Magic Johnson revealed Pat Riley’s reaction when shared a kiss with Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas during the 1988 NBA Final.
“Coach Riley did not like the fact that we came and hugged and kissed each other,” Johnson told on NBA Countdown a few years ago. “And then he said, ‘What are you going to do when it gets tough?”
And when his teammates asked how he would react against Thomas when a difficult moment presented itself, the former Lakers legend responded by slamming into the Pistons’ guard.
On his part, Thomas shed light on the kiss as well. “Did you ever think, the kiss would be on a poster?” he asked Johnson during their 1 vs 1 interview. “Remember why we started it,” the latter said, saying the ritual was inspired by Italian families who would greet each other in the manner.
Quite simply, Johnson proved his loyalty towards the Lakers and the game by slamming into his best friend despite their closeness in 1988. And on the game front, LA pipped the Pistons 4-3 in Game 7 to win the NBA championship.
On a side note, it’s heartening to see how these two stars rekindled their broken relationship during their playing days.
Isiah Thomas Says Magic Johnson And Larry Bird Saved The NBA
The 80s NBA was pretty much all about Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and their long-standing rivalry since college. And according to Isiah Thomas, it was the duo who saved the league and launched into the stratosphere.
“I think Bird and Magic saved the league, and I think the league took off when the Detroit Pistons showed up on the scene,” said Thomas on All The Smoke.
“I think Bird and Magic, what the NBA was coming out of in the 70s and how the United States was for a black man in the 70s, and then Bird and Magic being on the stage in the early 80s, coming out of college… Magic coming to LA, and Bird going to Boston. They walked into the culture. They walked into the foundation. They walked into a way of being. They walked into winning.”
Thomas couldn’t have been more spot-on. The likes of Johnson and Bird not only changed the league with their rivalry but also brought the court and new style of ball filled with athleticism, skill, and impeccable performances. Their legacies are forever in the NBA, and Thomas once again reminded the world of their greatness.
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