NBA legend Isiah Thomas thankful for ‘prayers and the love’ amid private battle with Bell’s palsy

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Two-time NBA champion Isiah Thomas opened up about his personal health. 

During a recent appearance on former NBA coach Mark Jackson’s “Come And Talk 2 Me” podcast, Thomas revealed he was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. 

The condition resulted in his facial muscles drooping.

“I’ve gotten a lot of love from people saying, ‘Well, Isiah’s sick. What is he going through?'” he said. “I haven’t really told anybody, but I’ve got Bell’s palsy. … That’s why you see me like this. I appreciate the prayers and the love. That’s what’s happening with my mouth right now. I just wanted everyone to know that.”

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Retired NBA player Isiah Thomas onstage during “From The Hardwood to the Board Room: A Conversation with Isiah Thomas” at the 2023 ForbesBLK Summit at Southern Exchange Ballrooms Nov. 6, 2023, in Atlanta. (Paras Griffin/WireImage)

According to the Mayo Clinic, Bell’s palsy is a neurological condition that can cause muscles on one side of the face to suddenly weaken. People diagnosed with Bell’s palsy experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe. 

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A smile could appear one-sided and the eye on the affected side could be difficult to close. Over time, the condition can improve.

Team Isiah head coach Isiah Thomas is introduced during the 2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland Feb. 18, 2022. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)

Thomas is not the first former or current NBA player who has dealt with Bell’s palsy. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers said he was diagnosed with the condition ahead of April’s playoff series against the New York Knicks.

Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas during the second half of a game between the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Footprint Center in Phoeniz, Ariz., 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 Pistons, earning 12 All-Star team nods. He was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1990.

After he retired, Thomas made the leap to coaching and spent time leading the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. He also coached at the collegiate level.

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