When Isiah Thomas questioning Magic Johnson's sexuality devastated him: “I keep hearing Magic is gay"
Magic Johnson was one of the first NBA players to truly become a massive superstar in the league. Largely in part due to his rivalry with Larry Bird, Johnson became a huge face of the league, winning a championship with the LA Lakers in 1980, his rookie year.
During that time, he developed a friendship with Detroit Pistons superstar Isiah Thomas. The young guard had just entered the league when Johnson was fresh off a championship win that also saw him take home Finals MVP honors. Johnson mentored Thomas, giving him a front-row seat to learn the ins and outs of the game early in his career.
Years later, as their relationship began to fracture, Johnson revealed his HIV diagnosis. This led to whispers that the LA legend was a closeted homosexual.
While Johnson thought his friends around the league would put the talk to rest, he learned Thomas had called his agent to question his sexuality. Johnson recalled the situation in his book, "When the Game was Ours":
"Isiah Thomas had called asking curious questions. According to (Lon) Rosen, Thomas told him, 'I keep hearing Magic is gay.' 'C’mon, Isiah, you know Earvin better than anyone,' Rosen responded. 'I know, but I don’t know what he’s doing when he’s out there in LA.'
Given that the friendship between the two was already strained, Thomas' questioning of Johnson's sexuality appeared to be the breaking point.
Isiah Thomas discusses when he felt betrayed by Magic Johnson
While Isiah Thomas' questioning of Magic Johnson's sexuality marked the end of their friendship, Thomas had been pretty open about things going south long before then. When the two faced off in the 1988 NBA Finals, everything changed. Thomas, who was once Johnson's mentee, was now his rival.
During an episode of "The Pivot Podcast," Thomas recalled how everything changed when the two men matched up in the finals:
"I get to the NBA Finals ... Magic's like ... I used to stay at the house ... we used to have dinner. First game: 'Nah, you can't come to the house.' 'What do you mean I can't come to the house?' 'See you at the game.' We beat them Game 1. ... Game 2, after the game, we normally go out. 'Nah, you know, I'm just going home." Game 2, we got them beat again.
"We don't speak. We leave. They come back to Detroit, Game 3. We got games 3, 4, 5 in Detroit. They come back to Detroit, Game 3. My son Joshua is born. Magic don't come to the crib, don't send no acknowledgement, nothing. I'm like, 'What's this all about?'
"Fast forward, it was like, 'OK, (Lakers coach) Pat Riley told him we can't be friends.' OK, cool. ... We don't talk for years."
(Suggested Reading: Magic Johnson reveals how he persuaded LeBron to join the Lakers)
Thanks to a one-on-one sit down, the two men were able to move past the beef. As Thomas recalled, everything changed once he sat down opposite Magic and heard his former friend apologize.
You can see their emotional reunion in the video below.
(Suggested Reading: Magic Johnson reflects on relationship with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)