The Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics matched up in an exciting national television game on Friday. The game was won on an Isaiah Thomas game-winner in the dying seconds. But Thomas may have had a role in another notable part of the game.
Following from Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Dennis Schroder accused Isaiah Thomas of making comments about his mother and his family as the two point guards picked up their playoff rivalry.
Schroder did not play the fourth quarter as the Hawks mounted a comeback and eventually tied the game before Thomas hit the final shot.
“I’m playing basketball,” Schroder said afterward. “If he think that he got to curse at my mom or say some dumb stuff about my family, that has nothing to do with basketball. That’s his choice. I’ve got too much class for that. Next one, we are going to get it.”
That’s obviously a very serious allegation from Dennis Schroder. Trash talk is revered but choice words about another player’s family is a bit too much.
Thomas and Schroder have a history since the playoff matchup between the two teams last year. And IT was not taking the rivalry lightly on Friday:
Isaiah Thomas yelling to crowd that Dennis Schroder "Ain't nothing."
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 14, 2017
For his part, Thomas refuted the allegations in two quick tweets to Vivlamore:
@CVivlamoreAJC not sure what the quote is referring to but one thing is certain I would never disrespect/talk trash about anyones family/mom
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) January 14, 2017
@CVivlamoreAJC That type of trash talk is not my style & never has been. Flat out NEVER happened.
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) January 14, 2017
If Thomas had made inflammatory comments, he would obviously deny them. But it’s rare that we get a player to respond to such an allegation so quickly before even being asked about it.
This story will end as these always do: Thomas will continue to deny it and Schroder will say he heard what he heard. We won’t know who is telling the truth. But the next game between the two parties should be plenty of fun.
