Latest news with #TheLastDance
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"He probably gets the least amount of respect out of all players in NBA history" - Charles Barkley takes issue with how Isiah Thomas is categorized by his peers
"He probably gets the least amount of respect out of all players in NBA history" - Charles Barkley takes issue with how Isiah Thomas is categorized by his peers originally appeared on Basketball Network. Isiah Thomas was not the most likable player during his active years. He never cared, because he never played for applause or approval, he played to win. And in doing so, he led the Detroit Pistons into the fire of the 1980s and early '90s with a grin that annoyed opponents and a grit that inspired his teammates. He was the architect of the Bad Boys era, a dynasty built on defense and unapologetic swagger. But what he likely didn't expect is that the identity he embraced — on behalf of a team that never tried to be loved, would shadow him well after he left the game. Judging Thomas In retirement, Thomas has often found himself on the margins of legacy discussions, excluded from lists, passed over in documentaries and frequently positioned as a footnote next to his contemporaries. It doesn't take away the fact that he is one of the greatest point guards, but his reputation continues to tell another, shaped less by stats and accolades and more by emotion and resentment. "I love Isiah…he probably gets the least amount of respect out of all the great players in NBA history," said Charles Barkley. Barkley voiced what many around the league have only hinted at over the years, that Thomas is given a raw deal when it comes to his legacy. It's not a wild claim. Thomas was the leader of one of the most dominant and most hated teams in NBA history. The Bad Boy Pistons weren't built for aesthetics. They didn't sell dreams; they sold bruises. But they won in an era dominated by the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics and they kicked the door open with defense and bruising play. When Michael Jordan came into the picture, Thomas and the Pistons frustrated him and bundled him and the Chicago Bulls out of the playoffs in three straight postseasons in '88, '89 and '90. It is perceived that a rivalry or beef has formed between the icons. The image that continues to haunt Thomas, however, is that infamous walk-off at the end of the 1991 Eastern Conference finals. With just seconds left on the clock and the Bulls about to sweep the Pistons, Thomas and his teammates left the court without shaking hands. No words and no nods, just a silent exit that quickly became interpreted as a sore-loser move. The grudge never really faded. Jordan, even in "The Last Dance" documentary, made it clear he hadn't let it go. The media echoed the sentiment. And suddenly, Isiah's omission from the 1992 Dream Team didn't feel like a snub, it felt call for calm The media fed off a supposed beef between Jordan and Thomas and it became a decade-long one which was amplified when The Last Dance was released. To Barkley, this decades-long cold war could've thawed with a simple gesture with both legends sitting together and talking. "But all they had to do to put out this brush fire is, 'Hey, we were wrong, we should have shook your hand,'" Barkley said. "You can't let this thing simmer and let the media and let all these idiots…just throw gasoline on the fire." The regret, perhaps, is not just about that one night but about how that night shaped everything afterward. Thomas has always defended his team's actions as consistent with the times. He referenced how the Celtics did the same to them in 1988, leaving without congratulations when the Pistons dethroned them. To him, it was standard protocol. But history has a way of choosing which moments to highlight and which players to forgive. Barkley's take lands as a rare show of solidarity among legends. In a league where narrative often outruns nuance, Barkley's words are a reminder that legacies aren't always shaped by talent alone. They are often rewritten by perception and who controls the mic when the dust settles. Thomas remains the only player to lead a team to back-to-back championships without another Top 50 player by his side. He beat Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Jordan in their prime, often with torn ligaments, dislocated ankles, or a target on his back. Yet somehow, it's not enough to erase the image of that story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'I'm not Michael Jordan': Alex Ovechkin shuts down comparisons with humble message
Alex Ovechkin may be the most prolific goal scorer in NHL history—but don't expect him to embrace comparisons to global icon . When asked in a recent Match TV interview whether he's reached Jordan-level fame in cities like Washington, D.C. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now or Moscow, the Washington Capitals star didn't hesitate to shut it down. With his trademark humility and a surprising nod to his mother—herself a two-time Olympic basketball champion—Ovechkin made it clear: he may be legendary on the ice, but he's not chasing Jordan's shadow. 'Why elevate yourself?': Alex Ovechkin deflects Michael Jordan comparisons and honors the GOAT who raised him In the Match TV interview, conducted in Moscow, was asked whether he feels as recognized in public spaces as Jordan once was in Chicago or Washington. The NHL's all-time goal-scoring leader gave an emphatic response: 'Of course, there is no such thing,' he said. 'If you compare me with Michael Jordan, then it's like night and day.' Ovechkin didn't stop there. Instead of leaning into the compliment, he redirected it to two people he holds in the highest regard: Jordan, whom he's long admired, and his mother, Tatyana Ovechkina—a Soviet basketball legend. 'Jordan is the greatest,' he added. 'The same as my mother in basketball, a two-time Olympic champion, multiple European champion.' When pressed again—when the interviewer asked if he might be at least closing the gap—who Ovechkin might rival in stature—he doubled down: 'No,' he replied. 