Isiah Thomas on making Alexander Volkanovski an honorary Bad Boy: “He’s part of the club”
The NBA Hall of Famer opens up on Alexander Volkanovski, the Boston Celtics’ ongoing title defense, and his NBA Finals record
The MMA Notebook runs every Friday.
In this edition:
Zeke on Volk, basketball, and his health
Will Khamzat Chimaev actually make it to UFC 319?
Islam Makhachev vacates lightweight title
RDR gets one step closer to title shot with bout against Robert Whittaker
Weekend predictions
Isiah Thomas on Alexander Volkanovski, basketball, and his health
Isiah Thomas isn’t ready to discount the defending champs.
Thomas, a two-time NBA champion and winner of the NCAA Tournament in 1981, is well-versed in winning–and defending his title. Even without Jayson Tatum, who suffered an injury to his Achilles that removes him from title defense, Thomas believes that the Boston Celtics have what it takes to overcome the New York Knicks’ 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
“This Celtics team isn’t done, even with Tatum being out,” said Thomas. “In the five games so far against the Knicks, Boston has had a 20-point lead at some point during a game. That includes Game 5 without Tatum. They’ve still got a lot of juice in the tank.”
A legend of the game, Thomas’ legacy is secure in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He had a knack for delivering when the stakes were the highest. One of his most memorable moments occurred in Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals when he poured in 25 points–on an injured right ankle–against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Knicks are one win shy from a return to the conference finals that is 25 years in the making. But standing in their way is Jaylen Brown, who can prove he is among the league’s elite if he leads the Celtics back from a three games-to-one deficit.
“When I met Jaylen Brown, I’m the first person who told him, ‘You are everything the Celtics epitomize–you are a Boston Celtic,’” said Thomas. “Since the day I met him, I’ve never seen him shrink from a big moment–personally or professionally. Game 5 was a perfect example. Every time he needs to step up, he has exceeded the expectations.”
The Celtics are seeking to make their fourth straight extended playoff run. That includes winning the title last season and losing in the 2022 Finals, with a trip to the conference finals sandwiched in between. That is still shy of the Pistons’ run that began in 1987 and reached the spring of 1991.
“We went to five straight Eastern Conference Finals and three straight Finals–won two and lost one, even though there was that phantom foul on Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] in ’88,” said Thomas, who played with a star-studded cast that included Joe Dumars, Mark Aguirre, and Dennis Rodman. “Then in ’91, we all started breaking down. That’s when I basically had career-ending wrist surgery. I came back for the playoffs, but I never should have come back. We were all broken down.”
After suffering an excruciating loss to the Celtics in the ’87 conference finals, Thomas vowed to make the Finals in ’88. He delivered on that promise, even leading the Pistons into the Great Western Forum with a 3-2 series lead against the Lakers.
Thomas was masterful throughout Game 6, scoring 43 points. Despite spraining his ankle, he set a record, one that still stands, when he scored 25 points in the third.
“With so many great scorers in the game, I’m surprised it hasn’t been broken,” said Thomas. “What happened in that moment was something I truly can’t explain. I knew I wanted to give it my all. In the old Boston Garden, the Celtics had a sign that said, ‘We will not be denied.’ Those years, that was my whole mentality. I was not going to be denied.”
Thomas and his teammates used the Celtics as a measuring stick. Once the Pistons vanquished the Celtics, they then set their sights on the Lakers. All the while, it was Jerry Krause–the General Manager of the Chicago Bulls–who was quietly plotting to dethrone all three of those franchises.
Krause inherited a team that featured Michael Jordan–and not a whole lot else. He built a dynasty, one that knocked the Pistons from their perch atop the league and rewrote basketball history with Jordan cast as the greatest of all time.
“Jerry Krause did a phenomenal job and he doesn’t get enough credit for it,” said Thomas. “Krause was paying attention to the Celtics and the Pistons and the Lakers. He thought to implement a new system around Jordan, and brought in all these different players. He traded for Scottie Pippen, who wasn’t that well known coming out of Central Arkansas. Bringing in Phil Jackson and Tex Winter, who I remember from Northwestern, then going to the triangle offense instead of isolation basketball. Jordan didn’t win until Krause hired Jackson.
“He brought in Ron Harper. Think of Luka Doncic today, and that was Toni Kukoc back then, and Krause drafted him [in the second round of the 1990 Draft]. Kukoc was a seven-foot point guard. [John] Paxson, [Craig] Hodges, [BJ] Armstrong, those guys were snipers. Everyone wants to talk about Jordan, but Jerry Krause deserves a lot of credit.”
The Thomas-Jordan rivalry reached new heights in after The Last Dance miniseries aired in 2020. Years after they last played one another on the court, a competitive fire remains between the two.
Although there is an interest in hearing Jordan and Thomas go back-and-forth, Thomas prefers to focus on a different set of players: his teammates, who are still synonymous with their famed “Bad Boys” moniker.
“Our team represented the epitome of team play,” said Thomas, referring to players like Dumars, Aguirre, Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson, James Edwards, Rick Mahorn, and John Salley, as well as head coach Chuck Daly and team executive Jack McCluskey. “I’m proud of what we accomplished. I’m proud it still stands the test of time. That heart, that courage to go on and fight–that still permeates today.”
