Isiah Thomas named New York Liberty president
Hey, Madison Square Garden: Isiah Thomas is back.
The former New York Knicks president of basketball operations and coach has been named president of the WNBA's New York Liberty, and will have an ownership interest in the team.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the New York Liberty and help the franchise reclaim its position as one of the elite teams in the WNBA," said Thomas in a statement. "Following a conversation with Jim (James Dolan) about his thoughts on the franchise, I expressed my interest and enthusiasm for taking responsibility for both the basketball and business operations, as well as for taking an ownership interest in the team."
Madison Square Garden Company CEO James Dolan professed to having full confidence in Thomas after he oversaw the strength and conditioning staff and recent free-agent signings.
Thomas is not a popular man in New York. The Hall of Famer was hired as president of basketball operations by the Knicks in 2003, but the team missed the playoffs during Thomas's tenure from 2003-08. Thomas finished 56-108 in two seasons as New York's coach before Dolan fired him. Former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders brought a sexual harassment lawsuit against Thomas and received a $11.6 million settlement from the Madison Square Garden Company in 2007.
The Knicks organization has released a statement on the settlement with Sanders in light of Thomas being named Liberty's president.
Statement from the #Knicks on the Anucha Browne Sanders trial and new Liberty president Isiah Thomas: pic.twitter.com/wqtxusoz5N
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 5, 2015
A former NBA Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons, Thomas became part owner and executive vice president of the expansion Toronto Raptors from 1994-98. Thomas succeeded Larry Bird as head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 2000, and was replaced by Rick Carlisle in 2003 after the Pacers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs all three seasons.