Even a storybook ending wouldn’t be enough to resolve one of basketball’s longest-running feuds. The relationship between Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas has remained fractured for decades, and it appears no closer to healing today. While the documentary The Last Dance reignited tensions, the roots of their conflict go much deeper.
During an appearance on The Beat with Ari Melber, Thomas revisited the long-standing dispute. When asked the last time he spoke with Jordan, many expected him to point to around 2020, when The Last Dance aired. Instead, Thomas revealed that their last conversation dates back to 1992, just before the formation of the iconic Olympic “Dream Team.” His response surprised many, but he stood firm, emphasizing that the fallout from that period marked a permanent break in their relationship.
At the center of the issue is Thomas’ exclusion from the legendary 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team. Despite his achievements as the leader of the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boy” era—where they won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990—he was left off the roster. According to Thomas, tensions with several stars on the team, including Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, and Jordan himself, contributed to that decision.
The conflict can be traced even further back to the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. After Thomas’ Pistons were swept by Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, he led his teammates off the court without shaking hands—an act widely criticized as poor sportsmanship. That moment is often viewed as the point when Jordan definitively turned against him. Although Magic Johnson later suggested the decision to exclude Thomas from the Olympic team was a collective one to preserve team harmony, Thomas has consistently believed Jordan played a decisive role in keeping him off the roster.
For Thomas, the omission remains painful, though he now frames it partly as validation. He has acknowledged that many people—including Charles Barkley—still believe he deserved a place on that historic team. While he admits the snub was professionally hurtful, he also appreciates that the debate continues, seeing it as recognition of his legacy.
Despite his claim that their relationship has been completely silent since 1992, there have been moments where the two have crossed paths without interacting. One notable instance occurred during the NBA’s 75th Anniversary celebration in 2022, where they were in close proximity but did not speak. Dwyane Wade later described the tense atmosphere, recalling how Thomas appeared visibly upset while Jordan and Magic Johnson shared laughs nearby, highlighting the lingering awkwardness between them.
Over the years, Thomas has still acknowledged Jordan’s greatness, even praising his impact on the game and recalling times he supported him professionally. However, tensions escalated again following The Last Dance, where Jordan criticized Thomas harshly for the 1991 handshake incident. Thomas has since stated that he would require a public apology before considering any reconciliation.
Today, the rivalry between two of basketball’s greatest guards from the 1980s and 1990s remains unresolved. What began as on-court competition has evolved into a decades-long personal divide, with both men standing firm and no clear resolution in sight.