Barely a year removed from his back-to-back championship-clinching MVP performance in the 1990 NBA Finals, 12-time all-star point guard Isiah Thomas ended up on the outside looking in upon the September 21, 1991 reveal of the first 10 members of the 1992 USA Olympic Men's Basketball Team (aka "The Dream Team"). Following a contentious conclusion to his Detroit Pistons' four-year playoff blood feud with the Chicago Bulls four months prior, speculation arose as to whether Thomas' absence was the result of stipulations insisted or insinuated upon by at least one other prospective member of the USA Men's Basketball Team.
Regardless of the reason, fellow all-star point guard John Stockton was selected to the Dream Team in lieu of Thomas. And it was with that backdrop that the Detroit Pistons faced off against Stockton and the Utah Jazz early in the 1991-92 regular season. Remaining quiet regarding the selection process and wishing Stockton well (according to long time Jazz broadcaster Hot Rod Hundley), Thomas opted to let his game do the talking.
Shooting 15-of-22 from the floor, Thomas finished with 44 points-his highest regular season output since 1983-in a definitive 123-115 win. While the bulk of his damage came against Stockton directly, Thomas made no qualms of dismantling Eric Murdock and any number of double teams with equal zest and ease.
Thomas, who at one point connected on a 10 consecutive shots in the second half, remained relatively understated following his performance. "It just sort of happened," he said.
A month later, Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone exacted revenge on behalf of his Dream Team teammate. Less than five minutes into their mid-December re-match, Malone landed an elbow to Thomas' face, resulting in a trip to the hospital and 47 stitches in an effort to curb the bleeding. Even then, Thomas did not remain down for long, returning from the hospital to finish the game, narrowly missing a game-winning jumper as time expired. • Isiah Thomas Hospitali...