Wayne Gretzky is one of those former athletes that supersedes his sport—“The Great One” is known as the best hockey player ever, and even athletes from other sports are starstruck when they meet Gretzky in person.
Isaiah Thomas learned that lesson on Monday, as the former point guard met Gretzky at The Winter Classic in Seattle. Thomas learned that Gretzky was attending the game for TNT’s coverage and knew he had to find the hockey legend.
“I gotta see him, I don’t even got to meet him, I just gotta see him,” Thomas told former NBA player Jamaal Crawford.
Then, when Thomas did find Gretzky, he was able to say hi and learn that Gretzky knows who he is also.
“I just had to meet you, it’s an honor,” Thomas told Gretzky.
Isaiah Thomas was just like all of us if we got to meet the GOAT 🐐🔥 pic.twitter.com/HxrkFshpFE
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 2, 2024
Thomas put Gretzky into the context of his basketball knowledge, fairly comparing him to Michael Jordan. Even though Thomas played basketball his entire life, he still understands greatness in other sports when he sees it.
The game itself resulted in a Seattle Kraken 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, but Thomas had a highlight that went beyond the Kraken victory.
