Basketball fans, mark your calendars! On Thursday, April 10 at 12 PM ET, Scoop B Originals Presents: The Freezeout will debut exclusively on @ScoopBTV on YouTube. Don’t miss this captivating mini-doc that revisits one of the NBA’s most controversial All-Star Games and the ripple effects that followed.
The 1985 NBA All-Star Game remains one of the most debated matchups in league history. It has long been rumored that veteran stars Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas orchestrated a “freezeout” of rookie sensation Michael Jordan, deliberately limiting his touches and isolating him from the game. Jordan finished with just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting, fueling speculation that this moment shaped his relentless competitive fire for years to come.
In an exclusive clip from Scoop B Radio, NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins sidestepped the controversy, chuckling, “I’ma stay away from that one.” But was there truly a freezeout? Or was it just a fabricated narrative that took on a life of its own?
What isn’t in question is Jordan’s response. Following the All-Star Game, he exploded for 49 points against Thomas’ Detroit Pistons, and the rivalry between the two intensified. By the time Jordan’s Bulls finally triumphed over the “Bad Boy” Pistons in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals—after three straight years of playoff heartbreak—Thomas and his teammates infamously walked off the court without shaking hands.
The drama didn’t stop there. When the iconic 1992 Dream Team was assembled for the Barcelona Olympics, Isiah Thomas was noticeably absent. Many believe Jordan played a key role in keeping Thomas off the squad, though he has repeatedly denied it. In The Last Dance, Jordan insisted, “I respect Isiah Thomas’ talent. No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game. Now, it was insinuated that I was asking about him; but I never threw his name in there.”
On the other hand, Thomas seemed caught off guard by the depth of Jordan’s disdain. “Honestly, until ‘The Last Dance,’ I never knew there was a beef,” Thomas revealed. “I never knew he felt THAT way about me.”
So, will these two legends ever bury the hatchet?
“Well, I think in time it will be, hopefully,” Dominique Wilkins suggested. “But in today’s world, you never know.”
Scoop B Originals Presents: The Freezeout will take you deep into the heart of this decades-long saga with exclusive insights and expert analysis. Be sure to subscribe to @ScoopBTV on YouTube and tune in on April 10 at 12 PM ET for the full story. This is one documentary every basketball fan needs to see!
