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Home > Features > Breaking Down the NBA > Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team

Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team

by Oly Sandor
Aug 20th, 2007
Others also had problems with the little point guard. Thomas, after a playoff loss to the Boston Celtics, told reporters that Bird was overrated. Like Jordan, Larry-legend never forgave him, even firing Thomas as Pacers' coach just a few years ago ...

The Fort-Worth Star Telegram reports on the Isiah Thomas-Michael Jordan beef that spilled over to the 1992 Dream Team:

The biggest controversy involving the selection of the 1992 Dream Team was the omission of Isiah Thomas, who had been on the 1980 Olympic team and had been on championship teams at Indiana in the NCAA and Detroit in the NBA. Thomas was popular among fans, but not so much among opponents, including several members of the Dream Team, most notably Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Karl Malone.

When John Stockton had a stress fracture in his leg in the qualifying tournament, some team officials wanted to replace him. Stockton fought it and made the trip to Barcelona for the Olympics.

It was widely thought that Thomas would have been the replacement. Not so said one key team official. "The phone number that was asked for was Joe Dumars'," the official said. "If Stockton couldn't have played, Dumars would have replaced him. Not Isiah."

My Quick Take: Last week I reported that Jordan was responsible for Thomas being left off the original Dream Team. His Airness would only play in the Barcelona Olympics if Thomas was passed over for the back-up point guard role.

In the late eighties and early nineties, Jordan and Thomas' teams were battling for Eastern Conference supremacy. There was no love between the and . Their playoff battles were physical, often leading to shoving matches. The Detroit players even refused to shake the Chicago players' hands after getting eliminated from the playoffs.

But Jordan and Thomas had personal issues long before their clubs were bitter rivals. At the 1985 All-Star game, Thomas froze Jordan out of the offense, refusing to pass him the ball. And his Airness never forgave him.

Others also had problems with the little point guard. Thomas, after a playoff loss to the , told reporters that Bird was overrated. Like Jordan, Larry-legend never forgave him, even firing Thomas as Pacers' coach just a few years ago.

It's not surprising that other players didn't want Thomas to replace Stockton on Team USA. Thomas complained publicly when Dream Team was first announced and he was passed over in favor of Stockton. Karl Malone took exception. Malone, Stockton's Utah teammate and friend, elbowed Thomas to the head during a Jazz-Pistons regular season contest. Thomas ended up in hospital. The incident only made the situation more difficult.

The Detroit locker room would have been awkward if Thomas' Piston teammate, Joe Dumars, had been selected as Stockton's replacement.

Should Isiah Thomas  have been left off the original Dream Team? Get at us in the comment box below  with your thoughts.

Click here to read and subscribe to Oly Sandor's NBA Blog.

