Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen revealed in his book Unguarded that he and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan">Michael Jordan</a> would not have participated in the “Dream Team” if Isiah Thomas had been selected.



The rivalry between Pippen, Jordan, and Thomas, the leader of the Detroit Pistons‘ “Bad Boys,” has been well-known for decades. In his book, Pippen explains that the chemistry between the players would have been terrible if Thomas had been part of the Olympic team.



“Much has been written over the years about why Isiah didn’t make the team,” Pippen wrote. “What is true, without a doubt, is that a number of guys wouldn’t have participated if he had been selected, Michael and me included.”



“Looking at his numbers, it would be difficult to argue that Isiah wasn’t deserving,” Pippen added. “But putting a basketball team together is about more than numbers. It’s about chemistry, and with Isiah… the chemistry would have been horrible.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240904_BUS_229111_Isiah-Thomas-1024x576_7e86e7a6.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-229141" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Isiah-Thomas-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Isiah-Thomas-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Isiah-Thomas-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Isiah-Thomas-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Isiah-Thomas.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>NBA legends Isiah Thomas and Dominique Wilkins attend the AT&amp;T Slam Dunk Contest as part of the 2022 NBA All Star Weekend at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 19, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<h2>The attempt at reconciliation between Pippen and Thomas</h2>



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scottie-pippen">Scottie Pippen</a> also revealed that Thomas tried to contact him in 2020 to attempt to reconcile. However, Pippen rejected the idea, recalling their troubled relationship in the past.



“In the spring of 2020, while the doc was airing, Isiah was interested in the two of us declaring a truce,” Pippen wrote. “He reached out to B.J. Armstrong, who called me: ‘Would you be willing to talk to him?’ B.J. asked. Dude, are you kidding me? When I came into the league, he was never nice to me. Why would I want to meet with him now? Isiah is no fool. He knows better than anyone how poorly he came across in The Last Dance, and with good reason. I wasn’t about to make it easier for him.”



<h2>The Bulls-Pistons rivalry</h2>



The rivalry between the Bulls and Pistons was intense during the 1990s. The Pistons, led by <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/isiah-thomas">Isiah Thomas</a>, eliminated the Bulls in the Conference Finals in 1988, 1989, and 1990. However, the Bulls got their revenge by sweeping the Pistons in 1991.



During the 1991 series, before Game 4, Thomas and the Pistons left the court without shaking hands with the Bulls, a gesture widely regarded as unsportsmanlike.


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<h2>The legacy of the “Dream Team”</h2>



The “Dream Team” won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, defeating Croatia in the final. All players on the team, except Christian Laettner, are members of the Basketball Hall of Fame.



Jordan and Pippen went on to win six championships together with the Bulls, while Thomas won two with the Pistons. The rivalry between these players remains a hot topic in basketball discussions.



Scottie Pippen’s revelation about the possibility that he and Michael Jordan would have skipped the “Dream Team” if Isiah Thomas had been selected has stirred controversy. The rivalry between these players has been fierce over the years and continues to spark debate in the basketball world.

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Scottie Pippen reveals big reason he and Michael Jordan would've quit the Dream Team - Bolavip US

miniaturas

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan">Michael Jordan</a> is one of the best players in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> history after winning six championships with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls">Chicago Bulls</a>. However, before those glory years, Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons were the biggest obstacle for the legend.



In 1988, the first chapter of the rivalry was written in the playoffs as The Bad Boys took care of business with a resounding 4-1 victory in the series facing the Bulls.



Then, the Pistons won twice against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals during the 1988-1989 and 1989-1990 seasons. Finally, with the brilliant help of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scottie-pippen">Scottie Pippen</a>, Chicago got their revenge in the 1990-1991 campaign.



<h2>Isiah Thomas takes a shot at Michael Jordan</h2>



That breakthrough performance for the Bulls started an extraordinary period of dominance with Michael Jordan as their leader. Two three-peats and an impressive record of 6-0 in NBA Finals.







Furthermore, in one of the biggest controversies ever, many reports pointed out that Jordan and Scottie Pippen pressured USA Basketball to leave Isiah Thomas out of the famous 1992 Dream Team. 


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Now, Thomas took another shot at Michael Jordan on X when he was debating with a fan that Jerry Krause deserved more credit for building that Chicago Bulls’ dynasty. 



“Scottie Pippen and Toni Kukoc were good enough at that time to win one, maybe two championships, but definitely not six. This is a bold statement coming: The Chicago Bulls never win a Championship without Jerry Krause. Let it be known.”


