Darren Hammond’s unlikely journey into the NBA began not with a tryout or front-office connection, but through a personal relationship with Isiah Thomas on Chicago’s West Side.
Hammond, a family friend of the Thomases, met the future Pistons star at a 1980 Pro-Am tournament at Marillac House. When Thomas suffered a head injury that night, Hammond rushed to help—and that single act led to a lasting bond.
In an interview with NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Hammond recalled how Thomas later invited him to Gate 3 of Chicago Stadium, where he introduced Hammond to the Bulls staff. That meeting earned him a job as a ball boy in 1981.
By the time Michael Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984, Hammond was already a familiar presence within the organization. He would cross paths with the rookie during the team’s preseason camp at Angel Guardian on Chicago’s North Side.
Jordan’s integration into the city took a personal turn when he needed help finding a barbershop. It was Hammond—nicknamed “Smurf” by veterans like Orlando Woolridge—who escorted him to Price’s Barber Shop on Madison and Pulaski.
“When we walked in, it was crowded and it was crazy,” Hammond said. “People couldn’t believe it was ACTUALLY Michael Jordan.”
The connection didn’t end there. Hammond also happened to be present when Jordan filmed his first Nike commercial—shot, fittingly, at Marillac House, the same gym where Hammond first met Isiah Thomas.
“It was raining… kind of cold, you know?” Hammond remembered. “Michael hadn’t even played a Bulls game yet. And I saw the first Jordan I’s—the ones that were banned.”
Over the years, Hammond shifted his focus toward youth development in Chicago through his foundation, The Darren Group. His work has included partnerships with the Jordan Brand and events for underserved kids.
Despite the ongoing tension between Jordan and Thomas, Hammond hopes his story might help open a path to reconciliation. “Do I really believe Michael hates Isiah? No,” he said. “Maybe one day, at 70 or 80, those two might sit down and shock the world.”
