Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen formed the greatest duo in sports history. Scottie is about to take his place next to MJ in the basketball Hall of Fame.
It’s been a big Hall of Fame week for yours truly. First, my favorite football player of all time Jerry Rice got inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this Friday one of my basketball heroes enters basketballs hallowed halls. Scottie Pippen to this day is one of my favorite athletes not just because of his talent, but his work ethic and desire to get the most out of his potential. The former team manager at Central Arkansas is often overlooked because he played the “2nd banana” role to Michael Jordan. That is often looked at as a negative when it should be viewed as a tremendous compliment. Scottie knew his role, and became the greatest sidekick in NBA history. Michael Jordan remains the game’s greatest player, but even “His Airness” needed Scottie’s help to win NBA titles. In my book Pippen is the greatest on ball defender the NBA has ever seen. He could guard 4 positions, direct an offense, and was a phenomenal teammate. He also perfected the block on defense, initiate the fast break, and finish at the other end with a dunk or driving layup. He was a key member of the ’92 & ’96 Dream Teams, was named to the NBA All Defensive team 8 times, was named to the all NBA team 3 times, was the MVP of the ’94 NBA All Star game, and was the 2nd best player on 6 NBA championship squads. That’s a pretty decent resume huh? As Scottie would say….”most definitely.” In his honor, I wanted to take a look at Pip through the years with some classic videos and pictures that sum up one of the greatest basketball players the NBA has ever seen. Enjoy.
It started when the Bulls traded Olden Polynice(Yes, that really happened) for the draft rights to Pippen. Between that trade and Kevin Durant and the Sonics leaving town, all Seattle basketball fans just started drinking……heavily.
The best part of that video is the slow, dopey, bad, white guy playing in those pre-draft scrimmages. Who was he and who would ever draft him? He was Aaron Gray before Aaron Gray. Scottie was a work in progress when he got to Chicago. He developed as the young Bulls grew together as a team. Pippen improved by leaps and bounds by 1990, when he made his first all-star game. He averaged 16.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and was 3rd in the NBA in steals with 211. Pippen dealt with all of the migrane headache talk from game 7 in the conference finals that season, but ended that talk with this performance in game 5 of the ’91 NBA Finals…….
I love watching the game 5 clincher again. The Bulls first title means the most to me because of the struggles they went through as a team. Plus, I still enjoy seeing those fake ass Lakers fans cheering for the Bulls down the stretch of that game. Only Faker fans would do that. Yes, Michael Jordan has 30 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals in the game 5 clincher, but Pippen was equally brilliant. His line on the night? 32 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and equaled MJ’s 5 steals as well. And with that, the Bulls dynasty was off and running. They were back for more the following June when Pippen led a furious 4th quarter rally while Jordan rested. The 14-2 run to start the 4th got the Bulls back in the game, and it was time to celebrate championship ring # 2……
If you were a Bulls fan and were old enough to remember game 6 of the ’92 finals, I’m willing to bet anything you remember where you were when you watched it.
Pippen was a member of the greatest team ever assembled. The '92 Dream Team helped basketball become the global sport it is today.
