Did Isiah Thomas deserve to be part of the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics?

Juan Estevez

Did Isiah Thomas deserve to be part of the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics? image

Thanks to episodes of The Last Dance, the strong rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s and early 1990s surfaced again. A feud that was forever represented by two personalities - Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas.

There are several anecdotes and myths surrounding their tattered relationship, including an alleged freeze-out of Jordan in the 1985 All-Star Game that was led by Thomas, where he ensured the Bulls rookie touched the ball as little as possible.

MORE: Which other players should have made the Dream Team?

However, no story has been heard more around the league than the one involving the 1992 Dream Team. Urban legend has it that Jordan said that if Thomas was part of the team, he would not travel to Barcelona. Something that, as we all know, didn't end up being necessary.

However, did Thomas, at that point in his career, deserve to be on the squad? We looked for the answers, comparing him with the rest of the perimeters guys outside of Jordan, Magic and Bird, who had their spot guaranteed for multiple reasons.

Thomas vs Stockton

Thomas Stockton

The first comparison is the most direct: John Stockton, the only other point guard on the team beyond Magic Johnson. Here's how both of them performed in the two seasons leading up to the 1992 Dream Team:

Player Team PTS ASTS REBS FG%
Isiah Thomas Detroit Pistons 17.6 8.0 3.2 44.2%
John Stockton Utah Jazz 16.5 14.0 3.1 49.5%

Statistics are clearly favourable for the Utah point guard, who led the league in assists in 1990-1991 and in assists and steals in 1991-1992.

Stockton's advantage is even greater if we go to the advanced numbers: 27.5 vs. 9.2 win shares, 23.1 vs. 16.5 in PER, and 8.5 vs. 1.7 in Box Plus-Minus. Looking at team success, the slant further tilts towards the Jazz floor general.

MORE: What are the 'Jordan Rules'?

From 1990 to 1992, the Jazz went 109-55 and registered three playoff series victories. On the other hand, the Pistons went 98-66 while recording two playoff series victories.

You want even stronger evidence for Stockton? He was selected to the 1991 All-NBA Third Team and 1992 All-NBA Second Team while receiving All-Defensive Second-Team selections in both seasons. Thomas hadn't belonged to either of these teams since 1987.... case closed.

Thomas vs Drexler

#MjDrexler

Of course, the Dream Team could have chosen three point guards with Thomas taking place of one of the perimeter guys. With Larry Bird unquestionably on the team, Thomas could have looked skeptically at the selections of Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin and Scottie Pippen. 

Let's start with the Drexler comparison: 

Player Team PTS ASTS REBS FG%
Isiah Thomas Detroit Pistons 17.6 8.0 3.2 44.2%
Clyde Drexler Portland Trail Blazers 23.2 6.4 6.6 47.6%

Again, the numbers are in favour of Drexler, who was at the top of his career and one of the dominating players in the league. His statistical advantage is also considerable: 22.8 vs. 16.5 in PER, 25.2 vs. 9.2 in win shares, and 7.7 vs. 1.7 in Box Plus-Minus.

Also, we must not forget what happened in the 1991-92 season. While the Pistons were eliminated in the first round of the 1992 Playoffs, the Blazers, led by Drexler, made it to the 1992 NBA Finals where they lost to Jordan and the Bulls. 

MORE: How MJ dominated Clyde

In addition, Drexler was voted to the 1992 All-NBA First Team and 1991 All-NBA Second Team. If that wasn't enough, he also finished second in the 1992 MVP voting. Thomas did not receive a single vote from the press. It is very difficult to debate coach Chuck Daly's decision, even considering his history with Isiah.

Thomas vs Mullin

Mullin

Chris Mullin's profile was similar to Drexler's, being a forward with enormous scoring ability, who was also at the peak of his career with the Warriors.

Player Team PTS ASTS REBS FG%
Isiah Thomas Detroit Pistons 17.6 8.0 3.2 44.2%
Chris Mullin Golden State Warriors 25.7 3.8 5.5 53.0%

As in the two previous cases, Mullin has a strong statistical advantage, both in PER (20.6), win shares (23), and Box Plus-Minus (4.2).

It's true that the Warriors did not have much collective success during those years beyond strong regular seasons (just one playoff series win), but Mullin was still considered to be one of the NBA's best. He was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1992 along with Jordan, Drexler, Karl Malone and David Robinson. Little to debate here in our opinion.

Thomas vs Pippen

scottie-pippen-052320-ftr-getty.jpg

The last case to compare is that of Scottie Pippen, who beyond all he contributed outside the box score, also put up big numbers over the previous two seasons.

Player Team PTS ASTS REBS FG%
Isiah Thomas Detroit Pistons 17.6 8.0 3.2 44.2%
Scottie Pippen Chicago Bulls 19.4 6.6 7.5 51.2%

Pippen's dominance loomed even larger when looking at advanced stats, with the edge in PER (21.1), win shares (23.9) and Box Plus-Minus (5.9). And of course, helping lead Chicago to titles in both 1991 and 1992.

Individual awards? Pippen was voted to the All-NBA Second Team in 1991, and 1992 while receiving All-Defensive First Team votes in both years. Not to mention the fact that he was one of five players who received at least one vote for the season's MVP (alongside MJ, Drexler, Robinson and Malone).

We'll probably never know exactly what happened when the Dream Team was assembled. But the reality is that neither the box score stats, the advanced stats, team success, nor the recognitions of the NBA press support the case of putting Isiah Thomas within that exalted group of 12. 

Sorry, Zeke. 

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.

Juan Estevez

Juan Estevez Photo

Graduado de DeporTEA en 2011, Juan Estévez se sumó al equipo de NBA Global en 2019, luego de trabajar en otros sitios argentinos ligados al básquet como Pick and Roll y Básquet Plus. Desde 2022 forma parte del staff de Sporting News en español, cubriendo principalmente NBA, fútbol y NFL.