Isiah Thomas ' greatness and place in NBA history are often overlooked because he is more known as the leader of the most-hated team in NBA history, the Detroit "Bad Boy" Pistons.
Thomas Pistons' were the supervillains and the biggest rivals of Michael Jordan 's Chicago Bulls. With the "Bad Boys" perceived to be trying to hurt Jordan and his teammates, they were a team that everybody loved to hate. But if you take that away and think of Thomas as a basketball player, he is definitely one of the all-time greats.
According to former rival Charles Barkley , Zeke was the best small player in the NBA until a sweet-shooting kid appeared in the Bay Area.
"He's the best little man ever until Steph Curry," said Barkley. "He probably never got the credit or respect that he deserved. And so I feel bad about it. I got nothing but respect for Isiah."
The shortest player to win the NBA Finals MVP award
Thomas, a two-time NBA champion, was also a 12-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA team member, two-time All-Star Game MVP, and the 1990 Finals MVP—at 6'1", Zeke is the shortest player to win the NBA's Finals MVP award.
Despite his size, Thomas was as tough and gritty as they came. He played with no fear and was as crafty a scorer as anyone could be.
Meanwhile, Steph changed the way basketball is played. With his otherworldly shooting skills, he began the current three-point revolution. The Golden State Warriors superstar is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, one-time Finals MVP, and arguably the greatest small man ever in the NBA.
However, in a game scenario, Barkley said he'd rather go with the legendary Pistons point guard.
"I'll be honest with you, i f I was in a game, and If I had to choose, and I love Steph Curry, I know people are gonna go to the internet cuz they ain't got no life. If I had to choose between Steph Curry and Isiah, I'd probably go with Isiah in a scenario. I love Steph, I love Isiah, but if I had one guy, if I had to choose between those two, I'm not gonna ever choose against Isiah," Chuck added.
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Chuck thinks he should've been on the Dream Team
A couple of months ago, Barkley also showed much respect to Thomas. During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay podcast, Chuck admitted that MJ didn't want Zeke on the Dream Team and that he was never asked his opinion about Thomas because if he had, he probably would've said he wanted him on the team.
"I'm so glad I get a chance to straighten this out. Number one, they never asked me about Isiah Thomas, okay?" Barkley said . "I can't speak for the other guys, but they never asked me personally about Isiah Thomas. Isiah Thomas probably should have been on the team."
Thomas' infamous exclusion from the 1992 squad was Jordan's personal vendetta. Everybody, even MJ himself, knows that Zeke deserved a spot on that team. But as Barkey said, he will never get his due because he played heel to everybody's favorite player. But those who played with and against him know what Isiah's true value really is.
Related: "My head hurt for like two days" - When Charles Barkley learned not to drink beer with Larry Bird
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