Speaking on the “Run It Back” podcast, NBA legend Isiah Thomas accused some players of being “jealous” of LeBron James after hearing that LeBron was left off certain all-time top-five lists.
When Chandler Parsons brought up a familiar debate on the “Run It Back” podcast—how players from Thomas’s generation could name their top five of all time without putting LeBron James in it—Isiah Thomas didn’t mince words.
Thomas said players were refusing to give LeBron his due, and that refusal, in his view, points to something more than disagreement.
“They intentionally ignore the obvious, and when you intentionally ignore the obvious, then it has to come back to some jealousy, or some envy, or just some straight-up BS,” Thomas said.
Parsons had asked what the “disconnect” is between players and LeBron. Thomas responded by framing the issue as a matter of records and history—arguing that LeBron’s accomplishments are documented and undeniable.
“This man got every basketball record on the books and he ain’t in your top five, you’re full of [expletive],” Thomas said.
For Thomas, the argument isn’t theoretical. He spent time on the court against some of basketball’s most iconic names. including Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. and he also played against them in the kind of high-stakes rivalries that can sharpen a player’s sense of greatness. Thomas previously battled with both players as part of the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons. the team that claimed back-to-back championships in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Even with all that competition, Thomas said he would give Jordan a nod when naming the all-time greatest. He also said LeBron belongs alongside him, arguing that James has built a résumé strong enough to justify that placement.
LeBron’s case. as laid out in the discussion. is stacked: he is a four-time NBA champion. four-time NBA Finals MVP. four-time MVP. a 23-time NBA All-Star. and a 13-time All-NBA First Team selection. The article also notes that he achieved a major all-time milestone by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points scored in an NBA career.
Thomas’s comments land in a moment when LeBron’s future still carries real suspense. The piece says many are speculating that he will return for his 24th NBA season. suggesting the conversation about his place in history may not be finished yet. Even with the possibility that his career is nearing its final stretch. he’s still playing at a very high level after putting in the hours it takes to stay elite.
But on the “Run It Back” stage, the bigger fight wasn’t about whether LeBron can play—it was about whether other players can admit what he’s done.
Isiah Thomas LeBron James NBA Run It Back podcast jealousy all-time greats Michael Jordan Magic Johnson Bad Boys Pistons
So Isiah’s basically saying everyone’s jealous… okay buddy.
I didn’t even know people were still arguing about top five lists lol. But if LeBron has all the records, why wouldn’t he be on there. Seems like politics more than basketball.
Isiah Thomas left LeBron off his own top five then? Cuz I swear there was something back in the day. Also they talk like records automatically make you #1 which is kinda dumb. Like Jordan won more? Not sure what list they mean.
LeBron getting disrespected in a “top-five” convo is never gonna end. These dudes act like they didn’t watch him all these years. Kareem points record too?? That’s not even opinion. But I feel like Isiah just hates when younger guys get the spotlight, like classic athlete ego.