Ex-Knicks coach hospitalized with accidental overdose

Former New York Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas was reportedly rushed to the hospital in Westchester County early Friday morning after an apparent prescription drug overdose. Harrison police received

News 12 Staff

Oct 25, 2008, 3:15 AM

Updated 5,882 days ago

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Former New York Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas was reportedly rushed to the hospital in Westchester County early Friday morning after an apparent prescription drug overdose.
Harrison police received a 911 call from Thomas' multimillion dollar mansion in Purchase, asking for an ambulance just after midnight. The woman who made the call said the former Knicks coach passed out in the kitchen of his home at Azalea Circle. When paramedics arrived at the scene, Thomas admitted to taking at least eight Lunesta prescription sleeping pills.
Sources say Thomas was taken to the emergency room at White Plains Hospital Center, where he was treated and later released. Police say the overdose was accidental and have ruled out the possibility of a suicide attempt.
Thomas lost his job as the head coach of the Knicks on April 18 following four losing seasons, during which the team won only 33 games. Thomas? final season with the Knicks was perhaps the most controversial, involving a sexual harassment suit against the team by a former Madison Square Garden employee and feuds between Thomas and two players.
Thomas still works for the Knicks as a consultant and a talent scout. Former players David Lee, Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson wished him well.
Late Friday night, the Knicks released a statement saying, "Isiah Thomas spoke with members of the New York Knicks organization and is ok. He is dealing with a family matter and has asked that we respect his privacy, and we will. We have no further comment."
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