Ever Imagined Isiah Thomas Guarding Tyrese Maxey? Here's The Footage

The talent level and athleticism in the NBA today are off the charts. Which begs the question: What if a top star today squared off against an all-time great in his prime?

For a fleeting moment this past Tuesday, NBA fans caught a glimpse of a dream clash. In a viral clip from the “NBA on NBC” broadcast, two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey snuck up on Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas during warmups for the Sixers-Spurs game. 

Refusing to be trumped by Maxey’s crossover dribbles, Thomas decided to defend the Sixers guard. Later, when the NBC crew played back this footage, IT bragged about securing a defensive stop. “Come on, give me that…it’s a miss! It’s a miss! DEEE-TROIT BAS-KET-BALL,” Thomas exclaimed.

The last time Thomas played in the NBA was April 19, 1994, a night when he unfortunately tore his Achilles tendon. Just four years earlier, he was at the height of his powers, leading the “Bad Boy” Pistons to a second consecutive NBA title and winning Finals MVP honors.

For argument’s sake, what would have happened if that Isiah Thomas stepped on the court with today’s Tyrese Maxey?

For one, that matchup would be a surefire shootout. Both Thomas and Maxey are lethal snipers from the perimeter, though Maxey has showcased more depth of range as a consequence of the NBA era that he’s grown up in. Of course, it’s not hard to imagine Thomas shooting an excellent clip from outside if his era had emphasized the three-point shot more heavily.

Thomas and Maxey are gifted with smooth handles that they use to confound defenders, but Maxey may have a slight edge in terms of foot speed. While that could work to his advantage in a one-on-one situation, Thomas would likely outshine him when it comes to court vision and playmaking. He finished his career with 9,061 assists, which is 10th on the list of all-time career leaders in that category.

As for defense, Thomas never made the All-Defensive Team and Maxey has yet to achieve that feat in his career. Still, having come from an era where hand-checking was allowed, Thomas might know a trick or two that he could slip past the referees as he guards Maxey.

This is the type of hoops daydreaming that’s only possible in video games and fan fiction. But, at the very least, Thomas can boast that he got one stop that one time that he “guarded” Maxey in 2026.