Isiah Thomas (the Hall of Famer from the Detroit Pistons) is alive, still active in basketball media, and recently revealed he has been dealing with Bell’s palsy, but he continues to work on-air and says he’s focused on recovering and “showing up.”

What happened to Isiah Thomas?

There are two well-known basketball figures with almost the same name:

  • Isiah Thomas – Hall of Fame point guard of the Detroit Pistons (1980s–1990s), later coach, executive, and TV analyst.
  • Isaiah Thomas – 5′9″ scoring guard who starred for the Boston Celtics in the mid‑2010s and still plays in the NBA.

Your question uses “Isiah,” which usually refers to the Pistons legend, so this “Quick Scoop” focuses on him, then briefly touches on Isaiah (the younger guard) because many fans mix them up.

Quick Scoop on Isiah Thomas (Pistons legend)

1. Health news – Bell’s palsy

  • In late 2024, Isiah Thomas shared publicly that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy , a temporary condition that causes weakness or partial paralysis on one side of the face.
  • He mentioned this on a podcast with Mark Jackson and followed up on Instagram, thanking people for their prayers and support.
  • Bell’s palsy can affect facial muscles and appearance, but it is often temporary; Isiah said he was continuing to show up and work through it.

“I’m dealing with it, I’m showing up, I ain’t taking off,” he said, while explaining that he’d been dealing with Bell’s palsy for about a month before speaking about it publicly.

2. Is he still on TV / around the NBA?

  • Yes. Isiah Thomas has been a studio analyst for NBA TV for many years and continued appearing on-air even after revealing his Bell’s palsy diagnosis.
  • When he posted about the condition, he ended with “See you soon, @nbatv,” making clear he planned to keep working and recovering.

3. What Bell’s palsy means in simple terms

  • Bell’s palsy is usually temporary and often improves over weeks to months, though recovery varies person to person.
  • It can cause:
    • Drooping or weakness on one side of the face
    • Difficulty closing one eye completely
    • A slightly altered smile or facial expression

From a fan perspective, this is why he may look a bit different on-screen, but it does not mean he has retired from public life or disappeared.

Mini timeline – Isiah Thomas after his playing days

  • Post‑playing career – Worked as a coach (including with the Indiana Pacers) and as an executive (notably with the New York Knicks).
  • Liberty/MSG role – Took positions within the Madison Square Garden organization, including with the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
  • Media work – Became a long‑time analyst for NBA TV, staying visible to fans as a commentator and panelist.
  • 2024–2025 – Publicly reveals Bell’s palsy, keeps working, and emphasizes resilience and gratitude toward fans.

“Wait, I meant the shorter Isaiah Thomas from the Celtics”

Many people asking “what happened to Isiah/Isaiah Thomas” actually mean Isaiah Thomas, the 5′9″ guard who was a star with the Boston Celtics around 2016–2017.

Quick version on Isaiah Thomas (younger guard)

  • He had an MVP‑caliber season with Boston, but a serious hip injury and concerns about his defense changed his career trajectory.
  • After surgery and rehab, he bounced between multiple teams on short contracts, trying to prove he could still contribute.
  • He also went through personal tragedy when his sister Chyna died in a car accident in 2017, something he has spoken about emotionally.

As of early 2026:

  • He is back in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns , initially on 10‑day deals and then on a rest‑of‑season contract.
  • Reports describe him as providing veteran leadership and locker-room presence , while playing limited minutes as backcourt depth.

Forum-style “what really happened?” take

If you put together what fans usually mean when they ask this question:

  1. For Isiah Thomas (Pistons legend)
    • Nothing scandalous “happened” to him; he moved from the court to front offices and TV, and more recently has dealt with Bell’s palsy but remains active on TV and in the basketball world.
  1. For Isaiah Thomas (Celtics star)
    • He went from “King of the Fourth” and All‑NBA to a journeyman largely because of a major hip injury, defensive concerns, and teams not being sure how to build around a 5′9″, score‑first guard.
 * After years of short stints and G League runs, he worked his way back and currently holds a depth role with the Phoenix Suns.

In other words:

  • Isiah Thomas : still here, visible, dealing with a health issue (Bell’s palsy) but continuing to appear on NBA TV.
  • Isaiah Thomas : career derailed by injury and fit questions, but he has fought back to land another NBA job and is contributing mainly as a veteran presence in Phoenix.

TL;DR

  • The Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas recently revealed he has Bell’s palsy , continues to work on TV, and is focused on recovery.
  • The younger guard Isaiah Thomas saw his Celtics-era stardom cut short by a hip injury and defensive concerns, but he is currently on the Phoenix Suns as a veteran depth guard.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.