07:32 AM ET 03.11 | With Phil Jackson on the radar, there remains speculation over how much authority he'd have and whether it would match that of Isiah Thomas. Thomas had almost a mystical ability to work over Dolan, to be the owner's buddy and basketball authority. Isiah worked Dolan in a way that would be beneath Jackson, that his personality and ego will never allow. For Dolan, Thomas is still the executive with whom everyone else pales. Well beyond Thomas' firing in 2008, Dolan made multiple bids to convince underlings that Thomas needed to be rehired. In one episode described to Yahoo Sports, Dolan had become exasperated with team officials who didn't want a second Garden act for Thomas. With overwhelming evidence to the contrary being presented to Dolan, he finally blurted out: "Isiah is a basketball genius!"

Yahoo Sports

mattshaw78 wrote:

07:32 AM ET 03.11 | With Phil Jackson on the radar, there remains speculation over how much authority he'd have and whether it would match that of Isiah Thomas. Thomas had almost a mystical ability to work over Dolan, to be the owner's buddy and basketball authority. Isiah worked Dolan in a way that would be beneath Jackson, that his personality and ego will never allow. For Dolan, Thomas is still the executive with whom everyone else pales. Well beyond Thomas' firing in 2008, Dolan made multiple bids to convince underlings that Thomas needed to be rehired. In one episode described to Yahoo Sports, Dolan had become exasperated with team officials who didn't want a second Garden act for Thomas. With overwhelming evidence to the contrary being presented to Dolan, he finally blurted out: "Isiah is a basketball genius!"

Yahoo Sports

I've been telling people Dolan still holds Isiah in very high esteem even to this day, some would challenge my signature, but the proof is in the pudding.

Some claim that was old statement Dolan made, but I beg to differ, the man is very loyal to those he likes.

blkexec wrote:

playa2 wrote:

mattshaw78 wrote:

07:32 AM ET 03.11 | With Phil Jackson on the radar, there remains speculation over how much authority he'd have and whether it would match that of Isiah Thomas. Thomas had almost a mystical ability to work over Dolan, to be the owner's buddy and basketball authority. Isiah worked Dolan in a way that would be beneath Jackson, that his personality and ego will never allow. For Dolan, Thomas is still the executive with whom everyone else pales. Well beyond Thomas' firing in 2008, Dolan made multiple bids to convince underlings that Thomas needed to be rehired. In one episode described to Yahoo Sports, Dolan had become exasperated with team officials who didn't want a second Garden act for Thomas. With overwhelming evidence to the contrary being presented to Dolan, he finally blurted out: "Isiah is a basketball genius!"

Yahoo Sports

I've been telling people Dolan still holds Isiah in very high esteem even to this day, some would challenge my signature, but the proof is in the pudding.

Some claim that was old statement Dolan made, but I beg to differ, the man is very loyal to those he likes.

I wonder if Dolan and Isiah have history together more than we thought. I'm talking Jason Collins history. Which is why Dolan has such high regards.
If it's just basketball than I understand. I respect Isiah for his basketball knowledge, basketball IQ, and his ability to scout talent. Some people will point at the bad picks he had, but everybody is guilty of that. I just wouldnt make him a coach or President of an organization.

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