Isiah Thomas: Childhood, Career, Net Worth & Personal Life

This article was last updated by on

Every basketball lover must be familiar with the name Isiah Thomas. Isiah Thomas is considered one of the best players in the history of the NBA.

Notably, he was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Likewise, he has also been honored as NBA All-Star 12 times in his career. 

Furthermore, Thomas played his entire basketball career for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. All in all, he played for 13 years at the NBA. 

Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas

Indeed, Isiah is an idol for all the basketball players and many other youths as well. So today, let’s dive a little into his life and discuss his early life, age, career, net worth, and many more.

But firstly, let’s look at some of the quick facts.

Quick Facts:

Name Isiah Lord Thomas III
Birthplace Chicago, Illinois, United States
Birthdate April 30, 1961
Age 62 years old
Nationality American
Ethnicity Black
Religion Christianity
Nickname Mr. Wonderful

Pee Wee

The Baby Faced Assassin

Zeke

Education St. Joseph High School

Indiana College

Father Name Isiah II
Mother Mary Thomas
Siblings 8
Height 6 ft. 1 inch
Weight 82 kg
Shoe Size 12
NBA Draft 1981
Profession Former Basketball Player, Coach, Executive, Analyst
Currently Working At ESPN (Analyst)
Affiliations NBA
Playing Career 1981-1994
Position Point Guard
Coaching Career 2000-2012
Jersey Number 11
Achievement Hall of Fame (2006 College Basketball)

Gold Medal in Pan American Games

Net Worth $100 million
Salary $6.21 million
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Black
Achievements Two times NBA Champion

12 times NBA All-Star

J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

One time NBA All-Rookie first team

Sexual Orientation Straight
Marital Status Married
Wife Lynn Kendall
Children Zeke Thomas

Marc E.T. Dones

Lauren Thomas

NBA Stats 19.2 ppg (Points)

9.3 APG (Assists)

1.9 (SPG) Steals

Career Average College (.286)

NBA (.456)

Controversy Paternity Case

Sexual Harassment

Drug Overdose

Social Media TwitterInstagram
Last Update March, 2024

Isiah Thomas | Early Life, Family and Education

Isiah Lord Thomas III, famously known as Isiah Thomas, was born on April 30, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

He was born to Isiah II (father) and Mary Thomas (mother) as their youngest child among their nine children.

As Isiah was the youngest of all the siblings, everybody called him junior in his family.

Moreover, his father used to work at International Harvester, and his mother ran Our Ladies of Sorrows Catholic Church youth center.

Growing up, Isiah was having an everyday life until his father left his family after losing his job, and he couldn’t find any work.

Childhood Struggles

After his dad left, the whole burden of the family came under Mary’s shoulder. She had to work and look after her nine kids.

Even though she worked hard, she couldn’t feed her children as much as they want.

So, Thomas spent his childhood roaming in the streets searching for food wrappers with leftover cheese in them. Likewise, Thomas also shined other’s shoes to make money.

Sadly, Thomas would have to worry about taking the money home without being robbed every day. His entire childhood was spent in poverty.

Even though Thomas was poor, he didn’t lose hope; he was good at basketball as he played basketball from 3.

Later, Thomas realized basketball could be the way to abolish his family’s poverty. After that, he started taking basketball more seriously than ever.

Thomas’ brother, Larry Thomas, also played basketball for the youth clubs. His family wanted one of the brothers to be in the NBA.

Isiah Thomas
A young Isiah Thomas.

Likewise, Thomas’s brother was invited to try out for the Chicago Bulls, but unfortunately, he couldn’t accept the invitation due to injury.

His other brother, Lord Henry, was addicted to drugs and lost his athletic potentiality. Hence, it was up to Isiah to succeed.

However, his brother Larry Thomas did support him and take him to court. His brother also suggested Isiah stay out of trouble and focus on his career.

Besides, he went to Our Lady Sorrows School. He learned the basics of basketball there. After he graduated from there, he joined St. Joseph High School.

Likewise, he played basketball for his college team. Hence, Thomas’s actual journey started from there.

You might also want to read: <<Scott Zolak Bio: Early Life, Football, Broadcasting & Net worth >>

How old is Isiah Thomas? Age, Height, and Body Measurement

At the time of writing, Isiah Thomas is 62 years old. According to Isiah’s birth chart horoscope, he is a Taurus.

People born with this zodiac sign are usually determined, independent, and straightforward. Undoubtedly, Thomas is a committed and independent person.

Besides his personality, Thomas also has impressive physical features. He stands at the height of 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m), weighing 82 kg proportionate to his height. 

