Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame 2000 inductee Isiah Thomas showed his compassion for a fellow former athlete.
“❤️❤️,” the former Detroit Pistons point guard wrote in the comment section of an emotional Instagram post showing Greg Brooks Jr’s speech during Ryan Clark’s “The Pivot” podcast from April.
Brooks Jr. is a former LSU Tigers defensive back and captain who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023 and had a surgery that was mishandled, leading to him being paralyzed after suffering multiple strokes.
Following the surgery’s complications, the Brooks family sued LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital for medical malpractice and general negligence. On Tuesday, an exception hearing was held to decide how to proceed with the lawsuit.
Judge Tiffany Foxworth-Roberts agreed with Brooks’ lawyers by ruling they could proceed with their negligence claims against LSU and its athletic trainer, Owen Stanley.
Detroit Pistons great Isiah Thomas
Detroit Pistons great Isiah Thomas
@ Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
During Clark’s podcast, Brooks Jr. and his father, Greg Brooks Sr., talked about what he’s been through since the surgery. The 23-year-old was planning to get ready for the NFL combine, but instead he is in the process of learning how to walk again.
“Sometimes I miss it,” Brooks Jr. told Clark about not being able to play football. “I look at the screen and think that’s supposed to be me, but I’m just happy to be here.”
“You are an inspiration, I mean you’re a superhero, and I expected you from a very young age, when I met you, to accomplish great things,” Clark told Brooks Jr. in response. “I never expected that you’d have to and be able to accomplish what you have, man. I love you.”
At the end of the interview, Brooks Jr. gave a few final words of motivation to others dealing with adversity. “Just keep on fighting no matter how hard it gets,” he said before being wheeled out by his father.
Following the interview, Clark, an LSU alum and Super Bowl champion, was extremely emotional and in tears after listening to Brooks for nearly an hour.
“It’s just hard seeing him like that,” Clark added. “My tears are like part pride, but also anger, man, (because) you’re right, that baby doesn’t deserve that, man.”