Isaiah Rider appeared in an episode of KG Certified on SHOWTIME Basketball and shared some stories about Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson. Rider stole the show in the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest and had a successful nine-year career in the NBA, averaging 16.7 points in 563 games with the Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Hawks, Lakers and Nuggets.
Rider was a prolific scorer with insane athletic ability, particularly during his time with the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers. He also put up 19.3 points in 60 games with the Hawks in the 1999-00 season.
“… everybody wanted to be like Mike, so all my jab steps, all my footwork, all my you know how I get my Triple Threat all I can shoot all that is Mike,” Rider noted.
Rider’s Time With Phil Jackson in the Lakers
Rider joined the Lakers in the 2000-01 season to replace Glen Rice. He averaged 7.6 points in 18 minutes over 67 games (six starts) and his production off the bench in the regular season helped the Lakers make the playoffs and win the NBA Championship. The veteran shooting guard then joined the Nuggets in 2001 and played just 10 games for them before retiring from the NBA.
Rider didn’t feel at home with the Lakers as soon as he arrived. “I think I start and then I’m coming off the bench and then then eventually I’m getting decent minutes and eventually my minutes are declining uh and I’m like wow, you know what I mean I’m like what did I do I should have went to Miami you know I’m like this is the worst decision ever, you know I mean but we’re winning and I’m not a unhappy camper like ah you know not at all I’m going with the flow you know I mean I’m here lights Camera Action, wish I had more time but um but it is what it is,” Rider explained.
Rider shared the reason why he was left off the Lakers’ playoff roster.
“It was something that happened at practice, it was an egotistical power move by Phil Jackson. To play around with someone’s career like that wasn’t cool and it hurt me deep down.
Very painful to go there wanting a ring and sit down in a suit the whole playoffs,” Rider told Bleacher Report’s Brian Mazique.
