‘Michael Jordan Owes Me a Public Apology After He Stopped Me Playing at the Olympics’

When you think of the great teams in basketball history, there is no doubt that some of the top NBA dynasties immediately spring to mind. There’s the Chicago Bulls team that ran roughshod through the league in the 1990s. You also have the three-peat Lakers led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. If you want to think more recently, there’s the Golden State Warriors side that featured the ‘Splash Brothers’ – Steph Curry and Klay Thompson – along with Kevin Durant.

When it comes to the most star-studded team, though, that accolade arguably doesn’t belong to any NBA franchise. It instead goes to the ‘Dream Team’ that represented Team USA at the 1992 Olympic Games. After walking away with only a bronze medal four years earlier, it was decided that a squad filled with the top stars from the NBA would represent the United States in Barcelona to restore their dominance on the global stage.

Almost all of the best players in the league were brought on board. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley were among the biggest names. And, of course, there was Michael Jordan. However, MJ’s inclusion proved to be detrimental for one player who wasn’t picked – with many theorising that his omission came at the request of Jordan himself.

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Perhaps the most notable name not included in the Dream Team was two-time NBA champion Isiah Thomas. The point guard was an integral part of the ‘Bad Boy’ Detroit Pistons team that regularly got the better of the early incarnation of Jordan’s Bulls before Chicago went on to dominate the league.

Thomas was – and still is – seen as the only player that Jordan genuinely disliked, largely due to their fierce rivalry. Many believe it was this animosity that led to Thomas being left out of the Dream Team. In fact, audio leaked in 2020 revealed that Jordan told Rod Thorn, chairman of USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team Selection Committee, that he would not participate if Thomas were selected.

Despite that, Jordan has publicly maintained that he had nothing to do with Thomas’ omission – though he didn’t hold back in offering some strong words about his rival in The Last Dance documentary on Netflix.

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As for Thomas’s feelings about the Dream Team snub, the former point guard has openly expressed his belief that the personal feelings of players – including Jordan – contributed to his exclusion from the squad, something he has said he regrets. Thomas had previously been selected to play at the 1980 Olympics, but with the United States boycotting the event in Russia, he never had the opportunity to compete for Olympic gold.

The 64-year-old did have stronger words regarding Jordan’s public assessment of him. While appearing on The Draymond Green Show, the outspoken Golden State Warriors star asked Thomas about his relationship with the Chicago legend. In response, the ex-guard stated that he would need an apology from Jordan for the comments made about him – suggesting that only then could they move past their long-standing issues.

“This dude got on national television… international television and called me an a**hole… somebody who’s been really good to him,” Thomas stated.

“And until he apologizes on international television… we… no conversation…

“You can’t apologise and have a private dinner [with me] when you done embarrassed me publicly.I f you didn’t mean it… say it publicly. Now, if you meant it, let it stand. I’m good with that.”

All statistics courtesy of StatMuse – accurate as of 22/06/2025.