Isiah Thomas recently weighed in on LeBron James rough outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers’ 109-80 loss highlighted LeBron’s ongoing shooting slump, including 0-for-19 from beyond the arc over four games.
“So I got a Michael Jordan story for you. We’re playing, I’m coaching the Indiana Pacers. And Al Harrington, you know, Jordan’s having a bad night. He’s 37, 38, I don’t know how old he was, but he wasn’t playing well. And Al Harrington is like talking trash, you know, da-da-da-da-da.”
“You know, Jordan, you ain’t this, that. So I call timeout, right? And I say to Al, I say, hey, look, don’t ever talk to him that way again… So the next game, the next game we go to Washington. I think he put 40 or 45. He doesn’t forget it.”
“And, you know, it was like, hey, them guys, when you at that level, they may have some bad nights. And the good thing that didn’t happen to Minnesota tonight, nobody was talking trash to LeBron. But like you just said, they never forget.”
“LeBron James will remember this night and probably try to do something when they get back in L.A. But I’ll never forget Al Harrington said, Coach, you’re right, I never talk to him like that again, let alone.”
While discussing the Lakers’ struggles on NBA TV, Thomas shared a story from his coaching days with the Indiana Pacers. He recalled a game against Jordan’s Washington Wizards when Jordan, at age 39, was having a poor night. Al Harrington, a young forward on the Pacers, began trash-talking Jordan, prompting Thomas to call a timeout.
Rather than piling on criticism, Thomas took the opportunity to defend LeBron, comparing him to an iconic moment in Michael Jordan’s twilight years to remind fans never to doubt all-time greats.
True to form, Jordan responded with a vintage performance in their next meeting, dropping 41 points in a double-overtime victory. Thomas used this anecdote as a parallel to LeBron James, emphasizing that legends like LeBron and Jordan never forget criticism. Despite LeBron’s poor showing—10 points on 4-of-16 shooting—Thomas highlighted that none of the Timberwolves players disrespected LeBron.
The comparison between Jordan and LeBron comes at a critical time in the Lakers’ season. The team has been inconsistent, and LeBron’s shooting woes have drawn attention. However, Thomas’ story is a reminder of the resilience and pride that defines all-time greats. Just as Jordan silenced his doubters, LeBron has a track record of bouncing back during rough patches.
Thomas’ defense of LeBron is especially notable given his history with Jordan. Their longstanding rivalry has often led to heated exchanges, yet Thomas set aside personal differences to draw on Jordan’s competitive fire as a way to inspire confidence in LeBron. This underscores Thomas’ belief in LeBron’s greatness, especially as the Lakers star approaches his 40th birthday.
The Lakers’ recent struggles—shooting a mere 40.5% from the field and committing 21 turnovers against Minnesota—have compounded the scrutiny on LeBron. However, Thomas believes these moments fuel the competitive drive of players like LeBron, who have repeatedly proven critics wrong.
This narrative of resilience is central to the debate surrounding LeBron’s legacy. While some may view his recent slump as evidence of decline, Thomas’ story reminds fans that true legends use adversity as motivation. For LeBron, the next opportunity to respond comes when the Timberwolves visit Los Angeles—a chance for him to demonstrate, once again, why he remains the greatest player in NBA history.
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