Why did Zeke wear an "Isiah Thomas" full name jersey?

[IllegalD]

So I'm watching the Bad Boy Pistons 30 by 30, when I see this...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2078/1560546003_53aa765f7c.jpg

Does anyone know the reason why Zeke wore a jersey with his full name on the back? :confusedshrug:

I guess I always assumed it was because there was another "Thomas" or "I. Thomas" on the team, but it doesn't seem like there is.

[Rake2204]

There was a player named Jim Thomas in Pistons training camp that season (1986-87). He didn't make the squad, but I'm guessing they didn't have a lot of jerseys to go around back then, so Isiah may have made the full name decision in the preseason and was then forced to stick with it. Or maybe he liked it like that.

As to why he didn't just go with I.Thomas - I've guessed that I.Thomas and J.Thomas would have still appeared too similar on the back of their jerseys. Granted, their different numbers would have been enough to tell them apart, but the first initials have always been a thing.