When discussing the greatest point guards in NBA history, the name that often fluctuates from one ranking to another despite the fact that he led his team to back-to-back championships against some of the most dominant teams ever assembled, is Isiah Thomas .
While others may not have always given him the recognition he deserved, either during his playing days or afterward, Zeke never lost belief in himself.
In fact, that confidence was evident even before he ended Larry Bird and his Boston Celtics' reign in the NBA. While admitting that the game of basketball came naturally and felt easy for him despite being an undersized floor general, Isiah backed himself to come out on top regardless of the superstar standing on the other end of the court.
"I don't mean this to sound bad against the people that play, but the guy that I'm playing against, I'm better than him," Zeke said . "I know I'm better than he is, and he knows I'm better than he is."
Most fans remember the Celtics' heated battles against the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks through the early 1980s, but when the "Bad Boys" Pistons fully matured into a contender, it was Thomas & Co. who ended their reign in the Eastern Conference once and for all, never letting the same core win again.
The Celtics were a dominant force in the league, winning championships in 1981, '84 and '86, while representing the East in the Finals in '85 and '87. However, by the time they faced the Pistons in the 1988 Eastern Conference finals, it was the last time the star-studded Celtics core had a chance to reach the fifth consecutive NBA Finals.
Moreover, expectations massively favored Boston as Bird had logged his career-high scoring average of 29.9 points in the regular season, while Kevin McHale averaged 22.6 points and 1.4 blocks per game to earn an All-Defensive First Team nod.
And courtesy of three other players averaging double-digit points, the Celtics were the best offensive force in the 1987-88 regular season.
Thomas, however, refused to be intimidated by them, even when Boston had eliminated Detroit at the same point in the previous campaign.
In Game 1, he silenced fans in the Boston Garden by dropping a game-high 35 points, 12 assist double-double to lead the Pistons to a 104-96 win. Then, with the series tied back and headed back to Boston, Isiah once again delivered when the pressure was at its peak, scoring a game-high 25 points to lead his Pistons to a gritty 102-96 win in OT.
Though he was far from his offensive best in Game 6, dropping just nine points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field, Thomas made sure to make his presence count in other ways, dishing out nine assists and game-high three steals to close out the series.
The most interesting part, however, is that the dominance over the Celtics did not end there. In fact, it only took off. The following season, Zeke averaged 12.0 points and 9.3 assists per game as the Pistons swept the Bird-less Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Additionally, when the two teams met again in the second round of the playoffs, this time in 1991, Thomas & Co. eliminated the Celtics in six games yet again.
That is what made Thomas' confidence so remarkable. His belief that he could overcome any opponent and any star-studded team wasn't just talk; he repeatedly backed it up on the court, particularly against one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
Related: Larry Bird said the Dream Team run confirmed it was time to retire: "My time was over"
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