Even though Thomas has retired, he has maintained his body. He is still in great shape and has maintained his physique.

However, if Thomas were not determined, he wouldn’t have been in the place where he is today.

It is because of his determination he is successful and financially sound today. Indeed, Thomas is a good player.

It won’t be wrong to say that he is one of the best basketball players of all time. Moreover, he is an inspiration to a lot of aspiring basketball players and other youths.

Apart from this, Thomas’s other notable body features include his short black hair and black. In addition, he is an American by Nationality, black by ethnicity, and Christian by religion.

Isiah Thomas | Early Career

Isiah Thomas went to St. Joseph High School, where he was recruited to play for Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers.

During that time, someone said Isiah; Knight beats his players. However, Isiah didn’t believe that rumor.

But one of Isiah’s brother didn’t want him to be in that team so ended up embarking Isiah in front of Knight while Knight was visiting their home.

However, Mary wished to send Isiah to the Knights team because she believed he would maintain her son’s discipline. Indeed, Knight was a strict coach and wanted his team players to be disciplined.

In the initial phases, let’s say during Thomas’ freshman year, Knight was so upset with Knight that he warned Thomas to send him back home.

Isiah Thomas
A young Isiah Thomas in court

But soon after, Thomas proved his capability and skills in front of Knight. It was Thomas’ skills and talent that made Knight adjust in his coaching style.

Amazingly, Isiah started getting recognition, and fans even named him Mr. Wonderful.

Similarly, Knight also had a different name to call Thomas; Knight called Isiah Pee Wee because of his relatively short height for college football.

Besides, Thomas was playing well during his college days. Furthur, Isiah Thomas (captain of the team), and his crew won the 1981 NCAA Tournament.

Hence, he was considered the Most Outstanding Player of that match, which eventually made him eligible for the upcoming NBA Draft.

Isiah Thomas | NBA Career

Indeed, Isiah Thomas’s life took a different path when he made his debut in the NBA. Amazingly, he was signed by the Detroit Pistons with a four-year contract worth $1.6 million.

Even though considered small, he didn’t let anyone judge him with his height and proved himself to be one of the best players.

Besides, he made his identity and a dominant player with good strength and ball-handling skill. Finally, Thomas got his first NBA victory during the rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Similarly, they got their second NBA victory the following year, and they won against Portland Trail Blazers.

Besides, Thomas was considered the Valuable Player of the match. Likewise, their team was named “Bad boys” because of their strength and physical play.

However, in Thomas’s 13-year career, he became the fourth NBA player with more than 9000 assists. Similarly, he also became the All-Time leader of Piston in terms of points.

As a basketball player, he has won NBA All-Star 12 times, 2 NBA games, USA Basketball Male Athlete of the year, and many more.

Don’t forget to check out: <<Brock Huard Bio: Family, NFL, Broadcasting & Net Worth >>

Post Retirement

After retiring from the NBA and Coaching, Thomas started his own business. Similarly, he is the founding chairman and CEO of Isiah International LLC.

Hence, the main work of this organization is Green waste removal, recycling, and Eleven capitals.

Besides, Thomas is also active in the real estate business, and he is also the advisory and founding member of Partner of Dale and Thomas Popcorn.

Likewise, he also worked as a television commentator for NBA on NBC.

Besides, he also owns CBA (Continental Basketball Association) as he bought it for $10 million, but it had been facing bankruptcy and folded.

Coaching Career

After retiring from NBA, Thomas started to work as a head coach for Indiana Pacers. Besides, he was there for three years.

Similarly, Isiah joined Knicks in 2003. Sadly, Thomas was fired from Knicks after posting a 56-108 record.

Isiah Thomas standing tall
Isiah Thomas

Unlike his playing career, he was not getting good results in his coaching career. After losing matches for three seasons, he was fired by Florida International University in Miami in 2012.

Besides, his tenure as President in New York Liberty ended in 2019 after Liberty was sold. 

Completed his Studies

In 2013, Ishia Thomas completed his Masters’s degree from Berkeley Graduate School of Education. Similarly, he studied the relationship between sports and education.

Besides, he also studied black male college Athletes’ accessibility to get an education, especially in American society.

You can find the latest news and updated related to Isiah Thomas on the NBA website.

What is Isiah Thomas’s net worth? Net Worth and Salary

Undoubtedly, Isiah Thomas has earned quite a fair amount of money. He has worked hard to be in the position he is today. However, the journey from rags to riches was not easy for him.

According to sources, Isiah’s net worth is expected to be $100 million. Similarly, he earns around $6.21 million every year.

Besides, Thomas has a business firm. He earns from there as well. Similarly, Isha has a home in New York worth, in Westchester country worth $3.73 million, and in Bloomfield Hills.

