Larry Bird had some chronic back problems in 1992 and his inclusion on the Dream Team was more a recognition for his career than his actual play. Dennis Rodman, who is never scared to speak his mind, thinks his former teammate Isiah Thomas deserved that spot.
“But for me, I felt Isiah should’ve been on that team because of the fact that he deserved it,” the 54-year-old former rebounding machine said on Sirius XM’s NBA Today… I think that the fact that, even though a lot of people will try deny it or try to correct me when I’m wrong, he should’ve been there instead of (Boston Celtics legend) Larry Bird…Because Larry Bird was hurt, injured, he could barely play, and he was on that last leg of his career…I understand, again, the presidential treatment, because he did so much for the game, but I just think for Isiah, I think they should’ve put him on that team without Larry Bird, and that’s my opinion.”
Isiah Thomas without a doubt had the talent to be on that Dream Team but beyond basketball he had some personal issues with Michael Jordan, the biggest superstar at that time and even his longtime friend Magic Johnson said in his book that Isiah Thomas alienated a lot of people in the NBA.
Dennis Rodman is standing up for a friend who admitted that missing on the Dream Team was a big hole in his resume but unfortunately I think they would have picked anybody before Isiah Thomas regardless of his talent.