The public feud between the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons remains one of the most iconic in the NBA. The two teams had a severe hatred for each other. His Airness was beaten down for two seasons as the Pistons rose as NBA champions. However, it was after these encounters that MJ rose to be his best. While the relationship between Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan grew unrepairable even years after their time on the court, the same can’t be said about Magic Johnson and the Pistons legend.

Johnson and Thomas were like brothers. The two shared a close bond with Johnson even naming a room in his mansion after his best friend at the time. Moreover, staying close to one of the best point guards of all time gave Thomas the insights into being a great player himself. Everything seemed to be perfect, that was until they met in the NBA Finals in 1988.

Speaking to NFL legend Shannon Sharpe, Johnson recalls the moment that changed the relationship between him and Thomas. And it was all to show that nothing comes above winning for the Los Angeles Lakers icon.

Magic Johnson had been friends with Isiah Thomas before Michael Jordan

The 1988 NBA Finals matchup had the infamous Detroit Pistons and Lakers rivalry. Johnson, a four-time champion at the time matched up against his brother, Isiah Thomas. The two might have been close before. However, their hunger and obsession to win changed their bond. Notably, one single moment in Game 3 made the pair of close friends turn into bitter rivals.

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As Thomas tried to get a bucket, the Showtime Lakers point guard wasn’t going to make it easy. He took the opportunity to send a chilling message to Thomas. As the Pistons great went up, Johnson quickly put him down with an elbow. Likewise, Isiah Thomas took offense. The Lakers legend went back to the incident on the ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast. He said: “I’m sad that I have to sit here and say that. I’m sure both his coach and Pat Riley, and my teammates wanted to know, if I had to, am I going to put him down? And I said yeah. And I did.” 

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The 1988 NBA Finals became the first installment of a rivalry that would continue to the next season’s NBA Finals. Notably, Magic Johnson had his hands raised in 1988 after winning a nail-biting 7-game series against Thomas. James Worthy took home the Finals MVP honors averaging 22 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. A 28-year-old Magic put up 21 points and 13 assists in the series to take down his best friend at the time.

However, the series established a rivalry. Likewise, Thomas had to get even, and it was almost immediate. He led the Pistons back to the grand stage of the Finals the next season. Only this time, the outcome was different. The Pistons mauled an injury-ridden Lakers, sweeping them for their first title.

As for the brotherhood, Johnson and Thomas surely grew apart. The Pistons legend went on Magic’s bad side after reportedly spreading rumors about his illness. At the same time, Thomas also developed a heated relationship with Michael Jordan. In 1992, Thomas was left out of the iconic Olympics Dream Team.

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However, the last few years have allowed the once-close brothers to regain their relationship. And it seems Johnson and Isiah Thomas are once again friends after their days of rivalry on the court are long behind them.