The rivalry between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan extended beyond their on-court battles. As President of the National Basketball Players Association, Zeke prioritized the players' collective interests, including enhancing the player pension fund. One avenue for bolstering this fund was using player likenesses on NBA apparel, which generated benefits for the players. However, MJ's strong allegiance to his partnership with Nike created a significant obstacle.
Thomas sounded off on Jordan's approach
The NBPA's pension fund, established in 1965, received a portion of profits from league apparel featuring player likenesses. This fund typically provided crucial health and education benefits to the players and their families.
Mike's partnership with Nike created an unprecedented commercial empire. His Air Jordan shoes gained instant success worldwide, and the apparel became a luxury token. However, the six-time Finals MVP's refusal to allow the NBA to use his likeness on league apparel, citing Nike's exclusive rights, inadvertently prevented his fellow players from reaping potential financial benefits.
Put simply, despite the clear financial advantages for his peers, Jordan remained firm in his stance. This situation came to a head before the 1992 All-Star weekend when Thomas expressed frustration. The two-time NBA Champ accused MJ of disrespecting the previous generation of players by not contributing to the pension fund through his image rights.
"People who made it possible for me to make the money I command didn't have this opportunity," Thomas said . "I have to respect the guys who came before me."
Michael Jordan wasn't alone
It's important to note that Jordan's stance on image rights wasn't unique. According to the Baltimore Sun, 89 players' representatives formally objected to the NBA's use of their clients' likenesses on merchandise. This only highlights that concerns about image control were widespread among players, not only limited to the five-time MVP.
On one hand, where Isiah viewed active participation in the NBPA's initiatives as a way to honor the league's history and support its evolution, he failed to understand the lengths to which players such as Jordan used to prove their loyalty to their affiliated band.
One prime example was when the Bulls guard covered the Reebok logo with the American national flag during his time on the '92 Dream Team. That's how seriously he took his affiliation with Nike.
Related: When Isiah Thomas ranked Michael Jordan as his 4th best rival: "When you put Jordan and his team in the '80s, they weren't a very successful"
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