'Why elevate yourself? You have to stay grounded.' This isn't the first time Ovechkin has spoken about Jordan. In 2020, during an interview with Men's Journal, he named the six-time NBA champion as the one athlete he'd most like to meet. He also praised Netflix's The Last Dance, the docuseries chronicling Jordan's final season with the Chicago Bulls, as a must-watch. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In April 2024, where Ovechkin made NHL history by surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record, Jordan himself congratulated him via video: 'Hi, Alex, congratulations. Quite a record to break,' Jordan said. Ovechkin has even turned that admiration into a running joke. He often wears a red Capitals hoodie that reads 'Well I'm not Michael Jordan' across the back—a quote from a pregame soccer session that became so iconic teammate Devante Smith-Pelly had it printed on the hoodie and gifted it to him. Despite not having the towering trophy cabinet Jordan does—with six NBA titles, five MVPs, and two Olympic golds—Ovechkin's NHL résumé is elite. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer owns nine Rocket Richard Trophies, three Hart Trophies, a Stanley Cup championship, and a Conn Smythe Trophy. And unlike Jordan, who retired after his age-39 season with 1,072 NBA games, Ovechkin is still active at 40—and just nine games shy of becoming the 23rd NHL player ever to hit 1,500 games. Alex Ovechkin's greatness doesn't need Michael Jordan comparisons to be legendary Whether he's skating through Moscow or leading the Capitals in Washington, Alex Ovechkin is a once-in-a-generation athlete. But if you ask him, there's no need to chase comparisons to basketball royalty. In his eyes, Michael Jordan is untouchable—and so is the legacy of his own mother. And while fans and analysts may one day crown him the Jordan of the NHL, Ovechkin's only goal now is simple: keep scoring, stay grounded, and let the greatness speak for itself. Also Read:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Alex Ovechkin Doesn't Want To Be Compared To Idol Michael Jordan: 'It's Like Heaven & Earth'
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin dons a hoodie on most game days that reads, "Well, I'm not Michael Jordan," an ode to an inside joke he shared with former teammate Devante Smith-Pelly. But when it comes down to it, he doesn't see how he compares to the basketball legend. Ovechkin sat down with MatchTV and spoke on Jordan, who he idolizes, saying that he doesn't liek to compare himself to the six-time NBA champion. "If you compare me to Michael Jordan, it's like heaven and earth," Ovechkin said, per a DeepL translation. "Jordan's the greatest. The same as my mom in basketball, two-time Olympic champion, multiple European champion." Ovechkin was reminded of his accomplishments, which include a Stanley Cup, a record nine Rocket Richards and the NHL's all-time goal scoring record. He also has a record 14 seasons where he scored at least 40 goals. However, he wouldn't budge on his position. "No, (I'm not modest)," Ovechkin said. "Why evelate myself? You have to stay grounded." The 39-year-old is entering his 21st NHL season and has 897 total goals. He could become the first NHLer to ever hit the 900-goal mark. Ovechkin remains a big fan of Jordan and "The Last Dance."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"He should be holding his head up higher than Michael Jordan" - Dennis Rodman sides with Scottie Pippen over his negative portrayal in 'The Last Dance'
"He should be holding his head up higher than Michael Jordan" - Dennis Rodman sides with Scottie Pippen over his negative portrayal in 'The Last Dance' originally appeared on Basketball Network. The most vocal criticism of "The Last Dance" came from Scottie Pippen. The documentary, which reigned as one of Netflix's most watched sports series globally in 2020, gave the world an intimate look into the dominance of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, especially the aura of Michael Jordan. Advertisement But for all its adrenaline and storytelling polish, it also reopened old wounds, none deeper than those of Pippen, who was depicted as a second fiddle that occasionally folded under pressure. Rodman's support Former Bulls star Dennis Rodman, never one to mince words, made it plain where he stands and it's not on the side of The Last Dance. "Scottie was so underrated — and so underpaid," Rodman said. "He should be holding his head up higher than Michael Jordan in this documentary. I think a lot of people are now realising what he went through. The kid was a hero, in a lot of ways, during those great Bulls runs." Advertisement For those who watched the dynasty unfold in real time, Pippen's sacrifices, both physical and emotional, were the glue that held it all together. He wasn't just the wingman. He was often the shield and the one who stepped in while Jordan took his midseason sabbaticals or walked away from the game altogether. Pippen's disappointment with the documentary has always been layered. He wasn't pleased with how he was portrayed and there's a good reason. The 10-part series dedicated considerable time to dissecting some of his most criticized moments, like when he refused to check in during Game 3 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals after Phil Jackson designed the final shot for Toni Kukoc, or delaying ankle surgery during the 1997 offseason as a form of contract protest and missing key games in the final Bulls run. But what The Last Dance showed in slow motion, it rarely contextualized with empathy. Pippen had been playing with a ruptured back during the 1998 NBA Finals. He'd spent much of his prime locked in a seven-year, $18 million contract, one of the league's worst deals considering his All-NBA and All-Defensive Team credentials. In 1997 alone, 122 players made more money than Pippen, including several benchwarmers and fringe