Scottie Pippen built a strong reputation in the NBA. He made his mark on one of the most dominant teams of the 1990s: Chicago Bulls. He also played many seasons alongside Michael Jordan, who many still consider the greatest player in NBA history. However, the rise of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James sparked a serious debate about that title. Even so, Pippen offered a candid take on the matter, changing the perspective of the conversation.
âThere is not a greatest playerâŠIâm gonna put myself in there if youâre gonna call out a greatest player. What makes Michael Jordan great? Because he had the media-gained MVPsâŠ[Nikola] Jokic is great and they didnât even put him on the M*******g team. I donât understand what people say make other people great because I saw a f***g two-time, should have been three-time MVP, not even get picked by his peers,â Pippen told Stacey King in 2023.
Scottie Pippen has always been a strong critic of naming Michael Jordan as the undisputed GOAT. Pippen mainly questions this because he believes there is no real criteria guiding the debate. Furthermore, he points out that several players have revolutionized different aspects of the game across decades. One of them is Nikola Jokic, who has modernized basketball with his all-around impact and rarely enters the discussion.
Moreover, Pippen argues that the most decorated player is not always the greatest. He claims that LeBron James is one of the winningest players in NBA history. Yet, in his view, that does not make him the best ever. In todayâs era, where the GOAT debate dominates headlines and fan discussions, Scottie offers a different perspective highlighting the subjective nature of greatness.
Michael Jordan was league MVP five times.
Scottie Pippen breaks down the truth about Michael Jordan and the Bullsâ 1990s dominance
The Chicago Bulls dominated the 1990s with Michael Jordan leading the teamâs offense. For that reason, many fans claim that he was the driving force behind their long-term success. However, Scottie Pippen, one of the key players on that roster, offers a different view. He believes the Bullsâ dominance came from more than just one superstar.
see also
Phil Jackson, Former Bullsâ head coach, reveals who Michael Jordan saw as second-best on the 1992 roster
âSo I say that to say this: the success of the Bulls came from the team, it didnât come from Michael Jordan,â affirmed Pippen. Also, he delivered a harsh criticism of Jordanâs leadership. âIt (Bullsâ success) didnât come from him being critical of other players, if anything it discouraged other players. No player wants to be talked down to, belittled or even made fun of, in some way.â
Besides, Scottie Pippen said no top free agents wanted to join the Bulls to play alongside Michael Jordan, pointing out that some players only arrived during the seasons that he retired. With that comment, Pippen aimed to show how difficult it was to play next to Jordan.
