Michael Jordan and his rivalry with the Detroit Pistons is pretty well-known to anybody who loves the Bulls legend. Not only was this rivalry pretty hard on the fans, but it took over players as well. Many years later, players have revealed how stressful the conference finals in the late 80s and early 90s were. One of the players who was the driving force of Pistons once mentioned how he viewed Michael Jordan as an opponent.

In 1989, after game two of the conference finals between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, Isaiah Thomas decided to express himself honestly. The whole world didn?t disagree, but it was humbling coming from the legend?s mouth.

Isiah Thomas on Michael Jordan

After the tough win against Chicago Bulls by Isiah Thomas and Co. 89′, the legend came out disappointed. He expressed his concerns about the remaining series and was angry for the most part. The Pistons legend mentioned how he felt that he had to take control of the game as he did a few years ago. His feelings were strong because of a simple fact, which the Pistons legend candidly stated.

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?If it’s Isiah Thomas against Michael Jordan, I’m going to lose that battle every time. ? Thomas said. He mentioned the fact because he wanted his team to be aware that their opponents were far more skilled than they were a few years ago. Well, fans would probably not argue with Thomas?s self-assessment. The Bulls had a huge thorn in the form of the Detroit Pistons in the late 80s, but once they moved past, they never looked back.

Chicago Bulls dominated the 90s, not letting the Pistons anywhere near the trophy. Defeating the physically dominating Pistons, required a lot of brute strength from the Chicago side. Jordan averaged 30.0 PPG against the Pistons in playoffs, underlining his great form against the Detroit side. No wonder the best player of the Pistons was concerned with any slip-ups. His words in the interview underline his attitude toward the important games in the league.

Isiah?s legacy

The Pistons legend in his own words was no match for Michael Jordan, but nevertheless, was one of the few players to stop him. In the numerous encounters between the Detroit and Chicago side, the Pistons had more wins.

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It is a fact that cannot be denied that Thomas, along with the Pistons, was probably the greatest challenge for Jordan. Players like Isiah Thomas would give the Bulls legend a hard time, probably pushing him to greater heights.