The rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and the ‘Bad Boy’ Detroit Pistons was the biggest draw in the late 80s and the early 90s. The rivalry also gave birth to one of the greatest individual feuds in the history of the NBA, Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas. Many fans believe the feud between the Hall of Famers began in Jordan’s first All-star game appearance.

The Chicago Bulls had drafted Michael Jordan from the University of North Carolina in the 1984 NBA draft. Jordan had one of the greatest rookie campaigns in the league’s history. His excellence and dominance on the court earned him a spot in the coveted All-star game.

The infamous ‘Freeze out’ game of Michael Jordan and his revenge

Michael Jordan had a phenomenal rookie year that made him a fan favorite around the league. Jordan’s high-flying dunks and acrobatics made him one of the most famous players in the NBA. This was evident, as Jordan got one of the highest All-star votes among all players, just as a rookie.

However, Jordan had one of the worst performances of his season at the All-star game. Many fans have dubbed the performance the ‘Freeze Out’ game over the years. Jordan that night, who had been averaging over 25 PPG leading up to the game, just scored 7 points despite being a starter. Fans and media delved into wild speculations and conspiracy theories following the game. However, a conspiracy involving Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson’s involvement in Jordan’s lackluster performance started gaining popularity.

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The conspiracy against Jordan

The conspiracy theory goes like this: before the game, Isiah Thomas reportedly rallied veteran stars Magic Johnson and George Gervin to ‘Freeze out’ the rookie Jordan. The plan was to shut down Jordan on offense and not get him the ball, which worked. After the game, it was reported that Thomas and Johnson were giggling after having taught Jordan ‘A lesson.’

Though most of the events surrounding the ‘Freeze Out’ game were speculations concocted by fans and media, Michael Jordan believed in them. Jordan used it as fuel for motivation. The Bulls and the Pistons faced off just two days after the All-star break. Jordan was out for blood that night. Jordan dominated the game and scored a monster 49 points leading to a victory in overtime, exacting revenge against Thomas and the Pistons.

Watch the Story – Each time Bad boy Pistons bullied and beat up Michael Jordan and Chicago bulls on the court

Fans believe the feud between Jordan and Thomas started after the 1985 All-star game. Jordan’s Bulls and the Bad Boy pistons, led by Thomas, became one of the biggest rivalries in the game. The Pistons were the biggest hurdle for Jordan in his early years. They bested him and the Bulls in three straight playoff series in the late 80s. However, Jordan and the Bulls finally defeated the aging pistons in 1991. The rivalry between the two teams that lasted half a decade produced many memorable moments on and off the court.