Do you think this situation is unique in the league? It always struck me as pretty common for teams to have random stragglers exerting undue influence on the team. The fact that Isiah is unpaid is odd, but the Jazz lost a GM seemingly to eroding power by a famous consultant just last year. What's interesting about this is the brazenness. Isiah not being able to shut his mouth and be influential behind the scenes in standard NBA practice.
Isiah's history as a basketball executive is pretty woeful. He ran the CBA into the ground and then chose to take on the Indiana job where he was middling as a coach. The New York stuff was awful basketball-wise and professionally.
If you remove all of the context and focus on the basketball side, it's pretty clear he is an awful executive who shouldn't be anywhere near a front office position.
I know that some owners prefer a 'royal court' set up where there are different factions with varying levels of influence but this seems a bit far-fetched for a new owner. Relying on Thomas to such a degree puts James Jones on the hotseat and an insecure GM does not make good decisions.
Ethan, is there any chance of a story about US pro athletes buying into European soccer teams? Over the last few months, there have been a quite few clubs changing hands with the most recent one being the 49ers Enterprises buying Leeds Utd with Russell Westbrook as a minority stakeholder.
How does the athlete get linked and incorporated with the PE fund associated with the purchase? Does this come through their agency/image rights? I know when LeBron initially bought into FSG 13 years ago, they converted his image rights into equity but it was never explained how he ended up with Fenway's fund?
I remember the Thomas era with the Knicks. There were a few decent low first round picks, and the rest was a train wreck. This was after he'd taken over the CBA with much fanfare, and then run it into the ground. One of the top 3 PG's of all time in the NBA, but in other roles he's incompetent.
The NYK Isaiah era taught me a lot - mainly that competence and skill were only some of the many ingredients (often NOT the main ones) that go into how people gain power and influence.
Interesting that Rex Chapman, the ultra super woke grand dragon ultimate cyclops of social justice wokery on TWTR, is seated right next to a $11.6 million sexual harasser. I use pictures like the one above to show high schoolers that these people simply do not believe what they spout on social media. It's all a pose - none of it is real.
The Isiah Thomas sexual harassment piece was well over 10 years ago. People can change and friends can forgive. Being an "ultra super woke grand dragon ultimate cyclops of social justice" (lolz wut?) doesn't preclude you from giving people second chances.
Would you rather Isiah get "cancelled"??? Heck, Rex was an out-of-control drug addict who did some pretty bad things but he got his life together and is all the better for it. THAT is what's "real" and might be a better lesson to teach your high schoolers.
Never realized Thomas had such a Machiavellian reputation in the league. A bit of a phony, I could probably see, but not a shiv wielder. The things you learn on this substack!
Thomas has always given off crazy Littlefinger vibes
Do you think this situation is unique in the league? It always struck me as pretty common for teams to have random stragglers exerting undue influence on the team. The fact that Isiah is unpaid is odd, but the Jazz lost a GM seemingly to eroding power by a famous consultant just last year. What's interesting about this is the brazenness. Isiah not being able to shut his mouth and be influential behind the scenes in standard NBA practice.
Yeah wasn’t Dwyane Wade involved with the Jazz?
Isiah's history as a basketball executive is pretty woeful. He ran the CBA into the ground and then chose to take on the Indiana job where he was middling as a coach. The New York stuff was awful basketball-wise and professionally.
If you remove all of the context and focus on the basketball side, it's pretty clear he is an awful executive who shouldn't be anywhere near a front office position.
I know that some owners prefer a 'royal court' set up where there are different factions with varying levels of influence but this seems a bit far-fetched for a new owner. Relying on Thomas to such a degree puts James Jones on the hotseat and an insecure GM does not make good decisions.
Ethan, is there any chance of a story about US pro athletes buying into European soccer teams? Over the last few months, there have been a quite few clubs changing hands with the most recent one being the 49ers Enterprises buying Leeds Utd with Russell Westbrook as a minority stakeholder.
How does the athlete get linked and incorporated with the PE fund associated with the purchase? Does this come through their agency/image rights? I know when LeBron initially bought into FSG 13 years ago, they converted his image rights into equity but it was never explained how he ended up with Fenway's fund?
Totally get the boyhood idol thing. What’s egregious is that Thomas was demonstrably bad at being a GM & coach
I remember the Thomas era with the Knicks. There were a few decent low first round picks, and the rest was a train wreck. This was after he'd taken over the CBA with much fanfare, and then run it into the ground. One of the top 3 PG's of all time in the NBA, but in other roles he's incompetent.
The NYK Isaiah era taught me a lot - mainly that competence and skill were only some of the many ingredients (often NOT the main ones) that go into how people gain power and influence.
Interesting that Rex Chapman, the ultra super woke grand dragon ultimate cyclops of social justice wokery on TWTR, is seated right next to a $11.6 million sexual harasser. I use pictures like the one above to show high schoolers that these people simply do not believe what they spout on social media. It's all a pose - none of it is real.
The Isiah Thomas sexual harassment piece was well over 10 years ago. People can change and friends can forgive. Being an "ultra super woke grand dragon ultimate cyclops of social justice" (lolz wut?) doesn't preclude you from giving people second chances.
Would you rather Isiah get "cancelled"??? Heck, Rex was an out-of-control drug addict who did some pretty bad things but he got his life together and is all the better for it. THAT is what's "real" and might be a better lesson to teach your high schoolers.
No Lives Matter Until Black Women’s Lives Matter.
The nba is the gift that keeps on giving. Even during the summer.
Wow, NBA people are just like us...petty and power hungry, but richer.
Never realized Thomas had such a Machiavellian reputation in the league. A bit of a phony, I could probably see, but not a shiv wielder. The things you learn on this substack!