With sports fans tuning in to the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance, folks have brought to light a long-overlooked tidbit. In 2009, basketball titan Magic Johnson made a surprising admission: he purposely kept fellow baller Isiah Thomas off the American “Dream Team.” The reason? Johnson believed Thomas spread rumors about his sexuality.
The scandal dates back to 1992 when the best basketball players in the US united for the Olympic team. Dubbed the Dream Team, the lineup featured legends like Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing. At the time, the media heralded the team as the greatest collection of basketball talent ever assembled. They went on to win the Gold Medal.
Thomas, however, didn’t make the team. Speculation at the time pointed to Michael Jordan, who, according to rumor, refused to join the team if Thomas also landed a spot. Jordan and Thomas had something of a feud over Thomas’ very physical tactics during games.
Related: Magic Johnson “Should Be Ashamed” For “Having Those AIDS,” Says Clippers Owner Donald Sterling
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Isiah Thomas has continued to fuel the Jordan feud rumors in recent interviews promoting the ESPN docuseries The Last Dance about Michael Jordan’s legacy with the Chicago Bulls.
“Why I’m personally hurt is another reason why I’m here,” Thomas told ESPN this week. “Because being left off the Dream Team, that personally hurt me. If I’m not apart of the Dream Team because a lapse in emotion in terms of not shaking someone’s hand … if that’s the reason why I didn’t make the Dream Team, then I am more disappointed today than I was back then when I wasn’t selected.”
Isaiah Thomas: "If I'm not apart of the Dream Team because of a lapse in emotion in terms of not shaking someone's hand, if that's the reason why I didn't make the Dream Team, then I am more disappointed today than I was back then when I wasn't selected." pic.twitter.com/5QQk3kmX0g
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 27, 2020
Apparently Thomas never read Johnson’s memoir, When the Game Was Ours. In that 2009 book, Magic Johnson admitted that he blocked Thomas from joining the team. Johnson, who came out as HIV+ in 1991, believed that Thomas had spread rumors about Johnson having gay trysts. ESPN reports that the rumors about Johnson’s sexuality had soured other players in the league, ultimately sealing Thomas’ fate.
ESPN commentator Jemele Hill writes:
“In the book,” which Johnson co-authored with Larry Bird and frequent ESPN contributor Jackie MacMullan, Johnson admits he helped keep Thomas off the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team because he believed that, in the wake of Johnson’s announcement in 1991 that he had HIV, his once-dear friend spread a rumor he was gay or bisexual.
For most of the public, this is a startling admission, but Johnson’s sexuality has been gossiped about in NBA circles for years. That can be chalked up to ignorance about his disease. Thomas, now the men’s basketball coach at Florida International University, denies speculating about Johnson’s sexuality and told SI.com he feels “blindsided” by the allegations because this is the first time Johnson is publicly airing his side of the story.”
“Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics,” Johnson wrote in 2009. “Nobody on that team wanted to play with him.”
In the years since the Dream Team and his retirement, Johnson has raised awareness and charity funds to battle HIV all over the world, including smashing the stereotype that only gay or bisexual men carry the disease.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Love Magic as I do I feel that sending professional basketball players to the Olympics was and still is a low blow to amateur sports everywhere. You are telling crybaby millionaires that you are better than university college, junior college level players or worse our ratings are so low for Olympic we have to substitute them for the crybabies.
As this story was researched (you and I both know it wasn’t) why wasn’t Thomas’ publicly disowning his own gay son not mentioned? Yes, he did that and it did hit the paper and tabloids but as to be expected Queerty never heard of that incident. Its also heavily rumored that it was because of Thomas that the Knicks played to horribly because everyone on that team wanted out as long as he was manager. What does that tell you about Thomas and his importance.
Cam
Magic Johnson was raised Pentacostal, and yet he’s extremely supportive of his son who came out as gay when he was a teen. And I thought Thompson had done some NOH8 promos with his gay son. I haven’t read about him disowning him.
I’m glad to see two famous professional athletes who were religious, being supportive of their LGBT kids.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Isaiah being nothing else but Isaiah no doubt decided the publicity he was getting wasn’t worth it. Especially with a loosing team that he was managing. You go figure his 360 degree about face.
djmcgamester
I’m glad it was acknowledged but information was sketchy back then. There was a lot of misinformation. I remember well because I was newly out in 1992. I personally learned a lot but I also got involved with a gay social group with people who knew. That doesn’t mean spreading rumors was okay, or that it should have been an issue even if Magic was bi. Sorry Thompson was hurt but I’m not surprised that it factored into the decision-making process.
Troysky
…..this whole drama. for years and years…..and years…i had read repeatedly that a lot of players FLAT OUT, DID NOT LIKE Isiah. It’s beyond this sexual gossip, it was his extra-arrogance on and off the court.
Kangol2
Let’s also not forget that Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson used to kiss each other on the lips after games. (Look it up if you think I am making this up.) There were lots of rumors about Magic (and Isiah, among others) well before this alleged rumor that Isiah spread, but it’s telling to me that Magic didn’t just admit this years ago. As for Isiah’s role with the Knicks, he was a disaster on every level. I’m glad he and his son have reconciled, and that Magic and his wife have supported EJ so strongly.