Soon, the Pistons no longer were the objects of mockery. He is the fifth Piston to be honored and the first Detroit player since Bob Lanier in 1992. The others inducted as Pistons are George Yardley, Dave Bing and coach Chuck Daly. It's a celebration. Actually, when we did it, it was a relief.
Somebody has to be the leader, to take the lion's share of responsibility.
He was out front setting the agenda. In 1988, when the Pistons reached the NBA Finals for the first time since they moved to Detroit from Fort Wayne, Ind., Thomas played the decisive seventh game against the Lakers on a torn, swollen painful ankle. He was ruled out of the game. But few people understood his desire and his intensity. He played, hobbling, and almost drove the Pistons to victory.