Gilbert Arenas says Isiah Thomas’ Pistons were accused of ‘cheating’ despite ending decades-old drought

“They hated it! You’re all cheating!” While it has become a norm today, the introduction of charter flights in the NBA has sparked some backlash, as stated by three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas. Known for his unique and often controversial statements, Agent Zero sparked a firestorm by questioning the legitimacy of the Detroit Pistons’ back-to-back titles in the late ’80s. At a time when travel logistics often affected a team’s on-court performance, Arenas claimed that an unfair advantage contributed to the Pistons’ success.

In a video shared on the Pat Bev podcast, Arenas explained how the Pistons were the first professional sports team to own a private plane, which he said played a crucial role in their back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. “Yes, so the two years they won the championship, they were able to fly earlier,” Arenas said. The Pistons’ private plane, Roundball OnePurchased by then-owner William Davidson for $2.5 million and introduced in 1987, it allowed the team to travel more efficiently, which Arenas said gave them a significant advantage.

However, when host Adam Ferrone asked the players for their reactions and whether they appreciated Isiah Thomas introducing private planes to the NBA, Arenas responded bluntly: “They hated it! You’re all cheating!” His response highlights the resentment felt by other teams who viewed the Pistons’ advantage as an unfair manipulation of travel logistics.

Arenas explained why other players disapproved of Detroit’s advantage. He explained that when teams played back-to-back games, they typically spent the night in hotels, which gave them less time to rest before the next game. In contrast, the Pistons could fly out immediately and reach their destination earlier, giving them more time to rest and prepare. This disparity, Arenas said, was the main factor in their success.

He suggested that this slight difference in travel logistics helped the Pistons clinch their back-to-back championships. “They won a championship, and everyone was like, ‘No, we need a plane too.'” he noted.

However, this is not the first time Arenas has made such claims; in an earlier podcast, he expressed similar thoughts, which prompted a major backlash from Pistons legend Isiah Thomas, who criticized Arenas’ claims.

Isiah Thomas blasted Gilbert Arenas for his bizarre statement

In a previous podcast, Agent Zero sparked similar controversy by attributing the Detroit Pistons’ back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990 to their private plane. “So the two years they actually won, the year they got the private plane, they won a championship,” he claimed.

Continuing his argument, Arenas pointed out that the 80s were dominated by NBA legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. He implied that the Pistons were only able to break through because of their unique travel advantage. According to Arenas, the private plane gave Detroit an advantage that allowed them to defeat the dominant forces of the time, leading to unexpected victories.

However, Isiah Thomas didn’t take kindly to Arenas’ remarks. Taking to social media, Thomas reposted the podcast video about X with a scathing rebuttal: “My brother Gilbert Arenas, with all due respect, we, the @DetroitPistons and I, have played against and beaten Magic, Kareem, Bird and Jordan.” Thomas stressed that the Pistons’ success was due to their exceptional skill and determination, not just the convenience of a private plane.

He also pointed out that they revolutionized the NBA by introducing the private plane, which now allows players to rest and recover for longer. The same concern has been raised in the WNBA in recent years and the move to private planes has worked wonders for everyone involved.

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