Twice NBA champion Isiah Thomas spoke openly about his personal health.
During a recent appearance on former NBA coach Mark Jackson’s show:Come and talk to meOn the podcast, Thomas revealed that he was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.
The condition caused his facial muscles to sag.
“I got a lot of love from people saying, ‘Well, Isiah is sick. What is he going through?’” he said. “I haven’t really told anyone, but I have Bell’s palsy. …That’s why you see me like that. I appreciate the prayers and love. This is what’s happening to my mouth right now. I just wanted everyone to know that.”
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Retired NBA player Isiah Thomas on stage during “From The Hardwood to the Board Room: A Conversation with Isiah Thomas” at the 2023 ForbesBLK Summit at the Southern Exchange Ballrooms on November 6, 2023 in Atlanta. (Paras Griffin/WireImage)
According to the Mayo ClinicBell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that can cause the muscles on one side of the face to suddenly weaken. People diagnosed with Bell’s palsy experience mild to severe symptoms.
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A smile may appear one-sided and the eye on the affected side may be difficult to close. 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 former or current NBA player to struggle with Bell’s Palsy. Joel Embiid The Philadelphia 76ers player said he was diagnosed with the disease before the playoff series against the New York Knicks in April.
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 Phoeniz, Arizona, April 3, 2024. (Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports)
Embiid averaged 33 points during the series.
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Thomas spent his entire NBA career with the Detroit Pistonswhich earned him 12 nominations for the All-Star team. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 1990.
After his retirement, Thomas made the leap into coaching and spent time managing the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. He also coached at the collegiate level.
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