When we talk today about the players who made the NBA as popular as it is now, three names always come up in every conversation. Of course, it’s Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Earlier, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain had their epic battles, while Julius Erving was soaring through the air; still, nothing compared to the boom created in the ’80s by the Showtime Lakers and their rivalry with the Celtics.
Then came MJ, but many forget that the Detroit Pistons, led by Isiah Thomas, ruled the league between those two eras. No matter how dominant they were from the late ’80s into the early ’90s, their rough style of play, which earned them the nickname “Bad Boys”, is probably why they’re rarely mentioned as a historic team that lifted the league to another level. When you look at the flashy basketball played by Boston and LA before them, and then by the Chicago Bulls with Scottie Pippen and Jordan after them, it’s easy to see why.
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Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that despite their bully style, the Pistons were an elite team and one of the greatest in NBA history. They eliminated the Bulls in the playoffs for three straight seasons before finally breaking through in 1991. Not only did the Bulls finally beat them, but they also swept them 4–0, announcing the rise of a new dynasty. What stood out was the Pistons leaving the court without shaking hands, which forever shattered the relationship between Thomas and Jordan.
The feud escalated again in 2020
The hatred ran so deep that MJ made sure Zeke didn’t make the 1992 Dream Team, something he absolutely deserved based on his status and accolades. It was also a clear message from Jordan that the new king of the league had arrived and the throne was his alone.
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Years after these events, not much new came out besides the acknowledgment that their relationship remained, at best, strained, until everything escalated again in 2020 with the release of The Last Dance. In one episode, Jordan flat-out called Thomas an “a—hole,” which reignited the fire, leading Thomas to blast Jordan for how he was portrayed in the documentary.
“When I was watching The Last Dance, I’m sitting there, and I’m watching it with my family, and I’m thinking everything is good. And then this guy comes on television, and he says that he hates me and then he calls me an assh–e,” said Thomas.
“And then I proceed to watch a whole documentary about him being an assh–e. I’m like wait a minute, time out. Until I get a public apology, this beef is gonna go on for a long long time ’cause I’m from the west side of Chicago,” Thomas added.
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Jordan never got over the way the Bad Boys treated him on the court
The truth at the end of the day is that both are equally to blame. While it’s clear that their on-court rivalry left a deep scar that later pushed Jordan to respond in his own way, the sense is that the situation between the two superstars could have been resolved more calmly and humanely. Ego clearly played a significant role here. And even though Jordan surpassed Thomas in terms of basketball greatness, something Thomas himself admitted years later, he never got over how the Bad Boys treated him on the court.
On the other hand, Pippen feels Thomas should have done more, pointing out that Jordan elevated the entire league to a higher level. Even though Pip’s own relationship with MJ has soured over the years, he has never taken away credit from his former teammate for what he did on the court, fully aware that Jordan was the key reason why the league became so popular, which meant more money and attention for everyone later on.
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Back in 2018, Pippen reacted on ESPN’s Jump on Friday to Thomas’ claims that he would pick LeBron James over Jordan.
“You know what, I find that comment there just hating,” he said. “I’ve never seen this guy embrace or thank Michael Jordan for what he did for our game, done for our league. Done for all the kids out here in terms of basketball. Michael Jordan was the greatest to ever put on shoes and play in our game. No doubt about it.”
Neither side is willing to back down
Scottie, along with Michael, endured the painful playoff losses to Detroit, the physicality, and finally the infamous walk-off without handshakes. He also developed a strong animosity toward Isiah, a player he admired as a youngster, only to be bitterly disappointed by his on-court actions once he became his rival. Given everything said on both sides, even nearly 40 years after those epic battles, it’s clear how deep that rivalry runs when neither side is willing to back down.
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Pippen himself has said he has no plans to repair his relationship with Thomas, pointing out that there was never any relationship during their playing days, so he doesn’t see why there should be one now.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.