It is no secret that the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons shared a strong dislike for each other in the 1980’s and 90’s. The two Midwest rivals were two of the best in the Eastern Conference during that era and the matchup between guards Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas epitomized the rivalry.
The Last Dance Documentary, which followed the legendary Bulls teams of the 90’s, outlined the competitive nature and fiery rivalry between these two teams. While the 10-part series was loved by basketball aficionados around the globe, many former players were unhappy with the narrative of the documentary.
In a recent interview with Draymond Green, 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion Isiah Thomas opened up about the documentary, the heated rivalry between the Pistons and Bulls, and his personal feud with Jordan.
“I never knew this dude felt the way he felt, until The Last Dance,” said Thomas. “All these years you’ve been standing behind a tree throwing stones.”
Isiah Thomas says he had no idea Michael Jordan had issues with him until he watched the Last Dance
"All these years you've been standing behind a tree throwing stones" 😬
(🎥 @TheVolumeSports )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 12, 2024
Between 1989-1998, the Bulls and Pistons combined for eight NBA championships. Any team hoping for a shot at the title knew that they would have to go through one of these powerhouses.
The Last Dance series pinpointed one particular moment where the animosity between Thomas and Jordan reached a new level. Isiah Thomas’ unwillingness to shake hands after losing in the Eastern Conference Championship seemed to rub Michael Jordan the wrong way. Thomas made his views clear on the controversial incident during the Draymond Green Show.
“The champions they always left the court…that is how it goes. Chicago they are the only champion that still cries about somebody not shaking their hands,” added Thomas.
