In episodes 3 and 4 of “The Last Dance” the infamous rivalry between Mj and the “Bad Boy” Pistons was explored in detail. One thing that was clear throughout was the fact that feelings of resentment and frustration were being felt by both sides.
Even today, there’s a lot of bitterness towards each other and their many postseason battles.
“I hated them,” Jordan said during episode 4 of “The Last Dance. “The hate carries even to this day. They made it personal.”
One of the defining moments of the rivalry was in the aftermath of the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals when Thomas and other Pistons players walked off the court instead of shaking hands after the game.
According to Thomas, it was one of the main reasons he was left off the 1992 Dream Team — a decision that still haunts him to this day.
“That’s a big hole on my [basketball] resume,” Thomas continued. “That is the biggest hole in my resume. … In the sports arena, I’ve won at every level. I tried to do everything correctly, and I thought I should’ve made that Dream Team. And looking back, if I’m not a part of the Dream Team because a lapse in emotion in terms of not shaking someone’s hand, then I am more disappointed today than I was back then.”
"Looking back, if I'm not a part of the Dream Team because a lapse in emotion in terms of not shaking someone's hand … then I am more disappointed today than I was back then."
Isiah Thomas is still "hurt" that he was left off the Dream Team. pic.twitter.com/YkRt8zIY09
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 27, 2020
The idea that simply not shaking hands after that game is what cost Thomas a spot on that team is amusing to some, including MJ’s son, Marcus.
Really, THATS why he wasn’t selected to The Dream Team??🤨
🛑Awe, man… let me stop🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/DcctLi6nOe
— Marcus Jordan (@HEIRMJ) April 27, 2020
There’s likely much more that goes into it than that. At the time, Jordan and the Bulls saw the Pistons (and Thomas) as their number one enemy. All those battles, all of the trash talk they exchanged led to genuine bitterness between both sides that only grew as the years went by.
So while Thomas’ decision to walk off the court in 1991 may have been one reason why he was left off the Dream Team, there are years worth of reasons why Michael refused to play with him for Team USA.
