Isiah Thomas is one of the most accomplished NBA stars of the yesteryears, with an NBA Finals MVP recipient, a five-time All-NBA Team member, a 12-time NBA All-Star, and two All-Star Game MVP awards, and the 1985 NBA assist leader, the 63-year-old has cemented his legacy as a legend of the game.
However, in a recent turn of events, the Detroit Pistons icon recently shared that he has been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, also known as idiopathic facial paralysis. It's a condition where there is a weakness in the muscles on one side of the face. The news has swept through the NBA headlines, and fans are concerned about the former two-time NBA champion.
What Thomas had to say
Thomas made the revelation during his appearance on the former NBA coach Mark Jackson's Come And Talk 2 Me podcast on YouTube. He noted that he has refrained from revealing that he has been dealing with the condition; however, he also assured his fans that it's a temporary illness and he will be fine soon.
"I’ve gotten a lot of love from people saying, Well, Isiah’s sick. What is he going through?'" he said. "I haven’t really told anybody, but I’ve got Bell’s palsy. … That’s why you see me like this. That’s what’s happening with my mouth right now. I just wanted everyone to know that." Thomas said during the podcast.
He further acknowledged the love and support he has been getting from the fans and expressed his gratitude to everyone around him.
"As you know, I've got a little bit of Bell's palsy. I'm dealing with it, I'm showing up. I want everybody to know I appreciate your prayers. Thank you for everything.' 'It's a temporary condition; it's going to get better over time. But thank you for hanging with me. 'I just want to say thank you to all of you who have supported me this past month," he further added.
Thomas was one of the finest basketball players back in the day, and he played for the Detroit Pistons for his entire NBA career. Following his retirement, he served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.