PONTIAC, Mich. -- Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas will marry former Indiana University classmate Lynn Kendall today at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Chicago.
The wedding party will consist of 10 couples, including Thomas' six brothers, two childhood friends, Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson and Dallas Mavericks forward Mark Aguirre, a childhood playmate of Thomas in Chicago.
Thomas' brother, Mark, will be best man. Thomas is the youngest of 11 children.
Pistons General Manager Jack McCloskey along with players, coaches and a number of front-office people are expected to attend the wedding, along with several NBA players, including Herb Williams of the Indiana Pacers.
Thomas told the Detroit Free Press he decided to exclude the news media to keep the ceremony private. The reception will be held at the downtown Chicago Marriott under tight security to discourage curiosity seekers.
Thomas and Kendall, both 24, will honeymoon in Hawaii and live in Thomas' home in the Detroit suburb of Southfield.
The two met six years ago in the Chicago area, where both grew up. Both attended Indiana University and occasionally dated there.
After leading Indiana to the 1981 NCAA national championship, Thomas decided to forego his final two college seasons and enter the NBA draft. Kendall became an airline stewardess and she and Thomas maintained a long-distance romance.
Although they were engaged last summer, word didn't leak out until January. For a long time, Thomas refused even to reveal Kendall's name to the news media.
'She's special to me,' he told the Free Press. 'It's not like I want to lock her in a closet, but I do want to have a normal private life ... just like everyone else has.'
