HoopsHype.com Rumors

Contrary to the sensationalized version of events, it was likely not a specific clash but rather philosophical differences about his role that led to O'Neil's mutually agreed upon departure, industry sources said. Also, O'Neil had reached the finish line in one of his most important assignments, that being the successful management and sales work associated with the approximately $800 million transformation of the Garden. CBSSports.com

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan, Scott O'Neil 

So don't be surprised if O'Neil's name surfaces with regard to a role in which he could wield enormous financial and personnel influence in the NBA -- with the talent and representation firm that has as much power as anyone other than Dolan at MSG: Creative Artists Agency. Just a thought. CBSSports.com

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan, Scott O'Neil 

Chris Mannix: Have received texts from NBA team execs asking if Isiah-back-to-NY is real. From the fans to the brass, no one believes NYK could do this Twitter

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan 

The one person standing in the way of Isiah Thomas officially returning to the Knicks is Isiah Thomas. According to a source close to the former Knicks president, Thomas and Garden chairman James Dolan have had numerous discussions about a position in the organization, but Thomas has been reluctant to accept the job offer. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan 

“Isiah is very close with Jim Dolan but he’s told me that he’s not ready to jump back into the NBA just yet,” said the source, who was with Thomas on Friday at the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Springfield, Mass. “There’s this perception out there that Isiah is desperate to get back, but that’s false. I think it will eventually happen but just not now.” New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan 

Knicks owner James Dolan called Friday morning’s meeting with Isiah Thomas at the Mandarin Hotel in Midtown, though Thomas already was headed up to Springfield, Mass., for the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, according to a person close to Thomas. Though Dolan has no desire to have Thomas fill Scott O’Neil’s job as Madison Square Garden sports president because it is a marketing position, the Knicks owner summoned Thomas on short notice. O’Neil was a staunch opponent of rehiring Thomas, feeling it was not good for the Knicks brand. New York Post

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan 

Knicks owner James Dolan staged a business meeting with Isiah Thomas yesterday morning at the Mandarin Hotel in Midtown, according to a person familiar with the situation. New York Post

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan 

A band of security men surrounded the two men who were both dressed in business suits in a quiet corner of the lobby. Thomas has lobbied to return to the organization since he was fired as the Florida International basketball coach last spring. The meeting took place two days after the resignation of MSG sports president Scott O’Neil, who, according to a source, helped convince Dolan rehiring Thomas wasn’t a good move for the Knicks brand. New York Post

New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan 

The Garden stated it would conduct a search for a new Garden sports president, which is a marketing position. It is possible Dolan was seeking Thomas’ advice on filling the position because he has maintained his friendship with Dolan. Hiring the unpopular Thomas would come at an odd time considering the franchise is dealing with the fan fallout of losing Jeremy Lin and are bracing for the Nets’ debut in Brooklyn. New York Post

Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Isiah Thomas, James Dolan, Jeremy Lin 

Marc J. Spears: Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas working with Kings Isaiah Thomas on Saturday in Los Angeles. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Isiah Thomas, Isaiah Thomas 

Isaiah Thomas: Great workout with @iamisiahthomas... He showed me so much in ONE workout that ima use my WHOLE career! Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Isiah Thomas, Isaiah Thomas 

Former NBA star Isiah Thomas took part in a ceremony dedicating a West Chicago street to his mother on Saturday. Thomas says he was touched by the tribute to his late mother, Mary Thomas. The former basketball standout says his mother taught him an important life lesson. "If you can help someone else, help them," Thomas said. "And that's what's it's really all about. It's about loving, forgiving, being kind, and helping other people." abc.com

Isiah Thomas 

I spoke with McCallum about the book, his experiences covering the Dream Team for Sports Illustrated, and some of the greatest basketball players who ever lived: ROB MAHONEY: Isiah Thomas’ non-selection still strikes a chord with so many people and so many basketball fans – it’s kind of amazing how linked he is with the Dream Team lore despite not actually being on the team. What is it about that dimension of this story that makes for such compelling theater? JACK MCCALLUM: Well, one of the factors is that there wasn’t an amazing amount of controversy once [the Dream Team] got together. There weren’t complaints about playing time. There weren’t issues during the games. Chuck Daly did a fantastic job of managing the egos. We are a society — and certainly I’m part of it — that looks for controversy, and this is one of the few things you have to latch on to. The second thing is that Isiah has always been a lightning rod; it doesn’t matter whether he’s in the league or whether he’s out of the league, he’s always been a guy to whom attention has flown. I understand it, because Isiah was a great player. But James Worthy, he was a member of four championship teams or five championship teams, and there was never that [controversy] over him. NBCSports.com

Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball, Chuck Daly, James Worthy 

The most egregious is committee members with sway giving Jordan the right to banish Thomas from the team. The two had a long-standing beef that covered a multitude of real and imagined transgressions. So, when Jordan let it be known through agent David Falk he refused to be teammates with Thomas, the powers that be folded along the dotted lines. New York Post

Michael Jordan, David Falk, Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball 

It was inconsequential that Thomas and Jordan both owned two championship rings. The NBA was in the early stages of a $3 million (money, marketing … and money) global initiative. Hence, Russ Granik, at the time deputy commissioner and liaison to USA Basketball, and Rod Thorn, who drafted His Airness as Bulls general manager and a league fixture in one capacity or another now for 50 years, weren’t about to tell Jordan to stay home. New York Post

Michael Jordan, Rod Thorn, Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball 

McCloskey resigned from the 1992 USA Basketball Olympic committee after Isiah Thomas' omission. And 20 years later, "angry" doesn't quite describe his feelings in full. "It's very simple," McCloskey said from his home in Savannah, Ga. "When you can't get the no. 1 guy in basketball (at his position) and one who promoted his team so well and played so well, that was ridiculous." McCloskey, on the mend from rotator cuff surgery these days, was asked if he'd let it go yet. "No," he said. "Absolutely (not)." Detroit News

Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball, Team USA 

An Olympic gold medal is the only thing Thomas didn't accomplish in his illustrious career, and McCloskey understood his star player's feelings. "He was obviously disappointed and he had a right to be," he said. Detroit News

Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball, Team USA 

McCloskey doesn't truly buy the theory about the Pistons walking off the floor without shaking the hands of the Bulls in the 1991 Eastern Conference finals as the reason Thomas was left off. USA Basketball officials Russ Granik and Rod Thorn suggested it did in the documentary. "I don't think what happened there would have any more to do (than anything else)," McCloskey said. "He established what he could do. His reputation, his skills and competitiveness, and that was what our team was made of: competitors." Detroit News

Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Isiah Thomas released a statement at the conclusion of NBATV's Wednesday airing of a Dream Team documentary in which he was pilloried by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, who both admitted they didn’t want him on the 1992 Olympic Team. Pippen said he “despised’’ how Thomas played and Jordan said his exclusion was a “stipulation.’’ New York Post

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball 

"Today like all Americans I congratulate the Dream Team on their anniversary,’’ Thomas wrote. “I am proud of my career in the NBA and have fond memories of going head-to-head with all the members of the team. I can’t speak to the selection process as I wasn’t involved. But 20 years later, their gold medal is a momentous achievement.'' New York Post

Isiah Thomas, USA Basketball