Isiah Thomas

Isiah Lord Thomas is a former professional basketball player and coach. He was born on April 30, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois. He is a two-time NBA champion and 12-time NBA All-Star and was also named among the top 50 greatest players in NBA history. Thomas played for the Detroit Pistons throughout his 13-year professional basketball career. Isiah was the Hall of Famer and widely recognized as one of the greatest point guards of all time. He joined the coaching staff of the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and then FIU from 2000 to 2012.

Isiah Thomas Early Life

Born on April 30, 1961, Isiah Thomas was the youngest of nine children of his parents. His birthplace is Chicago, Illinois and he grew up in the city’s West Side. His father’s name is Isiah II. He was an army veteran. His father left the house later upon finding his family in hardships. Thomas used to live with his mother after his parent’s separation. He started showing interest in basketball at the age of three and was tutored by his older brothers.

Isiah Thomas attended Our Lady of Sorrows School as well as St. Joseph High School located in Westchester. It was approx. a 90-minute walking distance from his home. Later, Thomas led St. Joseph t play in the state finals during his junior year. He then proceeded to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers and Bob Knight.

Isiah Thomas NBA Journey

Isiah Thomas entered the world of professional basketball when he agreed to a four-year contract worth US$1.6 million with the Detroit Pistons. It was a 1981 NBA draft. In the 1982 NBA All-Star Game, Thomas started for the Eastern Conference. Thomas played against the New York Knicks in the starting round of the 1984 NBA Playoffs. In the crucial fifth contest, he scored 16 points to push the game to overtime. Eventually, the Knicks managed to win the game.

Further, Isiah Thomas and his franchise entered the Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics in the 1985 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics was a squad full of Hall of Famers i.e. Robert Parish, Larry Bird, and Dennis Johnson etc. Therefore, Detroit remained unable to shake the Celtics in either contest and moved to lose the competition. In the 1987 NBA playoffs, the Pistons again played the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Detroit Pistons finally beat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1988 and entered the NBA Finals. It was the first NBA Finals for the Pistons in their history. Well, the Lakers beat the Pistons in the Finals.

In the 1988-89 season, Isiah Thomas and his teammates supported the team to demonstrate its full potential and domination. It was a squad full of wonderful players, including Dennis Rodman, James Edwards, Joe Dumars, John Salley and Rick Mahorn etc. The Pistons defeated Boston first and then advanced to dominate their other opponents drastically. They managed to set a record of 63-19. The Pistons entered the NBA Finals and played again against the Los Angeles Lakers. This time Thomas and his team took over their opponents to ensure the team’s first-ever NBA championship.

The Detroit Pistons repeated the history in the subsequent season when they clinched their second consecutive NBA Finals. On this occasion, they beat the Portland Trail Blazers. Isiah Thomas averaged 27.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.0 assists each game. He was selected as the NBA Finals MVP of the 1990 NBA Finals.

In the 1990-91 season, Isiah Thomas faced some tough times along with the entire team. He participated in only 49 games in the regular season due to a wrist injury. The season proved to be a great struggle for the whole team and they tasted a defeat in the Conference Finals. The next season (1992) also brought disappointments for the Detroit Pistons. The team entered the playoffs but didn’t manage to face the New York Knicks confidently in the first round.

The Detroit Pistons won only 40 matches in the 1992-93 season and missed entering the playoffs. It was the first occasion for the team since the 1982-83 season. The following season (1993-94) again failed to bring a good time for the Pistons, including Isiah Thomas. Thomas experienced problems with his Achilles Tendon that forced him to announce his retirement from the game.

Isiah Thomas Education

Isiah Thomas is a former popular basketball player with superior game skills and temperament. He spent his professional basketball career with a single NBA franchise, the Detroit Pistons. As per his educational qualifications, Thomas joined Indiana University to grab his college degree during his team’s off-season. In 2013, Thomas earned his Master’s in Education from the University of California, Berkeley.

At the university, the subject Thomas studied was the connection between education and sports. It also included a thorough thesis on how American society makes education accessible to black male college athletes. In addition to that, Isiah Thomas also paid college tuition for over 70 students during his professional game career. In 1987, Thomas conducted the ‘No Crime Day’ in Detroit while he was with the franchise.

Isiah Thomas Championship

Also known as ‘Zeke’, Isiah Thomas is a renowned player in the world of basketball. He enjoyed a 13-year-long professional basketball career with the same NBA franchise, the Detroit Pistons. After that, he moved to provide his coaching services to the Indiana Pacers (2000-2003), New York Knicks (2006-08), and FIU (2009-12). He is now working as an analyst for NBA TV.

Isiah Thomas was included in the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History along with the 75 Greatest Players. Also, Isiah is recognized as one of the most prestigious players and point guards of all time. In terms of championships, Isiah Thomas contributed to his team massively to help it acquire NBA Finals victories in two consecutive seasons. In 1989, Thomas and his teammates displayed wonderful dedication to beat the Lakers in the final game. Again in the following year, Thomas and his team continued with the dominant run to beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Finals.

Isiah Thomas Awards and Achievements

Isiah Thomas Net Worth

Isiah Thomas is a retired basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association. He stayed with the Detroit Pistons throughout his entire professional career. If we talk about Isiah Thomas's net worth, it is said to be 100 million US dollars. Thomas is the world’s one of the most successful and popular basketball players. He owns several businesses and properties in different cities across the USA.

Isiah Thomas Contract

Isiah Thomas played for the same NBA franchise, the Detroit Pistons, throughout his full professional career. He started his journey in the NBA corridor in 1981 with a four-year (US$1.6 million) contract. During his stint with the franchise, he re-signed his agreement multiple times.

Isiah Thomas Family

Isiah Thomas is the youngest of seven boys and two girls born to their parents. His mother’s name is Mary Thomas and his father’s name is Isiah Thomas II. Isiah Thomas got married to his girlfriend Lynn Kendall. Kendall is the daughter of a secret service agent. The couple has a son and a daughter.

Isiah Thomas's Girlfriend

Lynn Kendall is the girlfriend of the professional basketball player Isiah Thomas. Both met in the 1980s for the first time when they were attending Indiana University. They became life partners of each other in 1985 at Our Lady of Sorrows after dating each other for several years.

Isiah Thomas's Dad

Isiah Thomas’ father’s name is Isiah II. He was an army veteran who was injured in the Battle of Saipan. Later, he became the first black supervisor at International Harvester in Chicago. Eventually, he struggled to bear family expenses after the plant is closed. He left the house when Isiah Thomas was a child. Thomas lived with his mother after his parent’s separation.

Isiah Thomas Shoe

Isiah Thomas is better known for his strength and temperament on the basketball court. The former player used to play an aggressive game to keep opponents under threat and help his side get an edge. He wore shoes made by several brands throughout his career. Nike, Adidas etc. are some of the popular brands among NBA basketball players.