Comments (38)
wal August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
he was one of the best point guards of his era i think hey shoulda put they egos aside and represent they country be it who on the team long as they play as a team and win as a team though im happy to see the baby bulls and the pistons TRYING to call it a rivalry lol
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Johnny B August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Christian Laetner???? I didnt get it in 92 and I still dont get it. Not enough white playerto represent the USA. It worked both ways. Thats on David Stern
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garlicboy August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Obviously he should have been on the team and Laetner should never have been considered. That was a disgrace. In regards to Isiah's situation I guess you can call it karma. In a sense he brought this upon himself. I love Isiah's game he was BAD!!! Unfortunately he put himself in a bad position and this is what happened.
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garlicboy August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Obviously he should have been on the team and Laetner should never have been considered. That was a disgrace. In regards to Isiah's situation I guess you can call it karma. In a sense he brought this upon himself. I love Isiah's game he was BAD!!! Unfortunately he put himself in a bad position and this is what happened.
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Rooboy August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
The Christian Laetner selection always confused me as well. I always thought if they wanted a college player why not go for Shaq or Mourning, who were the two players taken in that draft before Laetner. I was told Laetner got his chance after training for so long to be in the 92 Games before it was decided pros could take part.As for Thomas not being in the team, Stockton was probably a better player by then anyway.
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HEEZ August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
dont get me wrong he was good-But who needs him if you have-MAGIC,JORDAN and BIRD just those three would have won the gold with high school role players!And thats not to discredit-Barkely......And laetner, over shaq and/or zo was horrible. Hey I still have my 1992 Dream team cards-you had to by like a thousand packs of cards to get the three cards that made one long picture of the whole squad-I also got MAGIC HIMSELF to sign the 1992 barcelona card, I was 14 years old then-those cards are worth alot of money now.
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SimonSays August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Thomas talks smoothly and smiles a lot, but if you look a little closer you can see he's a man with very little character, a man who only cares about himself. His game was fine but I think he would have been bad for team chemistry, so it was the right decision to leave him off the team.
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The Truth August 21, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah Thomas is a joke...i'm glad people are finding out what a fraud he was the whole time! He is just a thug...i like how he ran the Knicks into the ground! mwuahaha...he's a fool...the only one of the greats who liked him was Magic Johnson and they were kissing on the court half the time...what is that about? Kissen dudes with aids...is that cool?
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bobby August 22, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
you left out the part of isiah/stockton.............. after complaining in their first game pistons vs. jazz since the selection committee had announced stockton's selection over thomas, isiah made it a point to go at stockton and completely dominated him going off and dropping 44 points on stockton plus shutting him down..... that is why malone elbowed him in the head and he had to get all those stitches.
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bobby August 22, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
johnny b it had NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. race had nothing to do with it. take it from a black man that watched very closely. the reason laettner was selected was because he was the ncaa player of the year and they wanted 1 college player on that team no matter what (supposed to be 2 at first. him and shaq. but they cut it down so drexler made the team and decided on 1. and gave it to the player of the year, and laettner was coach k's boy and coach k was one of the main fighters for a college spot on the roster. so considering he was coach k's boy plus player of the year, plus was nationally known after winning those national title's and hitting that big shot. it went to laettner)..............also isiah was amazing. best pure pointguard in the league by far.
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bobby August 22, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
isiah was a feared leader. a winner with total command of everyone on the court around him. he was the best point guard (magic too) the league has seen in a long time. amazing how he dominated the sport at his size. a truly all-time great player. i hated him as a person at times too but he was a true winner and an AMAZING player. one of the best pointguards ever. and this is coming from a celtic fan.
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Iron Koltcheik August 22, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah was one of the best point guard. But was and still is a very bad person and a low class. He didn't deserve to be in the dream team. Well my take is: once a low class always a low class.Peace.
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rosports August 27, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah Thoams at the time was one of the best five players in the game. He was head and shoulder better than Stockton and he beat Jordan something Stockton and Malone could never do. Plus he also has two NBA Championship Rings. Last I checked Malone and Stockton have zero so who has the last laugh.
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Mike September 13, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
I read a couple of stories about Isiah Thomas when he became involved with the Pacers. He was quoted by one of the players to the effect that his goal was "to make as many young black millionaires" as possible.
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Mike September 13, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
My point is that Isaih is a SOB and deserves all the bad treatment that he has received. His is a racist and a biggot.
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You Know Who This Is September 13, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isaiah Thomas was only a good ball player because of the lack of point guards for his time. If he had played against Iverson, Kidd, or even Chauncey Billups, he wouldve gotten taken to school.Remember he is from the Bobby Knight school of arrogance and stupidity. As far as he goes as a person, he is selfish, demeaning, and I wouldnt blame Jordan,Bird,or Malone for keeping him off of the team.Why have an embarrassment like him on the team...they could see it coming. And for the record I happen to be neither black nor white, so I could care less what color he is.....if being an jerk was a color, he'd be the whole box of crayons people.
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Mal-y Mal September 18, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
IT was ok on the floor, better than good, but not great. An opportunist of circumstance - didn't belong on the floor with Jordan, etc. Also, he's a racist mofo closet homo who has ruined many lives by his stupidity in management roles. IT should be removed from his position and allowed to sweep off the sweat on the hardwood.
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Mademan September 27, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Even his teamates on the Pistons hated him. Michael Jordan wouldn't do a guest appearance on a show I worked on because they had IT on before him. IT is a Dick!
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JAB13 October 03, 2007
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
ISIAH THOMAS is the greatest point guard of ALL TIMES. There is a far distance of second to him. They all blame Isiah Thomas for freezing out cry baby Michael Jordan in the 1985 All Star Game but Magic Johnson was also part of that. Everytime when Jordan got the ball, Magic would check him hard like a real game. But not a damn thing was said when Isiah Thomas made sure Jordan won the MVP in astonishing fashion in 1988 Chicago All Star game and gave Jordan helleva props on the Areseno Hall Show. So to me that 1992 Olympic Team was the worst team put together. Full of B/S politics. Jordan even had Dominique Wilkins left off because he wasn't to crazy about him either. Not thats a Damn shame and that why the 1994 team would crush the 1992 team. Isiah was just real and yall hate'N on him for that.
