How Michael Jordan’s betrayal on ‘Last Dance’ cost $8.1 billion network

Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas felt betrayed by Michael Jordan after what he revealed in the docuseries, The Last Dance.

How Michael Jordan’s betrayal on ‘Last Dance’ cost $8.1 billion network

Michael Jordan's The Last Dance has Isiah Thomas wounded

When The Last Dance came out, it gave the world a fresh perspective on the basketball GOAT debate. Michael Jordan stood at the top as fans were left in awe with how his final season with the Chicago Bulls transpired. On the flip side, Isiah Thomas learnt the truth about his relationship with the GOAT.

The Detroit Pistons legend once believed that Michael Jordan was good to him all throughout their careers. He even believed until then that the 6-time champion had nothing to do with his absence from the Dream Team.

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But The Last Dance changed that perspective forever. Isiah Thomas learnt that Jordan did not like him at all. That changed Thomas’ attitude towards his rival and has spoken on countless occasions how he felt betrayed.

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That animosity has continued to the point where he has asked for a public apology if he ever had to forgive Michael Jordan for his deeds. Now, their fallout from The Last Dance has impacted something else.

I decided not to do the Boston documentary because of what Jordan and The Last Dance did. They totally set me up and blindsided me. I wasn’t gonna get fooled twice. I wasn’t going to go on film and sit there, and potentially be set up again, like I was setup in The Last Dance.

Isiah Thomas said

The 63-year-old two-time NBA Champion said on SiriusXM NBA Radio that he avoided featuring on Celtics City. Isiah Thomas believes that $8.1 billion worth HBO and the producers of the show will try and set him up for their benefit, just as he was while on The Last Dance.

Michael Jordan’s own teammates did not accept The Last Dance’s version of events

After the docuseries aired, a few of Michael Jordan’s teammates from that 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team were not happy. Horace Grant, Ron Harper and assistant coach Bill Cartwright were disappointed that quite a few of the incidents portrayed were not accurate.

They believe since Michael Jordan had the final word, most of the events were construed to show him in a good light. Some believe he intentionally delayed the production to avoid Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause from revealing his point of view.

But the teammate The Last Dance hurt the most was Scottie Pippen. The six-time champion initially did not publicly talk about it. But through his book, he went on the attack and called out Jordan. Even teammate Dennis Rodman had to come to Pippen’s defense after the docuseries came out.

The relationship between the two has become bitter and neither of them made it to the Chicago Bulls ring of honor held earlier last year. Their family situations have had a hand in that rift, but if anything, Michael Jordan has alienated many who were once integral to his legacy.