"I had a sinking feeling in my heart" - Bill Laimbeer felt Isiah Thomas deserved the Finals MVP over Joe Dumars in 1989
Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars are regarded as the leaders of the Detroit Pistons' Bad Boys. The two guards powered the "Motor City" team to one of the best teams in the NBA from the mid-80s to the early 90s. Their collective intensity, coupled with their basketball talent, guided the likes of Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, and John Salley to unprecedented heights.
But while the spotlight often shone on Dumars for his calm demeanor and Finals MVP trophy, Laimbeer had no doubt who really ran the show. For Laimbeer, the heart and soul of the Pistons wore No. 11.
Will the real leader please stand up?
But popular opinion doesn't always align with player opinion. In Laimbeer's eyes, Thomas was the true leader of the team. The Bad Boy philosophy mirrored "Zeke's" personality and style of play. This ferociousness inspired the Pistons to play with their hearts on their sleeve. So much so that when Dumars snagged the 1989 NBA Finals MVP, Laimbeer felt something was off.
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"That he was voted MVP is insignificant," Laimbeer said in 1990, per the Los Angeles Times. "Because MVP is based on a five-game series. He is our MVP. If you ask anyone on our team or anyone who sees us, they'd all tell you."
"This team is his personality. The determination and drive all revolve around him. The fact that Joe Dumars won the (NBA finals MVP in 1989) is great. We all felt happy for him, but I had a sinking feeling in my heart. It was sad for me because of all Isiah had done over the years. Now that he's won it, I feel so warm and happy for him," he added.
Pistons' legendary point guard was labeled as a dirty player throughout his career, but the former Hoosier took it in stride and just played on. Thomas' brand of basketball was all about being physical, but not everyone subscribed to this. This made him a constant target of the media and other NBA players. This tarnished his reputation, but instead of folding, the Chicago native stuck to his guns.
Related: "I got so much criticism because I was able to shoot" - Ewing on why he wishes he had come up in this era
Tough love
Laimbeer gravitated towards this philosophy simply because it was also how he operated. In one practice session, the center and point guard almost came to blows after Bill set a rough screen.
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Isiah reportedly broke his hand after punching Laimbeer, but the two miraculously patched things up after a few days. Bill cleared the air, noting it was just a little tussle between two fierce competitors.
"Oh, I would say, basically, competitiveness," Laimbeer said. "He's his own strong-willed personality; I'm my own strong-willed personality. Those things happen…Oh, we love each other. I mean, it's the bottom line that won't ever change."
Perhaps the ultimate act of their camaraderie came in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls. After a heartbreaking 0-4 series loss to Michael Jordan and crew, Thomas, Laimbeer, and several other Pistons walked off the arena without shaking the Bulls' hands.
They were criticized for their lack of sportsmanship. Even today, fans continue to castigate the Pistons bunch and paint them as the ultimate villains. Still, Laimbeer and Thomas continue to stand by their decision. Their philosophy, grounded on a blue-collar work ethic and an uncompromising attitude, lives on. That alone deserves respect.
Related: "You can just go by winning record, right?" - Isiah Thomas reluctantly included Michael Jordan in his top-five toughest-ever opponents
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