Jan 29, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Detroit Pistons former player Isiah Thomas speaks at the retirement ceremony of Dallas Mavericks former player Mark Aguirre at halftime of teh game against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Jan 29, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Detroit Pistons former player Isiah Thomas speaks at the retirement ceremony of Dallas Mavericks former player Mark Aguirre at halftime of teh game against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Isiah Thomas shared his thoughts on why modern superstars switch teams so frequently. The former Detroit Pistons legend explained why he supports players like LeBron James, who prioritized their own careers.
"LeBron left for older guys like myself. I was happy to see him have the type of freedom to move around because so many great players got stuck in organizations…" Thomas said on the latest episode of The Crossover Podcast.
“Got stuck with bad management, got stuck in places where they couldn't excel, and management never got the blame. And so during that period of time, we was fighting for players to leave,” he told the hosts.
Thomas is a former president of the National Basketball Players Association. During the 1980s and 1990s, the union spent years fighting for better free agency rights. Back then, long-term contracts and strict rules meant teams held almost all the cards.
06/10/1990; Portland, Oregon USA; Pistons'' Gerald Henderson whispers to Isiah Thomas' on the bench during game three of the 1990 NBA Finals at The Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Archie -Detroit Free Press
06/10/1990; Portland, Oregon USA; Pistons'' Gerald Henderson whispers to Isiah Thomas' on the bench during game three of the 1990 NBA Finals at The Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Archie -Detroit Free Press
However, James was among the generation of players who reaped the benefits the early union fought for. He surprised everyone when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 to join the Miami Heat.
After winning two championships there, he returned to Cleveland on his own terms and brought the city a title in 2016. Later, he signed with the Lakers to pursue new business opportunities and play alongside his son.
Thomas views James' freedom as a victory that his own generation could only dream of.
NBA stars always wanted to make their own decisions
Thomas made it clear that the urge to find a better situation did not start in the 2010s. He challenged the common belief that old-school players were happier staying with one franchise forever.
To prove his point, Thomas brought up the relationship between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. After the Lakers lost the 2004 Finals, the tension between the two stars increased. Bryant told the front office that he would leave if they did not trade O'Neal.
Management chose to trade O'Neal to Miami. Years later, in 2007, Bryant even demanded a trade because he was frustrated with the lack of help around him.
Features like Bird Rights helped teams pay more to keep their own talent. Meanwhile, shorter contracts and salary cap spikes provided stars with flexibility.
The business of basketball has undergone permanent change, and the days of management holding all the power are behind us.
So, what's your take on player freedom? Do you agree with Isiah Thomas? Tell us in the comments.
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Written by
Utsav Sinha
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi