Top 16 Isiah Thomas Quotes (DETROIT PISTON)

Top 16 Most Famous Isiah Thomas Quotes on Life, Coaching, and Basketball

“I’ve been in pressure situations before. All my life it’s been about pressure and having to get it done. Just because you say it publicly, it does not make me afraid of it or make me shy away from it.”
Isiah Thomas

I've always believed no matter how many shots I miss, I'm going to make the next one. — I’ve always believed no matter how many shots I miss, I’m going to make the next one.

If all I'm remembered for is being a good basketball player, then I've done a bad job with the rest of my life. — If all I’m remembered for is being a good basketball player, then I’ve done a bad job with the rest of my life.

You have to develop your whole game to completion.

It was important to me to believe, because if I don't believe, how can I expect them to believe? — It was important to me to believe, because if I don’t believe, how can I expect them to believe?

If you want consistency, then you perform. This is a performance job. You get paid to perform. Your money is guaranteed, but your minutes are not. — If you want **consistency**, then you perform. This is a performance job. You get paid to perform. Your **money** is guaranteed, but your minutes are not.

“If you tell one guy that he’s going to play consistently, you’re basically telling the other guy that no matter how hard he works, no matter what he does, you’re not going to play him. Therefore your team can’t improve, because you’ve guaranteed guys minutes even when they’re playing bad.”
Isiah Thomas

My job is to make sure in all the chaos you can still see the flowers, you can still see the good things happening.

I am loyal to winning and I am not loyal to any singular individual. I'm going to do what I need to do to make our team better. — I am loyal to winning and I am not loyal to any singular individual. I’m going to do what I need to do to make our team better.

“The biggest difference is in the leadership. It was better for us. We had more coaches and mentors to help us. A lot of the younger players today suffer from a lack of direction.”
Isiah Thomas

I believe in the players and what I've put together and we'll make it work. — I believe in the players and what I’ve put together and we’ll make it work.

This is not the place for the weak-minded guy, regardless of your talent. — This is not the place for the weak-minded guy, regardless of your **talent**.

“It wasn’t about the X’s and the O’s and the strategy; it was more about keeping 12 guys focused and committed to a task. That group dynamic, and then helping them to grow as people and basketball players.”
Isiah Thomas

One word is passion. They are passionate about their team. We win we’re great, lose and we’re the worst. But you can’t overreact to the fans.

I want to see if the player communicates with his teammates and how he responds to coaching. — I want to see if the player communicates with his teammates and how he responds to **coaching**.

“I do envision championship basketball and when you talk about championship basketball, you talk about a good defensive team, you talk about a good offensive team and you talk about a team that really has its act together once they step on the floor.”
Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas Short Biography

Born on 30 April 1961, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Isiah Lord Thomas III is a former American basketball player, coach, and NBA analyst.

He was recruited by Bob Knight to play college basketball with the Indiana Hoosiers in 1979. Thanks to his outstanding abilities he was given the nickname Mr. Wonderful.

In the 1981 NBA Draft, Thomas was chosen by the Detroit Pistons and in 1988 led the Detroit Pistons to that year’s NBA finals, defeating the LA Lakers. A year later, the Detroit Pistons would go against the LA Lakers once more and would win their first NBA Championship.

Thomas was awarded the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1990. Unfortunately, four years later, Thomas would injure his Achilles tendon forcing him to retire.

After retirement, Thomas spent a few years coaching. He was the head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 2000-2003 and the New York Knicks from 2003-2008.

He was inducted into The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and is praised as one of the best small guards in NBA basketball history.

Thomas has been a regular panelist on NBA’s Players Only since 2017.

Further Reading:

Isiah Thomas – Grew Up Grinding in Poverty – sports.jrank.org
The Underrated Legend – Fox Sports
Isiah Thomas Breaks Down Education, Leadership and Business – Closeup 360

Here are the best Isiah Thomas quotes so you can build the confidence and desire to achieve your dreams regardless of your background.

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Top 16 Most Famous Isiah Thomas Quotes on Life, Coaching, and Basketball

Isiah Thomas Short Biography

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