Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III (born April 30, 1961) is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Thomas was just over 6 feet tall, making him a "small man" by basketball standards.[1] He was one of the greatest point guards in basketball history.[1] His only peer in the 1980s was Earvin "Magic" Johnson who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.[1]
Early life
He grew up poor on Chicago's South Side. As a boy he showed a talent for basketball. At this time Thomas realized his basketball skills might help his family get out of poverty and the unsafe neighborhood.[2] Thomas attended the Indiana University.[3] He was a member of the US men's basketball team at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[3] Because of the US boycott, the team did not go to Moscow.[3]
Professional career
Thomas was a first round draft choice by the Detroit Pistons.[4] He was signed to a 4-year contract. In 1984 Thomas was given an 11-year, $12 million contract.[5] This was both the longest and highest paying player contract in Detroit Pistons history.[5] A torn achilles tendon forced him to retire in 1994.[5]
Accomplishments and honors
Thomas was the 1982 NBA Rookie of the Year.[6] He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1984, 1986 and 1990. He played in twelve All-star games.[6] In 1996 he was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.[6]
Thomas has one of the best records in NBA history. He scored a total of 18,822 points averaging 19.2 points per game.[5] He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.[5] In 2000 he was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[6]
Isiah Thomas Media
Thomas with Indiana coach Bob Knight during the 1981 NCAA tournament
Thomas competing for the Detroit Pistons against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1985
A press conference for Isiah Thomas at the U.S. Century Bank Arena at Florida International University in Miami
Reference
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Isiah "Zeke" Thomas". NBA Encyclopedia. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ "Isiah Thomas." (2009). Notable Sports Figures. Detroit: Gale Publishing. p. 1598.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Isiah Thomas Biography". Bio/A&E Television Networks, LLC. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ "1981 NBA Draft History - Round 1". Medium Large, LLC. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Zlati Meyer (7 March 2015). "Isiah Thomas scored record Pistons contract". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Hall of Famers Isiah L. Thomas". Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2015.