Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III (born April 30, 1961) is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Thomas was just over 6 feet tall, making him a "small man" by basketball standards.[1] He was one of the greatest point guards in basketball history.[1] His only peer in the 1980s was Earvin "Magic" Johnson who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.[1]
Early life
[change | change source]He grew up poor on Chicago's South Side. As a boy he showed a talent for basketball. At this time Thomas realized his basketball skills might help his family get out of poverty and the unsafe neighborhood.[2] Thomas attended the Indiana University.[3] He was a member of the US men's basketball team at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[3] Because of the US boycott, the team did not go to Moscow.[3]
Professional career
[change | change source]Thomas was a first round draft choice by the Detroit Pistons.[4] He was signed to a 4-year contract. In 1984 Thomas was given an 11-year, $12 million contract.[5] This was both the longest and highest paying player contract in Detroit Pistons history.[5] A torn achilles tendon forced him to retire in 1994.[5]
Accomplishments and honors
[change | change source]Thomas was the 1982 NBA Rookie of the Year.[6] He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1984, 1986 and 1990. He played in twelve All-star games.[6] In 1996 he was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.[6]
Thomas has one of the best records in NBA history. He scored a total of 18,822 points averaging 19.2 points per game.[5] He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.[5] In 2000 he was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[6]
Reference
[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Isiah "Zeke" Thomas". NBA Encyclopedia. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ "Isiah Thomas." (2009). Notable Sports Figures. Detroit: Gale Publishing. p. 1598.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Isiah Thomas Biography". Bio/A&E Television Networks, LLC. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ "1981 NBA Draft History - Round 1". Medium Large, LLC. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Zlati Meyer (7 March 2015). "Isiah Thomas scored record Pistons contract". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Hall of Famers Isiah L. Thomas". Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2015.