NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas announced Thursday that he has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.
The 63-year-old former Detroit Pistons point guard appeared on “The Mark Jackson Show” on YouTube, where he spoke with hosts Jackson and his son, Mark Jackson Jr., about the new recently announced NBA format. During the second part of the interview, Thomas disclosed the news of his diagnosis.
“I’ve gotten a lot of love from people saying, ‘Well Isiah’s sick. What’s he going through?’” Thomas said. “And I haven’t really told anybody, right? So, I got Bell’s palsy, and, again, that’s why you see me like this. So, I appreciate the prayers and the love, but that’s what’s happening with my mouth right now.”
“You look good to us,” Jackson responded. “You look great to us.”
Bell’s palsy is a condition that causes the muscles on one side of the face to weaken, causing it to appear to droop. It can happen at any age, is usually short term, and symptoms often improve within weeks.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of Bell’s palsy isn’t known, but it may be “caused by swelling and irritation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of the face” or a reaction to a viral infection.
NBC News has reached out to a representative for Thomas.
Thomas also shared his diagnosis on NBA TV Friday and took a moment to thank those who supported him “during this past month.”
“I’m dealing with it, I’m showing up, I ain’t taking off — but I just wanted everybody to know that I appreciate your prayers and thank you for everything,” he said.
Thomas posted a picture of himself on the NBA TV set with the caption: “See you soon, @nbatv. I appreciate your prayers as I continue to recover from Bell’s Palsy.”
NBA TV has not immediately responded to a request for comment.
Thomas, also known as “Zeke,” spent his entire NBA career — 13 seasons — with the Detroit Pistons as a point guard before retiring in 1994.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000 for leading the Detroit Pistons to consecutive championships in the late 1980s and early ’90s, helping make it one of the NBA’s elite teams.
The Pistons legend has gone on to be an analyst for NBA TV and Fox Sports.