When Jordan talked with Phil Jackson after the ’92 Olympics, he told Phil that Scottie was “the best player on that team.” That was a pretty big compliment coming from the game’s best player. Fresh off that gold medal, Pippen and Jordan quickly transitioned to the grind of the NBA season. The ’92-’93 season was challenging on the Bulls. Two long title runs took their toll, but Jordan and Pippen turned it up a notch for the post season. They swept the Hawks and Cavs easily before struggling with the Knicks in the eastern conference finals. After losing the first two games, the Bulls stormed back to win 4 straight. This was the series where Pip became an all world player. He was outstanding in the game win with 29 points. He hit a clutch runner in the closing moments of game 4 to help even the series. In game 5 he helped the Bulls break the Knicks 27 game home winning streak with a superb all around game including the famous trio of blocks on Charles Smith. Ironically, Smith’s career was never the same after that. I give all credit to Scottie’s blocks. Add another item to his hall of fame credentials……he ended Charles Smith’s career as a semi relevant player. The Bulls made it back to the finals and faced Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns. It was over in 6 and the Bulls became the first NBA team to 3-peat in 27 years……
The ’93-’94 season was the defining season in Pippen’s career. With Michael Jordan on his “baseball sabbatical” wink wink, Pippen was forced to become “the man” on the Bulls. He responded with these numbers: 22 ppg, 8.7 rpg, and 5.6 apg on a team that won 55 games. They were robbed of a return trip to the conference finals by one of the worst referees in NBA history(Hue Hollins….God I hate even typing his name), but it didn’t diminish Pip’s season. Sure there was the 1.8 seconds in game 3 vs NY, but Pippen had an MVP season. That’s what is remembered, or at least should be.
Pippen's '94 All Star MVP performance was almost as memorable as the red shoes he sported. He finished the game with 29 points and 11 rebounds. He also made commentator Magic Johnson piss himself with joy throughout the game.
Pippen's dunk over Patrick Ewing in the last game at old Chicago Stadium might be the best dunk in Bulls history. Yes, I'm still pissed that the Bulls were robbed in game 5 of that '94 2nd round series.
Once MJ returned in the spring of ’95, the Bulls were again ready to compete for titles. Jerry Krause nearly traded Pippen for Shawn Kemp the summer before. Do you think MJ would have come back if Scottie wasn’t there in March of ’95? No chance. The Sonics backed out of the trade at the last minute because of fan backlash…..Thankfully. Krause’s next big move came after the Bulls lost to Orlando in the ’95 2nd round. Jordan was back, but the Bulls needed that last piece to become title contenders again. Krause traded Will Perdue for Dennis Rodman(Yes, that was a straight up deal), and the dynasty was back. Before the Bulls finished off the Sonics in the ’96 finals, they first had to extract revenge on the Magic. Orlando knocked off the Bulls in 6 when Jordan wasn’t quite back to “his old self” as Scottie put it. That series in ’96 was the revenge series for the Bulls, and game 3 was a game Orlando had to have down 2-0. So much for that…..
I love how Pip said the Bulls didn’t have a “real cushiony” lead. Jordan and Pippen real also really talented at making up words. The championships got tougher as the Bulls grew older, but as always Jordan and Pippen delivered. The ’97 playoff run was not pretty as the Bulls struggled through the first three rounds. After the game 2 win vs Miami in the ECF, Pippen and Jordan took the podium together. They sat there and made fun of how bad they were playing.
Scottie: “We already came up with names for each other in the locker room.”
MJ: “He’s doo-doo and I’m shit.”
The struggles didn’t last much longer. The Utah Jazz gave the Bulls a good series in the finals, and played well. However, the Bulls prevailed in 6 and won one for the thumb…..
The last dance proved to be the Bulls most difficult. Jordan was showing his age, Pippen had a bad back going into game 6 vs Utah, and Bill Wennington looked 67 with all of his hair loss. Jordan led the way with 45 points in the game 6 clincher in what should have been his farewell moment. Even with that, the Bulls needed Scottie’s gutsy effort to finish off the Jazz for the 2nd year in a row. The dynasty may have ended, but the Bulls proved to be a team for the ages. I still believe the ’92 Bulls are the greatest NBA team of all time and they indeed that because they had Scottie Pippen on the team. He may always be in Jordan’s shadow, but he is one of the very best players the NBA has ever seen. His unique skills and talent made him a prototype. We haven’t seen anyone like him since, and we likely won’t again. Thanks for the memories Scottie, Bulls fans will always appreciate you.
Scottie and Michael chillin in the locker room after the 87-86 win over the Jazz in game 6 of the '98 finals. The Bulls 6th NBA championship was the toughest that team faced. Luckily, they had the greatest duo in sports history leading the way.
@Louie_Ruffolo8
