Isiah Thomas will join Turner Sports/NBA TV as a studio analyst. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Hall of fame point guard and former NBA coach turned team executive Isiah Thomas will join Turner Sports as a studio analyst for NBA TV.

According to a press release from Turner Sports, Thomas will make his debut on Dec. 21. for the New York Knicks game against the Chicago Bulls. Thomas will make several appearances per month on the network and will be a regular contributor to NBA.com.

Despite leading the Detroit Pistons to two NBA championships as a player, his career after retiring has been marred by controversy and criticism. Thomas served as coach and president of basketball operations for the Knicks during some of the franchise’s darkest days from 2006 – 2008.

John Salley said Michael Jordan is not the greatest ever. (AFP/Getty Images)

Former Detroit Piston bad boy John Salley said that despite years of match ups against the Chicago Bulls in the 1980s and early 90s, Michael Jordan is not the greatest player that he’s played against.

Salley made the comments while on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio:

“I love Michael. I’m a Michael Jordan fan, like everyone else. I just don’t think he’s the greatest player ever. I think the greatest player I ever played against was Magic Johnson. Next was Larry Bird. Then Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The hardest guy I ever had to guard? Hakeem Olajuwon. …. The greatest player I ever played with? I played with Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen …. Isiah Thomas is the greatest player I’ve ever played with.”

Salley was drafted 11th overall by the Pistons in the 1986 NBA Draft. He played against Jordan and the Bulls in four playoffs over his six years with the Pistons, beating Chicago in the Eastern Conference Finals from 1988 – 1990. The Bulls beat the Pistons in the 1991 conference finals.

By comparison, Salley and the Pistons lost to Magic Johnson and the Lakers in the 1988 NBA Finals but beat Los Angeles the following season in an NBA Finals rematch.

Isiah Thomas, a confidant to New York Knicks owner James Dolan, was reportedly “lukewarm” on Jeremy Lin. (D. Lippitt/Einstein, Getty Images)

With Jeremy Lin set to begin a new chapter in Houston in his already-infamous NBA career, the discussion has now turned to why New York Knicks owner James Dolan, whose MSG stock reportedly lost $100 million over the last week, decided not to match the $25 million offer sheet tendered by the Rockets.

Among those who Dolan reportedly considers confidants is former Knicks coach and president Isiah Thomas, who wasn’t sold on Jeremy Lin being a $25 million point guard, according to Henry Abbott of ESPN.com:

Most tellingly, perhaps, Isiah Thomas is close to Dolan, Wesley, Grunwald, Woodson and others with the Knicks, according to sources. The former Knicks president and coach is still a very influential voice in Dolan’s ear, and those behind the scenes say he is lukewarm toward Lin.

Despite a Hall-of-Fame career as a point guard for the Detroit Pistons, Thomas’ tenure as a coach and executive has been marred by controversy, ranging from a sexual harrasment lawsuit brought on by a former Madison Square Garden employee to a reported drug overdose at his Westchester County residence. In two seasons as head coach of the Knicks, he went 56-108. In April, Thomas was fired as head coach of Florida International.

Although he no longer holds an official position with the Knicks, he is still believed to have close ties as an adviser to the organization.

In light of NBATV’s The Dream Team documentary that debuted on Wednesday night, former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas — who famously was left off the 1992 Olympic team, with many pointing to his icy relationship with Michael Jordan as the reason — tweets that he was inundated with requests for his reaction.

A lot of buzz today and folks asking my take on the Dream Team anniversary. Here’s my take. ow.ly/i/H9nH—
Isiah Thomas (@iamisiahthomas) June 14, 2012

The tweet links to this statement:

Today, like all Americans, I congratulate the Dream Team on their anniversary. I am proud of my career in the NBA and have fond memories of going head to head with all the members of the Team. I can’t speak to the selection process as I wasn’t involved. But 20 years later, their gold medal is still a momentous achievement.

Isiah Thomas still hopes to return to basketball as a coach or general manager. (Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Former Pistons great and Raptors/Pacers/Knicks coach and executive Isiah Thomas told Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com that he would love to continue his career. Thomas was fired last month after three seasons as coach of Florida International.

“I definitely want to be in basketball again whether it be coaching or as a general manager,” Thomas said by phone. “My gift is basketball. I would love working with the kids. If it’s the right college program, I would consider it. If it’s the right G.M. job or coaching job in the NBA, I would consider it. I love the game. I just want to be in the game.”

As has been well chronicled, Thomas’ track record as both a coach and an executive (he also owned the late Continental Basketball Association) is not exactly sterling, and his departure from the Knicks was messy. But he still has a lot of friends around the NBA, and he’s hoping for the best. “I’m like everyone else, I keep my options open,” Thomas said. “My mom always said don’t burn any bridges. I followed her advice. It would have to be the right option and right place.”

Florida International University announced today that head basketball coach Isiah Thomas has been fired.

“We want to thank Isiah Thomas for his three years here at FIU,” FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia said in a statement. “However, we have decided to take the program in a different direction.”

Thomas, a Hall of Fame player with the Detroit Pistons and a former New York Knicks executive, did not fare well as a college coach. He posted a career record of 26-65 during his three seasons at FIU.

The Panthers will begin a national search for their next head basketball coach immediately.