hip-hop community is still looking for answers as to why it happened. Since his passing, numerous fans have created tributes in Hussle's honor and today, there has been an outpour of support.
While those in the hip-hop community have been paying their respects, there are plenty of those in the sports world who have done the same thing. Kyrie Irving recently took to social media where he stated "I didn't know you personally Nip, but just know you inspired me beyond measure. Thank you." Russell Westbrook was one of the athletes who knew Nipsey and shared a message of his own on Twitter.
Some of the other athletes who came through with messages of support are none other than Dez Bryant, DeSean Jackson, and Victor Oladipo. Isaiah Thomas had a special connection with Nipsey and shared a note on Twitter stating "We love you Hussle man."
Michael Thomas of the NFL had a similar message and so did Matt Barnes who shared a hyper-realistic Nipsey tattoo. These messages just go to show how well-respected Nipsey was in the world. His influence transcended music and into other walks of life.
Isaiah Thomas Speaks Out On Being Waived By The Clippers
Isaiah Thomas has bounced around the league quite a bit recently.
Isaiah Thomas has had an interesting career in the NBA, to say the least. Thomas was at his absolute peak while playing with the Boston Celtics and unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to enjoy that same type of success, since. Most recently, Thomas was traded by the Washington Wizards to the Los Angeles Clippers. At first, it seemed like Thomas was a depth move but in the end, he was waived. Now, the point guard is a free agent and is looking for some work.
In a recent interview, Thomas went in-depth on everything he has faced throughout the years and how a lot of it has taken a toll. He also spoke about the Clippers trade and said he was ultimately surprised they moved him.
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“I was surprised, but I understood the situation on the business side of things,” Thomas said according to Hoops Hype. “I was really a throw-in in the trade. It’s not like they were really trading for me; they were trading for Marcus Morris, which I understand. In my nine years in the NBA, I’ve learned that anything can happen. I thought it could work and I thought it was a good fit for me, but they thought otherwise. That’s okay. Now, I’m just trying to figure out the best situation moving forward.”
Thomas recently admitted he would be interested in rejoining the Celtics which would certainly be a huge move. For now, though, Thomas is simply thinking about his options.
Isaiah Thomas Reveals If He Would Play For The Celtics Again
Isaiah Thomas has been a journeyman over the years.
A few years ago, Isaiah Thomas was heavily regarded as one of the top tier point guards in the NBA. Unfortunately, things took a turn when he was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the exchange for Kyrie Irving. In the end, the trade didn’t work out for either team as Thomas spent very little time in Cleveland before moving on.
Since then, Thomas has spent some time with the Denver Nuggets and even the Washington Wizards. Most recently, Thomas was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers before being waived. Now, Thomas is a free agent and can sign wherever he pleases. In a recent interview, Thomas admitted that he wouldn’t mind going back to Boston.
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“For sure, if the opportunity presented itself,” Thomas said according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. “I hold no grudges, and they know that. I have genuine love for the city of Boston. If that were to happen, I’d love to be part of what they have going on. You never know. I’m always open for any opportunity to be in the NBA and play the game that I love at the highest level. If that opportunity presents itself, for sure. Time has passed.”
The Celtics are contenders in the Eastern Conference so a reunion with Thomas would certainly make them better. A little bit of extra depth has never hurt a team before, especially with the playoffs on the horizon.
Isaiah Thomas Ejected Less Than 2 Minutes Into Game For Shoving Ref
Was there malicious intent here?
Friday night, Wizards' point guard Isaiah Thomas was ejected within the first two minutes of the game against the Trail Blazers for shoving an official.
During a tie-up with Carmelo Anthony, Thomas put his hand on referee Marat Kogut, perhaps incidentally, and was subsequently ejected. After review, the call was upheld.
ESPN reports that crew chief Mark Ayotte explained the decision in a pool report saying, "He made physical contact with the referee. It was definitely just a push during the dead ball contact with the referee.''
"I mean I had a different view of it obviously," Wizards Coach Scott Brooks explained, according to ESPN. "They were in a scrum and they were fighting for the ball, a jump ball. I had a view that it looked like he lost his balance but [Kogut] had a better view and then they looked at it. They looked at it so you would hope they made the right call.''
The Wizards lost to the Trail Blazers 122-103
This ejection contributes to a shakey few weeks for Thomas. The point guard was suspended for 2 games after going into the stands to confront a fan on Dec. 21.
The Wizards' next game is against the Nuggets on Saturday.