Confusion over possible overdose at Isiah Thomas' home
posted 8:13 pm Fri October 24, 2008
- (Sports Network) - Police were reportedly sent to the home of former New York Knicks head coach and president Isiah Thomas early Friday morning in response to a call that someone had overdosed on sleeping pills.
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WCBSTV in New York reported Friday afternoon that Thomas was the person who overdosed. The television station said that Thomas was rushed to White Plains Hospital for treatment, but his condition is not yet known.
Newsday reported later in the afternoon on the incident, which it said happened at about midnight on Friday morning. Newsday did not identify Thomas as the overdose victim, however. According to the paper, Harrison police declined to identify the person who overdosed, but news reports have indicated that a 46-year-old male was referred to in police radio calls, and Thomas is 47.

Newsday, citing the Harrison police, said that whoever overdosed at Thomas' home was taken to the hospital and released Friday, but police are unsure if the man was released back to his home, or to another facility.
The Knicks released a statement on Friday evening which, though it confirms that Thomas is alive and well, does nothing to shed any real light on the situation.
"Isiah Thomas spoke with members of the New York Knicks organization and is ok. He is dealing with a family matter and we will have no further comment. He has asked that we respect his privacy, and we will," said the club.
Thomas was fired by the Knicks on April 18 by new president Donnie Walsh, ending his disastrous two-year tenure as head coach. The Knicks went 23-59 last season, giving Thomas a record of 56-108 in his two years after replacing Larry Brown.
Walsh, who took over as president on April 2, kept Thomas in the organization as a consultant, however.
The Knicks made the playoffs just once with Thomas running the basketball operations, losing to New Jersey in a first-round sweep in 2004.
Following the tumultuous 2005-06 season with Brown, Thomas took over the head coaching duties in 2006-07. Thomas' tenure with the Knicks was also marred by the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders.
A Hall of Fame player with the Detroit Pistons, Thomas also spent three years as coach of the Pacers and has a five-year record of 187-223.
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