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Isiah Thomas takes another big shot at Michael Jordan - Bolavip US

NBA News: Isiah Thomas takes another big shot at Michael Jordan

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Jaw-Dropping Mansions And Car Collections Owned By The NBA’s Biggest Ballers - Bolavip US

Michael Jordan is the greatest player in Chicago Bulls history after leading the franchise to six titles in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a>. It was an amazing run alongside players such as Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Horace Grant, Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr.



Of course, all this happened in two different stages (1991-1993 and 1996-1998) with a Hall of Fame head coach like Phil Jackson. However, the Bulls had no Ring of Honor to recognize these incredible achievements.



This Friday, all that will change in a historic ceremony at United Center. The biggest names in Bulls’ history will finally get that distinction. However, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan">Michael Jordan</a> won’t be there.



The inaugural Ring of Honor class of the Bulls will be announced tonight during halftime of the long awaited game against <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/stephen-curry">Stephen Curry</a> and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Golden State Warriors</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240112_BUS_97533_michaeljordanbulls-1024x576_47ff02cb.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-97549" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/michaeljordanbulls-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/michaeljordanbulls-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/michaeljordanbulls-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/michaeljordanbulls-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/michaeljordanbulls.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Michael Jordan won’t be at the Ring of Honor ceremony (Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Chicago Bulls: Why did Michael Jordan miss the Ring of Honor ceremony?</h2>



Although thousands of fans believe Michael Jordan won’t attend the Ring of Honor ceremony because of many problems with Scottie Pippen, the legend sent a message on social media to explain his absence.







“I&nbsp;want to thank Jerry Reinsdorf&nbsp;and&nbsp;Michael Reinsdorf&nbsp;for starting the Ring of Honor. I&nbsp;want to congratulate&nbsp;all the other recipients. I am so bummed that I can’t be there tonight, but I don’t&nbsp;want&nbsp;that to stop the fun that you guys are going to&nbsp;actually have.”


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Jordan acknowledged he is grateful and honored to be part of such a special event and had kind words for all the fans who supported him during a brilliant career in the NBA.



“To the fans, you guys have supported me ever since I stepped foot in Chicago. Even today, I see a lot of Chicago fans all over. So, I think we made an impression and changed what Chicago represents in terms of champions. Every time you look up in the rafters, I want you to always remember, where we were and where we are. And we are always going to be champions.”

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Michael Jordan misses Ring of Honor ceremony with Chicago Bulls - Bolavip US

Ever since<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Michael Jordan</a> released The Last Dance, fellow <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago Bulls</a> legend <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scottie-pippen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scottie Pippen</a> has gone out of his way to try and discedit No. 23. It’s gotten sad and even lowkey embarrassing for the legendary forward.



Pippen has called Jordan a bad person, a bad teammate, and even a bad player. Perhaps he took offense at the fact that Jordan’s son Marcus is set to marry his ex-wife Larsa, as if it was Jordan’s fault.



That’s why Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins put him on blast for taking so many uncalled-for and unanswered shots at the guy who helped him win six <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championships.



<h2>Dominique Wilkins Calls Out Scottie Pippen</h2>



“When I hear him saying (that MJ didn’t win rings until he arrived)… I’m like, ‘What’s really going on with Scottie?’ (Because) Anybody who knows basketball is like, ‘You don’t win those rings without Jordan,’” Wilkins said. 



“Sometimes, everybody wants to be the king, and everybody can’t. Like I said, whatever issue that he got going, the two got going, I mean (just the) ability to make some sense,” he added.


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Pippen had the chance to go out as the legend he was. But now, most fans will remember him as a bitter and envious man trying to take down Michael just to sell his book.

Dominique Wilkins rips Scottie Pippen for one-sided beef with Michael Jordan

Dominique Wilkins rips Scottie Pippen for one-sided beef with Michael Jordan - Bolavip US

Ring culture has been a major issue in today’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA.</a> The fans don’t seem to value great players unless they win a championship, which is why they urged <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Damian Lillard</a> to leave the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers</a> for years.



Of course, measuring a player’s greatness based on championships alone might be unfair and insufficient. There are so many incredible talents that were never lucky enough to have a title-winning-caliber core next to them.



That’s the case with Tracy McGrady, who recently shared his thoughts on ring culture, explaining how the narrative around <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Jordan</a> would be so different if it wasn’t for Scottie Pippen.



<h2>Tracy McGrady Says Michael Jordan Was Just A Great Individual Players</h2>



“In today’s society and sports, you get defined by winning championships,” McGrady said on the Pat Bev Podcast. “Whereas everybody is not lucky enough to be in those situations. You look at some of the greats that played this game.”



“And I’m not saying that Magic Johnson was lucky, but Magic Johnson played with a lot of freaking Hall Of Famers. Not saying Larry Bird is lucky; he played with a lot of Hall Of Famers, right?” T-Mac continued.