starters. And yet, he finished third in MVP voting that year. Advertisement Resentment brewed in silence Rodman knows the cost of that kind of thanklessness. While Jordan was the brand and the beast, and Rodman the rebel with the rebounding records, Pippen was the strategic brain of the operation. A two-way phenom who guarded Magic Johnson, shut down wings, initiated offense and played through pain without the spoils. The tension that brewed for years finally bubbled over in Pippen's 2021 memoir "Unguarded", where he accused Jordan of prioritizing his image over team legacy. The friction wasn't new. Back in 1994, when Pippen led the Bulls without Jordan and took them to 55 wins, many began to see just how much of the team's success had rested on Pippen's versatility. But the credit rarely followed. The documentary's focus on Jordan's ultra-competitive fire and dominance made for compelling drama, but it often flattened the complexity of teammates like Pippen into side characters. Advertisement Jordan, who had editorial control over the series, came out as the hardened hero. Rodman, for all his antics, was shown as dependable when it mattered. But Pippen's story was framed by hesitation, discontent and betrayal. Rodman pushing back on that narrative is strong. The two men, cut from wildly different cloths, shared the court during the Bulls' second three-peat and often relied on each other defensively. Rodman's 11.3 rebounds per game in the 1997-98 season were vital, but so was Pippen's stat-stuffing presence, averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game that same year — all while dealing with a volatile contract dispute and mounting injuries. Related: "Dennis is mentally handicapped" - Phil Jackson once revealed what people don't understand about Dennis Rodman This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"He should be holding his head up higher than Michael Jordan" - Dennis Rodman sides with Scottie Pippen over his negative portrayal in 'The Last Dance'
"He should be holding his head up higher than Michael Jordan" - Dennis Rodman sides with Scottie Pippen over his negative portrayal in 'The Last Dance' originally appeared on Basketball Network. The most vocal criticism of "The Last Dance" came from Scottie Pippen. The documentary, which reigned as one of Netflix's most watched sports series globally in 2020, gave the world an intimate look into the dominance of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, especially the aura of Michael Jordan. But for all its adrenaline and storytelling polish, it also reopened old wounds, none deeper than those of Pippen, who was depicted as a second fiddle that occasionally folded under pressure. Former Bulls star Dennis Rodman, never one to mince words, made it plain where he stands and it's not on the side of The Last Dance. "Scottie was so underrated — and so underpaid," Rodman said. "He should be holding his head up higher than Michael Jordan in this documentary. I think a lot of people are now realising what he went through. The kid was a hero, in a lot of ways, during those great Bulls runs." For those who watched the dynasty unfold in real time, Pippen's sacrifices, both physical and emotional, were the glue that held it all together. He wasn't just the wingman. He was often the shield and the one who stepped in while Jordan took his midseason sabbaticals or walked away from the game altogether. Pippen's disappointment with the documentary has always been layered. He wasn't pleased with how he was portrayed and there's a good reason. The 10-part series dedicated considerable time to dissecting some of his most criticized moments, like when he refused to check in during Game 3 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals after Phil Jackson designed the final shot for Toni Kukoc, or delaying ankle surgery during the 1997 offseason as a form of contract protest and missing key games in the final Bulls run. But what The Last Dance showed in slow motion, it rarely contextualized with empathy. Pippen had been playing with a ruptured back during the 1998 NBA Finals. He'd spent much of his prime locked in a seven-year, $18 million contract, one of the league's worst deals considering his All-NBA and All-Defensive Team credentials. In 1997 alone, 122 players made more money than Pippen, including several benchwarmers and fringe starters. And yet, he finished third in MVP voting that year. Rodman knows the cost of that kind of thanklessness. While Jordan was the brand and the beast, and Rodman the rebel with the rebounding records, Pippen was the strategic brain of the operation. A two-way phenom who guarded Magic Johnson, shut down wings, initiated offense and played through pain without the spoils. The tension that brewed for years finally bubbled over in Pippen's 2021 memoir "Unguarded", where he accused Jordan of prioritizing his image over team legacy. The friction wasn't new. Back in 1994, when Pippen led the Bulls without Jordan and took them to 55 wins, many began to see just how much of the team's success had rested on Pippen's versatility. But the credit rarely followed. The documentary's focus on Jordan's ultra-competitive fire and dominance made for compelling drama, but it often flattened the complexity of teammates like Pippen into side characters. Jordan, who had editorial control over the series, came out as the hardened hero. Rodman, for all his antics, was shown as dependable when it mattered. But Pippen's story was framed by hesitation, discontent and betrayal. Rodman pushing back on that narrative is strong. The two men, cut from wildly different cloths, shared the court during the Bulls' second three-peat and often relied on each other defensively. Rodman's 11.3 rebounds per game in the 1997-98 season were vital, but so was Pippen's stat-stuffing presence, averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game that same year — all while dealing with a volatile contract dispute and mounting story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