However, not much has been disclosed regarding his property and car collection. Undoubtedly, Thomas lives a luxurious life.

Net Worth of Isiah Thomas in Different Currencies

Have a look into Isiah Thomas’s net worth in different currencies.

Currency Net Worth
Euro 84,233,930€ 
Pound Sterling 72,032,500£ 
Australian Dollar 133,922,600A$ 
Canadian Dollar 124,725,000C$ 
Indian Rupee 7,445,100,000₹ 
BitCoin 2,911฿ 

Philanthropy

Thomas has also been involved in various social activities. He has an organization that helps financially weak parents and children on the west side of Chicago.

Similarly, his organization donates clothes, education supplies, and food every year to hundreds of children in Chicago in the signature event. Likewise, he has also paid the tuition fees of 75 college students.

Notably, Thomas has also won the Humanity of Connection award in 2017 for his good works, which brought impactful changes in society.

Does Isiah Thomas have a daughter? Personal Life and Wife

Isiah Thomas’s life has always been full of drama, ups, and downs. But his marriage with Lynn Kendall definitely is one high; they both got married in 1985.

However, both of them met at Indiana University. Lynn was present when Thomas signed his first contract with the NBA.

Besides, Thomas proposed to Lynn in the same place they met before submitting to her; he took Lynn’s father’s blessings.

However, Thomas was accused of cheating on Lynn by Jenni Dones. Jenni claimed she had a romantic relationship with Thomas, and she conceived a baby just two months before Thomas’ marriage.

However, both the parties went on a settlement, with Thomas agreeing to pay $500,000 and pay $2,764 every month until Marx turns 18.

Similarly, Jenni filed another case stating that the money being provided was not enough for Marc. Hence, she got additional settlement money, which has not been disclosed.

Similarly, in an interview, Marc has said that he doesn’t care about his father, and both live different lives.

“Our lives are separate. He lives his and I live mine. He hasn’t been a good dad to me.”

However, Thomas has two kids with Kendall named Lauren Thomas (daughter) and Joshua Thomas (son).

Despite all these controversies, Lynn and Thomas share a strong bond and are happily married.

Isiah Thomas | Controversies

Isiah Thomas’s life has been full of ups and downs. The star player had to face a lot of problems in his life.

However, as he is a celebrity, he is always in the limelight and watched by people. Likewise, one small mistake can create a lot of controversies.

Talking about controversies, Thomas had been accused of sexual harassment in 2006.

A former female executive of Kinks filed a case stating she was harassed and then fired from the job. However, that case was later settled for $11.5 million.

Besides, in 2008 Thomas was hospitalized as he accidentally took an overdose of Lunesta. However, later Thomas explained he was quiet about being hospitalized because he wanted to focus on his family.

Similarly, Thomas has a son named Marc from another lady. Likewise, she filed a case against him to settle for her son’s education and daily expenses.

However, the lawsuit was filed two times, and both the times that lady got the settlement.

Social Media Presence:

Twitter: 182.8k followers

Instagram: 666k followers

Some FAQs:

How much is Isiah Thomas’s rookie card value?

Isiah Thomas’s rookie card price ranges from $18.38-$154.50.

What did Isiah Thomas say about LeBron James?

Isiah Thomas said that LeBron James is one of the greatest players of the National Basketball Association(NBA). He said,

“The best and most ‘complete’ player I have seen in my lifetime is LeBron James on and off the floor,”

Why did Isiah Thomas retire early?

Isiah Thomas retired early because of his torn Achilles tendon. He suffered the injury on April 19, 1994, and announced his retirement just a month later, on May 11, 1994.

When was Isiah Thomas’s last game?

Isiah Thomas played his last game against Orlando in 1994.

Is Isiah Thomas a Hall of Famer?

Isiah Thomas was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Miss. KeCy
Miss. KeCy

Anusha K.C

Anusha K.C is a dynamic writer with a keen interest in uncovering the stories that lie beneath the surface of the sports world. Her articles offer readers a fresh perspective on athletes and sporting events, blending insightful analysis with engaging storytelling.

Expertise:

Sports Analysis Lifestyle Coverage

Highlights

  • Anusha shares inspiring stories of athletes who have overcome adversity to achieve success.
  • She explores the off-field lives of athletes, from their training routines and dietary habits.

Experience

Anusha's passion for sports journalism is rooted in a love of competition and a fascination with the human stories behind athletic achievement. With a background in writing and a keen eye for detail, she brings a unique perspective to her articles, capturing the excitement and emotion of sports with depth and insight.

Related articles

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share article

Latest News