“If he comes in there again, I’m still gonna slam him” – Magic Johnson’s heated threat toward Isiah Thomas after Game 1 of ’88 Finals
Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas They had been such good associates that they did not thoughts exchanging kisses in the center of the court docket in an period the place everybody wished to decapitate one another’s heads off.
With that being mentioned, their affinity didn’t cease the Los Angeles Lakers legend from doing what he needed to. Before Karl Malone violently hit Zeke with an elbow to the brow in 1991, Magic did it in Game 1 of the 1988 NBA Finals. It was by no means as critical as Malone’s 40-stitch actbut it surely was sufficient to ship a stern message.
commercial
No love misplaced between Magic and Zeke
Johnson admitted admitted that his relationship with Thomas was “incredible.” It started to fade via the years as a result of of their Finals rivalry and the truth that Magic revealed his function in Zeke’s exclusion from the 1992 Dream Team. The Lakers legend by no means bothered defending the Piston level guard as a result of he believed the latter began rumors that he was homosexual in the aftermath of his HIV announcement.
As talked about, the seeds of animosity had been planted in the 1988 NBA finals, the primary of two straight championship conferences between “Showtime” and the Bad Boys. Nobody was prepared to offer an inch, and Magic confirmed the Lakers what one other title meant to him when he smacked Thomas proper throughout the face in Game 1 of that 12 months’s championship sequence.
commercial
At that time in the sport, the Pistons had been successful massive. The 3-level shot was extra like a desperation try than a staple in that period. With over seven minutes left in the sport and Detroit up by 17, there was nothing left for LA however to indicate there was still some battle left in them.
Johnson dedicated his fifth with that tough foul and sat out the remainder of the way in which. The Lakers by no means gained a lot floor, dropping by 12 after the ultimate buzzer sounded, 105-93. But as anticipated, each superstars understood the rationale behind the motion. Magic, for one, by no means dismissed their friendship, but additionally would not assume twice to do it over again.
“If he comes in there again, I’m still gonna slam him. He’s gotta do what he’s gotta do, and I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do. If he comes through there again, we might both have to pay the price,” Johnson saidby Mike Down of The Los Angeles Times.
commercial
The solely worth paid for that sequence was the Pistons’ collective bruised ego. “Big Game” James Worthy delivered a 36-level, 16-rebound masterpiece in Game 7 to safe a again-to-again for the Purple & Gold.
(*1*)
The Pistons served revenge
The means Magic made Zeke eat his elbow was just about the norm in the NBA again in the day. Players had been inspired to try this, and the league workplace by no means responded greater than a faucet on the wrist.
commercial
Interestingly, the physicality that the Lakers introduced that night time sparked a reign of terror in the NBA for 2 years. Behind Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Dennis Rodman, and the remainder of the Pistons, Detroit embraced a bodily fashion that wore down groups over a seven-sport sequence.
It paid off with again-to-again titles. The Pistons accomplished a 4-sport sweep of their 1988 tormentors a 12 months later and dealt with the Portland Trail Blazers pretty simply in 1990.
It’s in all probability a attain to say Magic finally helped the Pistons by demonstrating the mindset wanted to recover from the hump, but it surely’s additionally naive to say the 1988 incident did not play a task. Those wars brought about an enormous dent in their friendship, but it surely’s in all probability value it if the worth got here in the shape of two Larry O’Brien trophies.
commercial
This story was initially printed by Basketball Network on Mar 2, 2026, the place it first appeared in the Old school part. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
