Should Isiah Thomas been on the Dream Team?

     There's been a lot of debate if Michael Jordan was the reason why Isiah Thomas was not on the Dream Team and in the Last Dance Documentary Jordan said If people want to blame him for that then be my guess but I didn't do it. I don't think he was the only reason why Isiah didn't make the team. Jordan wasn't the only guy that Thomas pissed off but he more than likely was the main reason why. Jack McCallum who wrote the book about the Dream Team in 2012 and recently on his podcast (the Dream Team Podcast because why not milk it for all it's worth) aired a recording of Michael saying he would not play if Isiah was on the team. Let's get to why Isiah and Michael went at it. From a previous post, Isiah Thomas was from Chicago and tried to go down in the 1981 Draft to his hometown Bulls which Jack McCloskey aka trader Jack basically said "I know what you're doing and I'll still draft you anyway" Funny how that works out. Plus Michael Jordan was born in New York and becomes the Knicks biggest pain, Magic was from Michigan and defeated the Pistons in 1988, Nick Anderson was from Chicago and trashed MJ said that 45 isn't 23, and Bill Laimbeer spent time living in Boston, Chicago, and LA and pissing them all off. Then Michael gets drafted to the Bulls and Isiah according to John Salley's Isiah teammate during those Bad Boy years was pissed that his nephew was wearing a Jordan jersey (again Isiah is from Chicago). Then come where Isiah alleging froze out Michael during the 1985 All-Star Game which he denied. If he did, that would have been a hypocritical move on Isiah especially since he played in the All-Star game as a rookie in 1982. Then, of course, there are the Bulls and Pistons Eastern Conference Finals battles from 1989-1991 where they were bitter battles and another rivalry with Scottie Pippen who said on another documentary about the Dream Team that He didn't want Isiah to be on the Dream Team. Then there's Magic and Bird. Like Chicago, the Boston Celtics had their bitter battles with the Straight Up Bitches I mean Assholes I mean the Bad Boy Pistons so Bird didn't like him. For a time, Magic and Isiah were friends then came their Finals battles in 1988 and 1989 and that Isiah implied that Magic was gay after testing positive for HIV. Dick move Isiah especially since your brother died from AIDS. You shouldn't talk Isiah. However, they're friends again now. Then came the walkout where the Pistons left the court without shaking anyone from the Bulls' hands before the end of the Eastern Conference Finals in 1991 just the USA Basketball committee picking for the first NBA Olympic team. Not good timing by Isiah and I do agree with Jordan that he only regrets doing that after the fact. Also, the Bulls shook hands after their losses to the Pistons. Yes, the Celtics did the same thing to the Straight Up Bitches I mean Assholes I mean Bad Boys (I know I went there again) three years earlier (again not a good look). However, Magic wasn't going to join the team without Larry Bird and I think Larry was more respected around the league than Isiah was. Pissing off the Big Three plus Scottie and the committee wasn't a good idea. Salley said it was Magic not Michael was the main reason why Isiah wasn't on the team. Also, no kicking out Christian Laettner wouldn't have mattered at least in my opinion, if anything Dominque Wilkins would have taken that spot and maybe make a case for James Worthy. It was ridiculous that they had a spot for a college player. Initially, the USA Basketball committee it was going to be 6 pros and 6 college players, then 8 pro and 4 college players, and then it was just one college guy. Shaquille O'Neal was in consideration but ultimately it when with Laettner because Coack K (Laettner's coach at Duke) was an assistant on the Dream Team. Also, the only college player to play with the pros in the Olympics. I don't know if anyone else hated Isiah to where they wouldn't play on the Dream Team. Maybe the Jazz players John Stockton and Karl Malone probably after Stockton was picked ahead of Isiah and after Malone elbowed him (on purpose he admitted it) to prevent Isiah having another dominating game against Stockon after the announcement, maybe Clyde Drexler but only because the Trail Blazers lost the Pistons in the finals in 1990 and unsure if he hated him that much. Maybe Ewing but that was it. Charles Barkley actually volunteered to be Isiah's roommate by default though the same recording recently that Chuck didn't want him on the team either. I would have understood especially since in one of the games between the 76ers-Pistons that Barkley was being attacking by the entire Pistons team it seemed. He brought up on the Best Damn Sports Show Period (remember that show?) why didn't anyone from his team help him and Salley joking said "They paid us to beat you up". However, did Isiah on his play warrant a spot on the Dream Team. Yes, even Michael Jordan himself said he was the second-best point guard in the history of the NBA behind Magic. He made the All-Star teams for the first 12 years of his career only missing his last season. Won two championships and it should have been three (sorry but the Lakers got lucky in 1988, I'm going there). Plus like Jordan with the Bulls, The Pistons were in a sorry state when Isiah got there then made them championship along with Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, among others. Unlike Jordan, Thomas' final season ended with the Pistons going 20-62 in 1993-94. There's a debate that Thomas didn't make an ALL-NBA team after 1987 while the rest of the NBA players even Larry Bird made at least one in the 1990s. Then again, he was still an All-Star player during the 1990s. His talent wasn't any question, his personality at least towards his fellow NBA Players was. I wonder if the 1980 US boycott didn't happen and Isiah who was a part of the 1980 USA Basketball Team won the gold, would be left out on the Dream Team hurt less? I'm thinking not. The sad part about all of this was his GM and coach was a part of the Dream team. McCloskey was a part of the selection committee though he quit in protest after Isiah was left out and Chuck Daly was the coach. I believe I said in an earlier post that I'm sure he would have loved to have Isiah on the Dream Team but he didn't want to deal with having a mutiny if he added Isiah. I think if he didn't implie Magic being gay or apologize as soon as he said it (though unsure if that would have been enough), I think Magic could have led the way for Isiah being on the Dream Team. He could have at least worked a peace treaty with Bird and Michael (even it was temporary) and possibly the committee. Ultimately, Isiah was the one to blame for not making the Dream Team he was (probably still is) an Asshole especially pissing off the Big 3 in Magic, Larry, and Michael and not shaking hands with the Bulls. Guessing it didn't help that John Stockon also played in the 1996 team that also won gold. I would have had him on the team. Probably not since if it's between Michael or Isiah, then I'm going with Michael all the time. I probably would have considered that myself it if the majority of the Dream Team would have said yes. Heck I think most of us would have picked Michael over Isiah anyday. Only Piston fans would have left Michael (and Scottie and possibly others like Larry) out. Also, I wished that Michael and Rod Thorn who was a part of the selection committed just flat out say it they conspired to keep Isiah off the team. Just be honest that it. Magic in a book called "When We Were Kings" admitted that. Also, I wonder if Michael would have been in the 1996 games if the Games took place in Chicago and not Atlanta?