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It may not be his documentary, but "The Last Dance" has boosted Isiah Thomas profile all the same.

The ESPN biopic on the 1997-98 Bulls championship team has used its first six episodes to highlight Michael Jordans rise from a North Carolina phenom to an international icon. And Thomas has had a prominent voice in the documentary thanks to his heated rivalry with Jordan, which simmerstoday.

Episodes 5 and 6 aired Sunday and chronicled Thomas infamous exclusion from the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. It was a noted moment in the Jordan-Thomas rivalry, as many, including Thomas, believed he deserved a spot.

While Jordan denied responsibility, he ultimately endorsed the decision in the documentary.

You want to attribute it to me, go ahead and be my guest," hesaid. "But it wasnt me."

Pistons guard Isiah Thomas drives to the basket defended by Bulls guard Michael Jordan during the 1989 Eastern Conference finals at Chicago Stadium.(Photo: Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE)

But "The Last Dance" skipped the first key moment in the Jordan-Thomas rivalry the 1985 All-Star Game. Jordan, who was rapidly emerging as the most popular player in the NBA, was voted into the game as a rookie. Allegedly, Thomas helped lead a conspiracy to downplay Jordans role in the game. Jordan was held to seven points on 2-for-9 shooting, attempting fewer shots than any of the Eastern Conference starters. The game is now widely referred to as the Freezeout.

In the first post-All Star break game, Jordan scored a career-high 49 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and four steals to lead the Bulls to an overtime win over the Pistons. A rivalry was born.

It was widely reportedthat several All-Stars in the game were annoyed by some of Jordans actions leading up to the game. But the actual extent of Thomas role in the supposed freezeout is, to this day, more speculation than fact.

On Feb. 14, a day after Jordans performance, former Free Press sports writerCharlie Vincent wrote a slightly softer account of Thomas and Jordans relationship. Before the game, Vincent wrote that an hour prior totipoff, Jordan made a point of greeting Thomas on the court in an attempt to squash any developing negative feelings between them.

I wanted to make sure everything was all right," Jordan said. I was bothered by all that talk about getting the big head. I feel a lot better now ... I feel like there was nothing to all that talk. That's why Isiah and I made a point of going on (Chicago) television at the same time."

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According to Vincent, many of the rumors about the rocky relationship came from Dr. Charles Tucker, an adviserto both Thomas and Magic Johnson at the time. Tucker told reporters that Thomas and former Spurs star and Detroit native George Gervin denied Jordan the ball to teach him a lesson.

SEVERAL HOURS after the All-Star Game, when Tucker, Thomas and San Antonio's George Gervin met as they were preparing to board a flight for Detroit, they spoke for a minute, then broke out into gales of laughter, Vincent wrote.

"We were talking about how good they got Jordan," Tucker said in the story. "I got together with a bunch of the guys Saturday and talked about it. ... But I think some of them thought we overdid it some."

Thomas denied any involvement in the freezeout, noting that Moses Malone took only10 shots, and Sidney Moncrief took just five.

On Feb. 16, Vincent wrote a follow-up. Thomas had learned that Tucker was the source of the rumor that he had a role in freezing Jordan out of the game. Tucker proceeded to walk back his comments.

"The guys weren't serious about doing anything to Jordan, Tucker said. ... They just meant they weren't going to go out of their way for him. ...They never did plan on getting him. It was just that they weren't going to let him do what he wanted to do. They played him hard and he didn't get off. ...They might have felt he was being a little cocky, (but) as far as arrogance, you know how arrogant Isiah can be, and Magic (Johnson), too."

Pistons guard Isiah Thomas dribbles during a game against the Bulls in 1990.(Photo: DFP file photo)

Other outlets also downplayed the incident. The Chicago Tribune wrote that a reported incident where Jordan ignored Thomas while standing in an elevator actually didnt happen.

I was very upset when I read that, Thomas said in the story. It could affect a potential friendship between me and Michael.

''He`s a nice guy, and my cousin Darren, the Bulls'ball boy, he hangs around him, he continued. My mom has invited Michael over for dinner a couple of times. It just isn`t true. Michael and I talked a couple of times down there.''

That friendship never came into fruition, of course. The heated battles between the Bulls and Pistons in 1989, 1990 and 1991, culminating with Thomas and many of his teammates walking off the floor before the conclusion of the 1991 Eastern Conference finals, destroyed any chance of it.

Jordan still has strong feelings toward Thomas. In Episode 5, of "The Last Dance," he acknowledged that he believes Thomas wouldve negatively affectedthe Dream Teams chemistry.

He did have one compliment for him, though.

"I respect Isiah Thomas talent, Jordan said. To me, the best point guard of all time is Magic Johnson and right behind him is Isiah Thomas. No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game."

See the original post:

What really started Michael Jordan's beef with Pistons legend Isiah Thomas? - Detroit Free Press