Isiah Thomas Appreciates What Michael Jordan Did For The NBA: "He Took It To A Level That None Of Us Could"

Michael Jordan changed the world of sports marketing with what he achieved. Everyone knows his impact on the NBA, but Jordan reshaped the value of an athlete in the commercial space through his incredible achievements on the court, transitioning flawlessly into incredible achievements with Nike. The man is a billionaire NBA team owner for a reason. 

On the court, Jordan had incredible rivals but none more fierce than Isiah Thomas. Thomas and Jordan have both handed the other one big defeats in the playoffs, with Jordan toppling Thomas being the first sign that he has arrived on the big stage as the best player in the league. The pair have had a bitter rivalry since.

Despite the bad blood, Thomas openly admitted that MJ was responsible for putting money in his and every other NBA player's pocket. He also said that Jordan took the league to a level none of his contemporaries could and one that only LeBron James has been able to touch since.

"What Michael Jordan did for the NBA? Man, we all still eating off that. At that time, being President of the Players Association, we were getting 53% of the gross, but no basketball related income. We weren't that good at counting, so for every dollar that came in, we got 53 cents. Michael Jordan was great for business and what he did for our league, he took it to a level none of us could. We appreciate him for that, we honor him for that, still getting paid off that. Business-wise, great move. Marketing-wise, great move."

"This don't mean I dislike him or hate him, those are the facts. Michael Jordan made a lot of money for this league. There's only 2 players that's done this. What Michael Jordan has done and what LeBron James is doing now. The money these 2 guys have made for the NBA, I don't know if it'll ever be done again."

MJ could attract viewers because he dominated on the court, but he managed to sustain their interest in the sport and make them fans of it. The NBA became among the most popular American leagues in the world during Jordan's time, something new-age superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry have followed up on.

The Commerical Value Of Being Michael Jordan

Everyone understands that LeBron James became a billionaire as an active player, something Jordan couldn't do. However, if Jordan didn't take the game to new heights in the '90s, LeBron would have never had the opportunity to do so. The same goes for any star players that became household figures, from Shaquille O'Neal to Kobe Bryant. Everyone owes MJ a debt of gratitude.

MJ might be the GOAT of basketball based on what he did for all players through shoe endorsements alone, as it revolutionized how much money players in the league make. NBA players have the most lucrative per-year contracts out of all American leagues because of what MJ achieved. 

Jordan got paid the most as a player on his team, but he ensured that all future superstars had their value recognized by brands and the league to maximize their earning potential