Isiah Thomas In Hospital After Overdose

 

Isiah Thomas has reportedly been rushed to the hospital earlier today for an apparent drug overdose.  It was reported that he overdosed on about 10 Lunesta sleeping pills.

An ambulance was called to the suburban home of former New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, and someone there was taken to a hospital.  The ambulance responded to the 911 call early Friday, Harrison Police Department Officer Vincent Lanzillotti said.  He declined to give details, except to say a person was taken to White Plains Hospital Center, about 5 miles from the home. Harris Emergency Medical Service declined to confirm what happened, citing medical privacy laws.

Madison Square Garden spokesman Barry Watkins told The Journal News newspaper, “Isiah is fine.” WCBS Radio reported that the call involved an “issue with sleeping pills.”

The Knicks had no comment. A message left with Thomas’ public relations agency wasn’t immediately returned.

Late Friday afternoon, a small SUV escorted by a police car pulled into a private road leading to the luxury development in Westchester County where the 47-year-old Thomas lives, about 30 miles from midtown Manhattan.

Thomas purchased the house on Azalea Circle in Purchase for more than $4 million in 2004, according to the Journal News.

Thomas was fired from the Knicks on April 18 after presiding over perhaps the most dismal era in the history of the franchise.

In the past season alone, Thomas was found to have sexually harassed a former team employee, feuded with point guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddy Curry — the players Thomas acquired in the two biggest of a number of moves that never panned out.

He was serenaded nightly with Garden chants of “Fire Isiah!” When he was dismissed, his record in New York was 56-108. Overall, he is 187-223 as an NBA coach, leading the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs in three straight years from 2000-03.

Thomas was hired as the Knicks’ team president on Dec. 22, 2003. The Knicks made the playoffs that season, getting swept by New Jersey, but haven’t gone back despite their high-paid lineup.

Still, Garden chairman James Dolan remained confident in Thomas, making him coach in June 2006 after firing Larry Brown following one season.

As a player, Thomas was one of the NBA’s great point guards, winning NBA titles with the Detroit in 1989 and 1990. In college, he led Indiana to a national championship in 1981.

Photo: WENN