Opinion: Is Isiah Thomas A Liability to the NBA?

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Opinion: Is Isiah Thomas A Liability to the NBA?

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NBA Superstars-Isiah Thomas

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sourced by Brian A Kennedy

Tulsa, OK (Oct 3, 2007) - With his bright smile and energy, Isiah Thomas has a charismatic personality that has many believing that he can do anything he says he is going to do. But this unchecked personality is now costing Madison Square Garden and James Dolan US$11.6 Million. Thomas was found guilty of the sexual harassment of Anucha Browne Sanders, but it is his employers who will be paying the financial price while Thomas goes back to his job of coaching the New York Knicks. This is so unbelievable that one has to wonder two things. First, should National Basketball Commissioner David Stern take any action against Thomas? Second, no matter what action Stern does or does not take, should anybody take Thomas on given the racist statements alleged during the trial and the very fact that outside of his playing career, he was not very successful?

He was unable to do anything with the Toronto Raptors, despite the fact that he was a part owner. He was forced out after questionable practices and uninvestigated allegations of inappropriate behavior with team staff. He then went out and bought the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) to save it. Instead, he ran it into the ground and after only 18 months it folded. He then tried to coach the Indiana Pacers with mixed, but largely unsuccessful, efforts.

Despite all of this, he was brought into the New York Knicks as president of basketball operations. What he accomplished in this job essentially destroyed what had been a proud heritage for the team. The fact that he could not get along with Coach Larry Brown and squander money the way he did has to make one wonder what the ownership was thinking in giving him this job. What were they thinking giving him the coaching job after firing Larry Brown? Who knows what he will do as coach this year.

The bottom line is that despite the fact he was a stellar player, Thomas has been and will continue to be a liability for anyone who hires him. He has the taint of this lawsuit without paying any kind of penalty. He has done nothing substantial with any organization he has been with since retiring from playing.

People have got to be careful not to bring the race card into the picture if he is disciplined by Stern or eventually fired by the Knicks. He has had every opportunity to perform and excel, but he has not delivered. He has professional and legal baggage that has and will continue to follow him. The NBA and any team that wants to work with Thomas will have to decide for themselves if he is a liability or not. How they strike a balance between this and his playing legacy will be their challenge.