I’ve seen some ridiculous player comparisons in my day, but comparing Detroit Pistons’ legend Isiah Thomas to TJ McConnell might take the prize.
This nonsense was put forward by The Athletic staff writer Jared Weiss, who I am guessing was not alive to see Thomas play based on this take:
Pretty sure TJ McConnell would've been a 3x All-Star if he was born 40 years earlier. Like go watch Isiah Thomas tape and tell me he's not 75% as good as Zeke was back then.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) June 17, 2025
Sheesh, what are we even doing here people?
One of the dumbest battles in NBA fandom and conversation is between the “Old Heads” who think the league is soft and awful and wear blinding rose-colored nostalgia glasses about the 80’ and 90’s vs. younger NBA fans who think players from the past were unskilled, unathletic bums who couldn’t shoot and whose shorts were way too short.
Both are clearly wrong, and this is coming from an Old Head who likes much of the modern game but still misses some of the intense rivalries from back in the day. I love basketball and am willing to evolve with the game, and there is certainly an argument that the players today are more skilled.
Where it gets ridiculous is when we start comparing forgettable role players to All-Time greats with a straight face.
Isiah Thomas would still be great in the modern game
I shouldn’t even justify this take with a response, but no, TJ freaking McConnell should not be mentioned in the same breath as a guy who many view as one of the top three point guards of all time. Whether you think the overall level of skill is higher now or not, there are players from all eras that transcend time and would have been good no matter when they played.
This is not a knock on McConnell, I love his game and he’s great at what he does, but I am sure even he would laugh off this comparison.
McConnell is in his 10th season and has averaged double digits once. He’s never sniffed an All-Star game, led the league in anything or even been a full-time starter. TJ McConnell has never been close to the best player on his own team.
Isiah Thomas was a 2-time champion who made the All-Star team in the first TWELVE years of his career and only failed to make it once, in his final season. He led the league in assists and was first-team All-NBA three years in a row when he and Magic Johnson were battling it out for the title of best point guard in the world.
Who is the comp for Magic Johnson? Ty Jerome?
Look, I get that this was likely a statement made for engagement, and given it was delivered on X where nuance, thought and rationality go to die, I’ll give a pass to the author, who was probably being a bit tongue and cheek.
I’m happy to debate and it’s fun to compare players, but this is just disrespectful to an All-Time great, a hot take that has no basis in reality.
Young fans: Respect your elders.
Old fans: Enjoy the game!
It’s possible to do both.