Thomas knows all about being world champ. He was pleased to see future UFC Hall of Famer Alexander Volkanovski regain his featherweight title, who accomplished the feat at the age of 36 when he defeated Diego Lopes last month at UFC 314. Though they have never met, Thomas is a fan of the two-time world champion–even bestowing honorary “Bad Boy” status upon him.
“If you’re down and struggling, and you get yourself back up, you’re in the club,” said Thomas, which perfectly captured Volkanovski’s journey to reclaim the title after getting knocked out in consecutive fights. “He’s in the club.”
This past December, Thomas revealed he is battling Bell’s palsy. Now 64, Thomas shared he has been incredibly grateful to receive so much positivity from people around the globe, believing it has directly impacted his health.
“In life, you get hit on the chin–but you keep going,” said Thomas. “I feel the prayers from people–and it’s working. Thank you to everyone’s prayers and well wishes. I am getting better every single day.”
Can DDP stop Khamzat Chimaev?
First, Chicago got a pope.
Now they’re getting a UFC pay-per-view.
For the first time in six years, the company is returning to Chicago for UFC 319. That will take place in August, headlined by the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev challenging Dricus du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship.
As soon as Dana White announced the fight, three thoughts immediately came to mind:
How will the fight play out?
Does Chimaev actually make it to fight day?
Who will be the backup?
If that is a bit cryptic, it’s only because Chimaev has a history of backing out of fights. Nassourdine Imavov would make sense as the backup, though that would lead to a massive decline in anticipation. Given Chimaev’s history, there will be concerns about the fight actually taking place up until the moment Bruce Buffer is heard introducing the fighters.
As for who wins, the easy pick is Chimaev overwhelming DDP with his grappling. After years of hearing that Chimaev is destined to become world champion, this is his chance to finally deliver. Chimaev finishing DDP early would make the most sense, unless, of course, DDP is able to wear down Chimaev.
Riding a 12-fight winning streak, some may feel du Plessis is due for a loss. But the reason he keeps winning is that he continually finds a way to put his opponent in an uncomfortable state. His striking was too much for Robert Whittaker. He wore down Israel Adesanya, then forced him to submit. In his rematch against Sean Strickland, he completed negated all of Strickland’s strengths. DDP already has the belt, but he’ll become the undisputed best in the world if he beats Chimaev.
The biggest question, of course, is whether this fight actually happens. If it does, we’re in for a great night.
Islam Makhachev vacates title, leaving behind unique legacy
Islam Makhachev has vacated the UFC Lightweight Championship, opting instead to move to welterweight–where he’ll challenge new champ Jack Della Maddalena.
It is incredibly disappointing that the Makhachev-Ilia Topuria bout will not take place. Considering Makhachev and his team take fights that they always intend to win, it is telling that he would not fight Topuria. Now that the lightweight belt is vacant, Topuria will fight Charles Oliveira during International Fight Week at UFC 317 to crown a new champ.
Oliveira will be a test for Topuria. He is bigger, longer, and stronger than Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. But even with a victory, the question surrounding Topuria will be whether he can defeat Makhachev.
And we won’t have an answer to that any time soon.
Makhachev is the latest in a line of champions to leave his division. While this is becoming a sign of the times, it is unfortunate. If you want to win titles in different weight classes, then this is the move. But there is something to be said for champions who stay in their division and continue to defend the belt, over and over again, without a loss.
Perhaps Makhachev will return to lightweight for a fight against Topuria. But leaving the division feels like a missed opportunity to prove he is one of the greatest fighters of all time.
RDR exactly where he wants to be with matchup against Robert Whittaker
Reinier de Ridder is riding high after defeating Bo Nickal, getting a crack against longtime UFC middleweight staple Robert Whittaker.
That bout takes place during a UFC Fight Night on July 26. RDR, a former two-division champion in ONE, will immediately step into middleweight title contention if he can overcome Whittaker.
And this is a fight RDR should win.
Whittaker isn’t just settling into his role as division gatekeeper; that is where he operates. Outside of his short-notice victory against Ikram Aliskerov last June, Whittaker has proven to be the guy you need to get through in order to get to a title shot. His only losses over the past decade were suffered against Israel Adesanya, Dricus du Plessis, and Khamzat Chimaev. If RDR is able to add his name to that list, he should be next in line for a title shot.
And that is exactly what I think will happen. If RDR can use his BJJ to submit Whittaker, it would instantly become the most significant victory of his career.
The Pick ‘Em Section
After a dreadful weekend of picks at UFC 315, I am looking to bounce back with a strong showing:
UFC Fight Night welterweight bout: Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales
Pick: Michael Morales
UFC Fight Night light heavyweight bout: Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato
Pick: Rodolfo Bellato
UFC Fight Night lightweight bout: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos
Pick: Mairon Santos
UFC Fight Night middleweight bout: Dustin Stoltzfus vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Pick: Dustin Stolzfus
UFC Fight Night featherweight bout: Melquizael Costa vs. Julian Erosa
Pick: Melquizael Costa
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