Isiah Thomas and Adrian Dantley beefed so hard one guy got rings and the other 'got screwed'

Isaiah Thomas and Adrian Dantley were teammates on the Pistons during the late 1980s. Together they came within one win of an NBA championship… and also developed a deep-seated beef that still exists today. Huh? What? Why? That first part sounded so nice and promising!

Well, it’s hard to share a spotlight and harder when your acrimonious relationship heightens the insecurities and regrets of your career. It's beef time!

Written and produced by: Clara Morris
Directed and edited by: Ryan Simmons
Motion Graphics by: Tyson Whiting

[dusttaker]

Even Joe Dumars who was ADs best friend on the team said to Adrian a while after the trade .. " I hated to see you go but I sure am getting the ball a lot more as we move the ball around better as you tended to hold onto the ball too long". And Dumars was finals MVP their first title in 1989.

[DynastyIcon]

if you watched the 30 for 30 about the Bad Boy Pistons, you've heard about this beef.. but only Secret Base can properly break down this beef 💯

[subtlebluntduality]

I had a feeling that they would do this one because this was perfect! I remember Dantley refusing to go to the Mavericks after the trade was made.

[michaellicko]

In the book “The Franchise” by Cameron Stauth, which chronicled the Pistons 88-89 season, what Dantley said to Thomas at halfcourt was “I’ll never forgive you for what you did to me.”

[TStizzle]

Everything Clara touches on this channel turns to gold. This series is phenomenal

[danielsherriff]

What makes this beef so funny is that Dantley actually envisioned a scenario where he could actually prevail against Detroit's franchise player. Thomas def had some influence in getting Dantley traded but he prob didn't need to do too much because Dantley kept digging his own grave deeper and deeper.

[liamklein]

Dantley refs basketball games in my area. Super nice guy, and a rlly good ref. (I’m taking back my previous comment, he just missed a terrible call and lost us the game. He’s a bad ref but still a great player)

[homunculusSZN]

My favorite quote is Mark Aguirre saying, “Oh I’m better than Dantley” in the “Bad Boys” documentary

[GolDDarius]

Dantley spent more time pointing the finger than building chemistry. He thought the world revolves around him and if he could have had made power to trade players I bet he would have done so.

[滋榎本]

The Pistons in the 80's are said to be bad boys, but I remember being excited by their games aiming for victory even if they were unrefined...
Chuck Daly, who led the Bad Boys to victory, is also wonderful.

[goodfellabeats]

This was great. The Bad Boys 30 for 30 was one of the best sports docs I've ever seen. I gotta side is Isiah on this one. That part in the doc when AD didn't want to come out of the game and was screaming at Chuck Daley made me think AD's ego and pride was poison for any team.

[dannydorito]

Congrats on a Milestone in Beef History, SB! Always been a fan of your channel, and this series never disappoints! Here's to 100 more!

[t-squared]

I love when Clara Morris does these! The tone in her voice is perfect.

[jspurs]

Dantley wanted the spotlight. Thomas and Chuck Daly wanted a team

[qweeafghnjfg]

That kareem “foul” was the only thing keeping isiah from his moment in that game 6. If only they had challenges back then.

[kxngmuzikig]

Great video as always, but Isiah didn't originally say the Bird comment. Dennis Rodman said it, then Isiah repeated it. b/c he was the star, he got the brunt of the drama

[ryanahr]

Clara videos make me really happy. I'm not even a basketball fan but beef in basketball is really unique in how it play out so I enjoy these videos regardless. Clara's excellent narration skills make these stories just as great, though.

[bradshuby]

Zeke could have had something to do with the trade but Dantley literally cried about getting touches from game 1 when he came to Detroit. Trying to have a winning team with chemistry issues only works in certain cases, Aguirre wasn't a problem on the team so the trade makes sense. Aguirre later saying in an interview that he was way better than Dantley anyway was always a fun wrinkle to this.

[willx_]

The story is usually told wrong. It was a little known rookie named Dennis Rodman who first made the "comment about Bird." Isaiah Thomas was quoting Rodman. Listen to the original recording on tape.

[Flapjack_]

Congrats on 100 episodes of beef history 🎉🎉 I remember discovering you guys sitting on my break in a target parking lot a couple years ago and it became a routine to have some beef with my lunch. Best sports segment on YouTube