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so so athlete January 04, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Laettner was and is considered one of if not the best college player of all time. they wanted a college player and shaq had not made two miricle shots in the sweet 16 to win a national title that year and no player in ncaa history has gone 10 for10 fg and 10 for ft in a single game in the final 8. laettner was the obvious choice.
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San Francisco February 10, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah should have been on the team! Too bad all egos couldn't have been put aside. Sport is a sport, looks like many have taken it personally. Go Isiah!
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Rob March 12, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Please Isiah Thomas was overrated as a player, and is one of the worst people, coaches, and executives this league has ever seen. The man single-handedly bankrupted a whole league. A whole damn league. Sexual harrassment suites, fights with his players. Isiah Thomas is a joke.
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vinrocc May 24, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
If isiah thomas the player that i know when he played ai Indiana and his first 3 years in the n.b.a. , oh hell yeah he would of been picked easily on the first dream team. But the real Isiah Thomas that we came to know from 1984 to 1993, i wouldnt have. He and those other idiots ( Laimbeer, Rodman, etc), who had to use antagonistics tactics on my belove Lakers ( you"ll never be in the same class as the "Magic" man), Larry Bird( that dude was the man in the east fo da 80's) and Micheal Jordan( you was a punk fo not given him his props after he beat u in 1991). John Stockton has more class than you. Joe Dumars has more class than you. The dream team 1 represents how the game is really played. The right way. The positive way. Isaih Thomas unfortunately showed us the wrong way how to play the game and other guys like Patrick Ewing and those jerkoff New York Knicks followed the examples of those motor city madmen. You get no sympathy or pity from me. You got what you deserved. Idiot.
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Barkleyko June 25, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah is a great player and help his team to back to back championship. Why those dudes don't like him? Sport is sport, he is one of the greatest player and should be in the team. How about Laetner, the college player will he better than Isiah!!! Go Isiah!!!!
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Matthew June 26, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
He was a bad coach but a good player. His physical play and being leader of the bad boys was his downfall of not making the team.
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a guest July 04, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah Thomas deserved a spot on the Original Dream Team. So did Dominique Wilkins. Players of their caliber should have been chosen and included in the roster. That's the whole point of forming a Dream Team right? To have the best players on that team. Christian Laettner was a joke. He did not deserve to be on that Team.
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Tom July 15, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
As Jordan put it in 1992, "We're going over there to reclaim the dignity of United States Basketball." You ain't gonna do that with Isiah Thomas on the team.
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John Roberts July 28, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah Thomas was a great PG, but I'd still take Stockton over him any day, and at any level of play. The Dream Team already had enough big egos among them, so having a spitfire like Thomas around would have only hurt them. Plus, Stockton is the better passer (by a mile), the better team player, and is obviously much classier. They didn't need an egotistic "I'll get my points too" kind of a PG, they needed a leader.
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a guest August 16, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
I understood that as a player representative to their union, Isiah had favored the regular players over the superstars and that contributed to why the Dream Teamers didn't want Isaih.
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a guest August 20, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Why is the debate always Isiah vs. Stockton? They were both great and the team could have had them both. One college player on a team with 11 pro legends made no sense. Isiah should have been given Laettner's spot. Laettner had his whole career ahead of him to prove if he was worthy of being on a "dream team." As it turned out, he wasn't.
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chino XL August 31, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
where was glen rice??
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jose September 18, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
i have dream team trade cards. how can i find value on them
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mauricetaylor November 26, 2008
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isiah Thomas is the 3rd best pg of all-time 1) Magic 2) Oscar Robertson and one of the top 10 players in the history of the NBA! His accomplishments speak for themselves! He beat Jordan, Bird and Magic on his way to 2 NBA Championships! And he was the NCAA Most Outstanding Player after he won the NCAA title with Indiana in 1981. He singlehandedly transfered the Detroit Pistons (a dismal franchise with no history of winning similar to the Memphis Grizzles) into a championship organization! The same thing Michael Jordan, Magic and Bird achieved. 18,822 points 19.2ppg 9061 assists 9.2 1861 steals 12-time NBA All-Star (1982-93) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1984, '86) NBA Champion (1989, '90) NBA Finals MVP (1990) U.S. Olympian (1980) 50 Greatest Players of All-Time Anybody who doesn't think that Isiah isn't one of the best players of all-time need to either do their research so they know the facts or stop smoking crack!
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a guest February 25, 2009
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Isaiah Thomas was a complete moron and a cry baby and got what he deserved!!!
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tallen April 29, 2009
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
He got what he deserved. He was arrogant and thought he was it. But Michael showed him who was the man. I thought he was a poor sport and didn't deserve the honor of being on the Dream Team. BRAVO to Mike, Larry, Karl, and anyone else in the league that didn't want him to be apart of that fabulous team. There will never be another team like that.
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a guest May 17, 2009
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
ok isiah wasn't the poster child of anything positive but he was a helluva lot better than that candy ass stockton. am i right? shit stockton should a been left at the mormon church instead of going to barcelona. isian schooled him and as far as im concerned, everyone else in the nba from 1982-1994.l isiah if you read this: travis from iowa loves you
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a guest September 11, 2009
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
First of that JERK Bird never had any class and its a joke what some of u idiots say he just was hidden all the things he did if i remember correctly the celtics walked off the court and didnt shake hands when the pistons beat them and bird punch a reporter during the final four and Isaih of the early 90's was considered one of the classiest guys in basketball nothing bad came out til he was a GM unlike the gamblers and all sorts of other ppl that were on the team ppl seem to forget
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DuckHunter September 26, 2009
Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, & Michael Jordan Kept Isiah Thomas Off USA Basketball/1992 Dream Team
Thomas was a punk just like that coward Lambier. I laughed my ass of when Jordan & Bird ko'ed him from the 92 team. He only won a championship because the Celtics & Lakers were old and Jordan's Bull's were young. Screw Thomas.
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