When Larry Bird was appointed as the Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations, one of the first things he did was fire Isiah Thomas from his job as the team's head coach and bring in Rick Carlisle. For obvious reasons, it was an unforgettable moment for Zeke, and in fact, Thomas still vividly recalls how "Larry Legend" nonchalantly laid him off.
Thomas has told this story a couple of times in the past, but the first time he talked about it in front of Bird was during an interview on the NBA on TNT segment with Reggie Miller last February. The pair looked back at the moment without a hint of bitterness or hatred for one another. However, Zeke frankly told Bird that it was wrong to let him go.
"I think you made a mistake firing me because I would have won with that team," Thomas told Bird in their epic interview with Miller.
No Malice at the Palace with Zeke
In the interview, Thomas also shared his perspective on the infamous "Malice in the Palace" incident that occurred during a game between the Pacers and the Detroit Pistons on November 19, 2004. The brawl remains a significant moment in NBA history due to the unprecedented level of violence that erupted between players and fans.
Thomas, who had a successful career as a player with the Pistons before becoming a coach, said that the incident could have been prevented if he was still the head coach of the Pacers at that time. Zeke asserted that his relationship with the Pistons fans and the respect they hold for him would have diffused the tensions that ultimately sparked the chaotic event.
"I think we never would have had the Malice at the Palace in Detroit," Thomas confidently told Bird.
Larry was also wrong about Rick
Admittedly, Bird had a soft spot for Carlisle because of the bond they developed, which stemmed from their time together as Boston Celtics teammates. But bias aside, "The Hick from French Lick" saw the potential of Carlisle to lead a team to an NBA title.
Bird believed in Carlisle's coaching abilities so strongly that he initially thought "Flipper" would retain his position as the Pacers head coach for the rest of his career. Indeed, Indiana experienced significant accomplishments under Carlisle's leadership. However, professional sports can be unpredictable, and even Bird confided that he could only do so much when things began changing along the way.
After coming close but failing to lead the Pacers to an NBA Finals appearance in four consecutive seasons, Carlisle left the team in the summer of 2007.
"I thought Rick would be there forever," Bird told Thomas. "Things change."
Larry first brought in Rick as his assistant
Bird's decision to hire Carlisle as the new Pacers head coach in 2003 may have shocked Thomas but not Rick. In 1997, Carlisle said Bird had already made the same move when he surprisingly called to offer him a position as an assistant coach for the Pacers.
Knowing Bird seldom used his phone, Carlisle couldn't believe his ears when he heard the Celtics legend's voice from his home telephone. At first, Rick wasn't sold on the idea until he realized what "Larry Legend" had in mind for the Pacers was promising.
"I got a phone call that spring from Larry Bird, who never picks up the phone… I pushed the button, and it said, 'Hey, Rick, this is Larry Bird. Give me a call when you get a chance.' I said to Donna [my wife], 'Something is going on; Larry is just not a phone guy,'" Carlisle said.
"It turns out he was about to take the Pacers head coaching job, and I talked to him about it, and I said, 'The only thing crazier about you taking the Pacers job is you thinking that I'm gonna go with you and do this.'… You don't have the ball anymore in your hands, you know. He was very persistent, and he had a vision that made a lot of sense," he concluded.
Carlisle added that many have doubted Bird and the Pacers at the time but "Larry came in and recharged the thing." From that point forward, Rick learned to trust Bird's point of view and decisions.
Larry and Isiah remained friends
Despite the tense front office move back in '03, Bird and Thomas displayed a remarkable example of separating work and business from personal relationships. Though they were not on the same page regarding leading the Pacers, Larry and Zeke's strong personal bond, rooted in mutual respect and admiration for each other, still prevailed.
Looking back, it's amazing to see how Bird and Thomas handled their situation with grace and maturity. In conclusion, Bird and Thomas' long-standing friendship serves as a prime example of a deep bond that transcends the complexities of professional sports.
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