Isiah Thomas emerges as the frontrunner for the Detroit Pistons head coaching position – NBA Update
The New York Knicks are passing through a phase of uncertainty. With a lockout looming large and rivals New Jersey Nets coming in their neighbourhood things are apparently going downhill for the Madison Square Garden franchise.
However, in the midst of all this gloom, there is some good news for the Knicks fans. According to various sources, Isiah Thomas is being strongly linked with the vacant Detroit Pistons head coaching job. After Donnie Walsh’s departure as president of the
New York Knicks there were rumours that Isiah Thomas could come back to take the very role, that made him one of the most disliked figures in Knicks history.
However Thomas reportedly wasn’t interested in going back to New York and now it has surfaced that he is a leading candidate for the job of head coach at the Detroit Pistons, who recently fired John Kuester.
There are other candidates for the position though. The most notable among them is former teammate of Isiah, Bill Laimbeer. Laimbeer and Isiah were the mainstays of a Pistons side that tasted NBA World Championship glory around
20 years ago. Then there is Mike Woodson, who was Larry Brown’s assistant in the Pistons NBA World Championship winning season of 2004, is also among the names thrown around.
Unlike New York, the Detroit Pistons fans would likely welcome Isiah Thomas with open arms. Thomas is a Hall of Famer and played for the Pistons in his heyday. He broke the Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics duopoly over the NBA
Championship by leading the Detroit Pistons to two consecutive titles in 1989 and 1990. Thomas is believed to be the best player to ever play for the Pistons and as such the fans have great affection for him.
Although Isiah did not cover himself in glory while he was in the Knicks front office from 2003 to 2008, his record as a coach is largely impressive, especially with the Indiana Pacers. Thomas led the Pacers to three consecutive
playoffs appearances from 2000-2003.He was the coach of East team in the All-Star Game back in 2002. However, that season ended in misery for the former Detroit player as his team crashed out in the first round of the playoffs. Isiah was consequently fired
from the job as coach.
His time at the Pacers overall is looked upon favourably and his role in developing young players such as Jermaine O’Neal and Ron Artest was much appreciated by Pacers fans. Detroit seemingly have this in mind as they look to refresh
their squad and move on the older players.
Richard Hamilton and Tracy McGrady could be traded in the summer, whilst Ben Wallace is said to be contemplating retirement. The Pistons are believed to be looking to rebuild the team around talented young players such as forward
Austin Daye and centre Greg Monroe. The Pistons management believe that Thomas could be a big help in developing these players into genuine stars that can start another cycle of success for the Detroit franchise.
Tags: