- Isiah Thomas throws shots at Michael Jordan for “crying” to David Stern
- Michael Jordan resented Thomas and the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons for their highly physical defense
- Thomas suggests the NBA change the rules to cater to Jordan
Considered the greatest player of all time by many, there was hardly a challenge too great for Bulls legend Michael Jordan. But out of all the obstacles he faced in his early career, the Bad Boy Pistons were among his toughest and the way they shut him down in the late 80s and early 90s continues to be a topic for modern-day fans.
Looking back on his showdowns with MJ, Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas recently explained how their playstyle forced Mike to go running to David Stern. “
“The Bulls, Jordan, every time you hit him, he was crying,” said Thomas on the Cedric Maxwell podcast. “Going to David Stern’s office having a meeting about getting hit, getting fouled, you gotta change the rules. I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. I watched Dr. J [Erving] get beat up, I watched Magic [Johnson] get beat up [and] I watched Bird get beat up. I done get beat up. Everybody get beat up. Now we gotta change the rules ‘cause he getting hit?’”
The 80s Pistons are largely considered Jordan’s greatest adversary — and for good reason. At the time, the Pistons’ famed ‘Jordan Rules’ made it extremely difficult (and borderline dangerous) for Michael to do his thing and he had a lot of trouble beating that strategy early on in his career. The Pistons actually beat Jordan and his Bulls in 1988, 1989, and 90, en route to winning two titles.
But by the turn of the decade, things were starting to change for the Pistons and MJ would soon take full control from them as the rulers of the East.
“Y’all want him to win; y’all changed all the rules so he can win. Wait a minute now; these are the facts,” said IT.
Eventually, the league did make a number of rule changes and eventually, the Bulls became the dynasty we all recognize today. In the end, however, bridges were burned and it’s no secret that Thomas and MJ are no longer on speaking terms today.
What Were The Jordan Rules?
During his accession into superstardom, Jordan was impossible to stop and his competitors had to resort to extreme means in order to try and slow him down. For the Pistons, their methods were ultra-extreme as they had some pretty wild protocol for guarding him.
According to Thomas, the Pistons would use MJ’s limitations as a passer against him as they aimed to force him left or right depending on how he approached the basket. More often than not, the play ended with Jordan on the ground.
After several years of employing this strategy, it’s no wonder why Jordan grew to resent Thomas and the Bad Boys, and their rivalry is one that continues to live on today, decades later.
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