Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas led the team to two straight NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, earning a permanent place in Motor City sports and building a reputation as one of the greatest of all time.
But before his glory in the NBA, he helped lead the Indiana Hoosiers to the 1981 national title alongside legendary coach Bobby Knight. And on Saturday night, Assembly Hall welcomed back Knight with open arms during a halftime special ceremony. And of course, Thomas was on hand to help welcome his former coach back to the building he called home for so long.
Knight hadn’t been back to the home of Hoosiers Basketball since his firing in September of 2000 after 29 years on the job. He had previously declined to appear at his own Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2009, or when his championship teams were honored.
Lots of people hate Bobby Knight. Lots of people hate Isiah Thomas.
As for me, this is as nostalgic as it gets. https://t.co/4Rgf01btEx
— CS (@craigseward) February 8, 2020
During Knight’s tenure at Indiana, he led them to three NCAA championships, a school-record 662 victories, 11 Big Ten titles and five Final Four appearances.
