Scottie Pippen and one other former Chicago Bulls player shared their mutual aversion of Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas.
The 1990s will forever be known as the era of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls as they won six NBA titles from 1991 to 1998.
However, before the rise of MJ and after the demise of Showtime LA Lakers, the Detroit Pistons were briefly the best team in the league.
Led by none other than Isiah Thomas, the Pistons established their ‘bad boy’ image due to their physicality on the court. The Bulls players knew it better than any other team in the league.
Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty ImagesScottie Pippen stated he ‘doesn’t respect’ Isiah Thomas
For four straight years, the Pistons locked horns with the Bulls in the postseason. While the Pistons had the upper hand in 1988, 1989, and 1990, the Bulls finally overcame the Bad Boys in 1991.
However, those four series were more than enough for many Bulls stars to develop ill feelings toward the Thomas-led organization.
So much so that even decades after their playoff matchups, Scottie Pippen spoke about how he doesn’t respect Thomas in a 2018 interview for ‘The Players’ Tribune.’
“I grew up that if I don’t have nothing good to say, I don’t say nothing, Nothing good is gonna come out of you asking that. I don’t respect him, so I don’t have anything good to say about this guy,” Pippen said.
It’s interesting to see how basketball rivalries can extend beyond the hardwood and leave a distaste between players for decades.
Charles Oakley on Isiah Thomas
Charles Oakley was one of the most feared forwards of his era. Oakley also had a no-nonsense reputation among his peers as he was known for his elite defensive abilities.
However, Oakley had a similar response about Zeke, albeit calling him a ‘great point guard.’
“He’s a great point guard, and I think he should have been on the Dream Team and all that. But there’s just something about him, I can’t trust him,” Oakley said.
Pippen, Oakley, and many ex-Bulls stars have called out Thomas and the Pistons over the years, but the latter still believes that they were treated unfairly by fans.