Hall of Famer Thomas overdoses on sleeping pills

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-25 15:10

NEW YORK- Isiah Thomas, a former National Basketball Association star player whose stints as a coach and executive ended badly, overdosed on sleeping pills, a television station reported here Friday.

Former New York Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas points to a malfunctioning scoreboard during their NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Oregon, in this February 1, 2008 file photo. Thomas has reportedly overdosed on sleeping pills, according to media reports on October 24, 2008. [Agencies]

WCBS, citing an unnamed source, reported that police were sent to the home of Thomas in response to an emergency call placed from a cellular telephone in the first minutes after midnight on Friday morning.

A statement from New York Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz did not confirm details of the incident but said Thomas is well.

"Isiah Thomas spoke with members of the New York Knicks' organization and is OK," the statement read. "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."

The New York Daily News said "a man suffering from a prescription drug overdose" was the victim but that David Hall, police chief of the repsonding officers from suburban Harrison, would not confirm Thomas was the victim.

"He was unconscious, but breathing on his own," Hall told the newspaper.

The Daily News also reported the man involved had ingested about 10 sleeping pills.

Thomas had been fired as coach and team president by the NBA's New York Knicks last April after the club suffered a seventh consecutive losing season, matching a club record for losses in a season by going 23-59.

Knicks supporters called for Thomas' ouster, chanting "Fire Isiah" at many home games.

Thomas, 56-108 in two sad seasons coaching the Knicks, remained with the club as a consultant even after he was replaced by Donnie Walsh as president.

Thomas, 47, also faced a sexual harassment suit from a Madison Square Garden employee. His accuser, Anucha Browne Sanders, won a settlement worth 11.6 million dollars.

Poor showings as coach of the Indiana Pacers, an executive with the Toronto Raptors and owner of a minor league that went bankrupt also haunt Thomas, who was inducted in 2000 into the Basketball Hall of Fame for his playing skills.

Thomas won two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons and led Indiana University to a US collegiate national crown.