Emergency personnel and police officers, responding to a 911 call, said they found a 47-year-old man unconscious at Thomas’s home in Purchase, N.Y. Although the authorities withheld the man’s name, Thomas is 47.

At least two earlier news reports indicated that Thomas was not involved, causing confusion. Thomas, in a brief cellphone interview with The New York Post, said it was his teenage daughter, Laura, who was in distress. Thomas denied that anything had happened to him. His son Joshua gave a similar account, telling The New York Daily News that his sister has hypoglycemia, which is caused by low glucose in the bloodstream.

“Reports of sleeping pills are false,” Joshua Thomas told The Daily News. Referring to his father, he added: “He looked faint from stressing over her. They sat him down, let him drink some water. He’s fine.”

Reached Friday evening, Harrison Police Chief David Hall confirmed that a 47-year-old male had been taken from Thomas’s home. He refuted claims that the incident involved Thomas’s daughter.

“I understand that this person claims it was his daughter; he is lying,” Hall said. “It was definitely not his daughter, it was a male. We know the difference between a 47-year-old black male and a young black female.”

Hall said that the man was unconscious when officers arrived at the home shortly after midnight.

“We administered oxygen and we loaded him into an ambulance,” Hall said. “He was unconscious, but breathing. So we are calling this an accidental overdose of a prescription sleeping pill.”

Hall added, “We aren’t mind readers, so we don’t know why he did it, but there was nothing to indicate a suicide, no notes left.”

Hall said that a prescription bottle was handed over to officers, who gave it to ambulance personnel, who then handed it over to doctors at White Plains Hospital Center.

Thomas, who was hired as the Knicks’ president in December 2003, presided over one of the worst eras in franchise history — a four-and-a-half-year run in which the team cycled through five head coaches (including Thomas) and dozens of players and never reached .500 despite a league-high payroll.

The Knicks went 23-59 last season, reaching a series of low points on and off the court. Thomas feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and frequently benched center Eddy Curry, both of whom were acquired by Thomas and portrayed as franchise cornerstones.

In addition, Thomas and his employer, Madison Square Garden, were found liable for sexual harassment last October, with a jury finding in favor of a former team executive and awarding her $11.6 million in punitive damages.

Finally, in April, the Garden chairman James L. Dolan removed Thomas as team president, replacing him with Donnie Walsh. A few weeks later, Walsh removed Thomas as coach. But the team kept Thomas on the payroll, with no title, no authority and no office. He is an infrequent visitor to the team’s suburban headquarters in Greenburgh, N.Y. Walsh said he uses Thomas as a sort of on-call consultant. In the spring, he dispatched Thomas to Italy, to scout Danilo Gallinari, whom the Knicks later selected with the sixth pick in the June draft.

The Knicks released a statement Friday evening, but provided little clarity.

“Isiah Thomas spoke with members of the New York Knicks’ organization and is O.K.,” the team said in the statement. “He is dealing with a family matter and we will have no further comment. He has asked that we respect his privacy and we will.”

As the Knicks prepared to play the Nets in their final preseason game Friday at Madison Square Garden, Thomas’s former players expressed concern over his well being.

Walsh said he had not seen Thomas since just before training camp opened in late September.

“I didn’t talk to him, but people in the franchise have spoken to him,” Walsh said.

Brendan Suhr, a longtime friend and former Knicks official under Thomas, said in a telephone interview that he was confident Thomas had not attempted to harm himself, if he indeed overdosed on sleeping pills.

“He’s in a great frame of mind,” said Suhr, who said he spoke with Thomas earlier in the week. “That’s why I say that with such confidence.”

Suhr said that Thomas was in great shape, both mentally and physically, after taking time off.

“He is not depressed; he is not down,” Suhr said. “He is just the opposite. He’s a very upbeat guy.”

None of the Knicks players said they had talked with Thomas since training camp began.

It just doesn't make any sense. Why would the police want to lie about a 46 year old man being taken to the hospital?

Posted by BRIGGS:

I hate to say this but shows the character of Isiah Thomas. You DO NOT lay blame on your DAUGHTER your flesh and blood for something you are responsible for even in a case like this. You don't have your SON LIE for you. Whatever happened with IT --he should atleast keep his children out of it. This guy needs a lot of help.

I agree with you. That's pretty sad.

Posted by BRIGGS:

I hate to say this but shows the character of Isiah Thomas. You DO NOT lay blame on your DAUGHTER your flesh and blood for something you are responsible for even in a case like this. You don't have your SON LIE for you. Whatever happened with IT --he should atleast keep his children out of it. This guy needs a lot of help.

Yup, I agree. I hope that Isiah is OK and I definitely hope this wasn't a suicide attempt. However, he's displaying the exact character that he has shown as a Knick executive. He's a liar, and my grandma once said that the two worst types of people are thieves and liars.

Posted by Allanfan20:

With that said, we don't even truely know the facts, but it looks like Isiah is lying, b/c the police just don't lie about stuff like this. This statement seems kind of obnoxious, yet unprofessional though:

“I understand that this person claims it was his daughter; he is lying,” Hall said. “It was definitely not his daughter, it was a male. We know the difference between a 47-year-old black male and a young black female.”

The Thomases basically called the police officers a bunch of liars. Maybe the chief could have taken the high road. Either way, his response was provoked.

Posted by 4949:

It just doesn't make any sense. Why would the police want to lie about a 46 year old man being taken to the hospital?

lol. i agree 100% i feel bad for isiah, im sure his stint with the knicks f'ed up him..... but damn.

Wait for the facts.

oohah

Posted by Pharzeone:

LOL, I especially love the part when Allanfan said the police don't lie about this sort of thing. Oh really. When it comes to celebrities and the police involvement, I found not to believe either side. Also, when do police departments release any info like this unwarranted? Strange stuff.

That's why I think the whole situation is strange. It's hard to tell who is telling the truth, b/c his statement WAS quite unordinary and unprofessional. However, I am leaning towards the police, b/c Isiah has fed the media with A LOT of lies and BS since he came here.

[Edited by - Allanfan20 on 25-10-2008 03:30 AM]

Posted by TheGame:

I am reserving judgment until the real story comes out. It seems odd that a simply story like this has so much confusion about it.

That's because someone's trying to cover something up here.

Posted by Pharzeone:

LOL, I especially love the part when Allanfan said the police don't lie about this sort of thing. Oh really. When it comes to celebrities and the police involvement, I found not to believe either side. Also, when do police departments release any info like this unwarranted? Strange stuff.

Public figures are always up for grabs. They belong to the public and the media, so they have no privacy in matters like this. Remember when they grabbed Paris Hilton out of her home and dragged her back to jail?

The only reason I could see the police making up this whole story is 'they are all loyal Knick fans and they hate Isiah for screwing up the contracts'.

Yeah, yeah, that's it! that's gonna fly.