Two-time NBA champion Isiah Thomas opened up about his personal health.
During a recent appearance on former NBA coach Mark Jackson’s “Come And Talk 2 Me” podcast, Thomas revealed that he was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.
The condition caused his facial muscles to droop.
“I’ve gotten a lot of love from people saying, ‘Well, Isiah’s sick. Why is he happening?'” he said. “I haven’t really told anyone, but I have Bell’s Palsy… That’s why you see me like this. I appreciate the prayers and the love. That’s what’s going on with my mouth right now. I just wanted everyone to know that.” “.
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Retired NBA player Isiah Thomas onstage during “From The Hardwood to the Board Room: A Conversation with Isiah Thomas” at the 2023 ForbesBLK Summit at Southern Exchange Ballrooms on November 6, 2023 in Atlanta. (For Griffin/WireImage)
According to the Mayo Clinic, Bell’s palsy is a neurological condition that can cause the muscles on one side of the face to suddenly weaken. People diagnosed with Bell’s palsy experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
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A smile may appear one-sided and it may be difficult to close the eye on the affected side. Over time, the condition may improve.
Team Isiah head coach Isiah Thomas is introduced during the 2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland on February 18, 2022. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)
Thomas is not the first current or former NBA player to have dealt with Bell’s palsy. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers said he was diagnosed with the condition before their April playoff series against the New York Knicks.
Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas during the second half of a game between the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 3, 2024. (Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports)
Embiid averaged 33 points during the series.
Thomas spent his entire NBA career with the Detroit Pistons, earning 12 All-Star nods. He was named MVP of the NBA Finals in 1990.
After retiring, Thomas made the jump to coaching and spent time managing the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. He also coached at the college level.