“Jordan wasn’t so lucky about playing with a lot of Hall Of Famers, he just had a great sidekick in Scottie Pippen,” McGrady added. “But if you look at Jordan before Scottie Pippen became Scottie Pippen, Jordan was just a great individual player.”



“Like, Jordan wasn’t getting out of the first round or going deep into the playoffs before Scottie Pippen became Scottie Pippen. So you gotta have the talent to win a championship but not everybody’s blessed to play with a championship organization,” McGrady concluded.


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Jordan fans might take those words as an offense or a shot at the six-time NBA champion. Then again, to each his own, and Pippen’s influence On the Bulls’ success is simply undeniable.

Tracy McGrady has blazing-hot take on Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen - Bolavip US

Tracy McGrady has blazing-hot take on Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan">Michael Jordan</a> won six championships together with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls">Chicago Bulls</a>. One of the greatest dynasties in NBA history led by legendary head coach Phil Jackson.



Though Michael Jordan was extraordinary since his debut, the arrival of Pippen became a crucial factor to develop a winning team. Prior to that duo, there were no trophies to show for.


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Now, in an incredible turn of events, the relationship between <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scottie-pippen">Scottie Pippen</a> and Jordan seems to be absolutely broken. That was confirmed in another controversial episode which involved <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a>. 



<h2>Scottie Pippen destroys Michael Jordan while praising LeBron James</h2>



After LeBron James and the Lakers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets, Scottie Pippen appeared on social media to talk about LeBron James and his possible status as the greatest player of all time. 







“LeBron will be the greatest statistical guy that ever played the game of basketball and there’s no comparison to him. None. So, does that make him the greatest player ver to play the game? I’ll leave it up for debating. I don’t believe that there’s a great player because our game was a team game and one player can’t do it.”



Of course, that answer was totally surprising considering he played alongside Michael Jordan. Then, in an incredible statement, Scottie Pippen just took it to another level. 



“I’ve seen Michael Jordan play before I came to play with the Bulls. He was a horrible player. He was horrible to play with. He was all one on one. He’s shooting bad shots and, all of a sudden, we become a team and we start winning. Everybody forgot who he was.”




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As a consequence, Pippen became a trending topic on social media as nobody expected that kind of statement. We’ll see if there’s an answer from Michael Jordan.

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Scottie Pippen sparks a big controversy with Michael Jordan - Bolavip US

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Top 20 Most Underrated NBA Players Of All Time - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-miami-heat-are-not-giving-up-on-kevin-durant-trade-20220711-0039.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Durant</a> is one of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/The-15-Greatest-NBA-Players-of-All-Time-20200329-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greatest basketball players</a> of all time and should be treated and respected as such. However, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba--binew-york-media-irate-complaint-after-kevin-durant-request-to-leave-brooklyn-nets-20220701-0001.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his legacy</a> has suffered a couple of blowsor at least the narrative around him.
Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors was highly questioned. But then, some finally gave him credit for trying to win on his own in Brooklyn, just to tell the Nets that he wanted to be traded a couple of years later.
Nonetheless, as much as some love to hate KD, NBA legend <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/leaked-video-proves-scottie-pippens-takes-on-michael-jordan-are-fake-20211118-0006.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scottie Pippen</a> actually supports his decision to pursue a new destination. Per the six-time NBA champion, the owners have been acting that way for ages.
<h2>NBA News: Scottie Pippen Supports Kevin Durant’s Decision To Seek A Trade</h2>
“You know, that’s the game today. Players control their own destiny and not much loyalty is needed on either side of the table anymore. I’m fine with it, to be honest,” Pippen told Sirius XM radio.
“I kind of like how the players have their freedom to change and it’s what the owners have been doing to players for years,” Pippen added.“So, they just even the playing field, to me. I don’t feel bad for what KD is doing at all. I think it’s a great move for him. You move as much as you want, in today’s game. It’s like, to me, playing pick-up basketball.”
 
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<h2>Nets Are Playing The Long Game With Durant’s Trade Request</h2>
Still, the Nets are in no rush to part ways with their future Hall of Famer. They’ve set an astronomically high asking price for the four years remaining on his contract and won’t settle for a dime less, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst:
“We have a pretty gigantic gulf between what the Nets value who Kevin Durant is and what the market is willing to pay,” explained Windhorst. “Durant is obviously a very valuable player, nobody doubts that this guy is still is in prime years as an MVP-level candidate who can completely swing a team from pretender to contender with his presence.”
“However, the market does not want to pay a super premium price for him because if you trade away all of these top assets on your team to get him, he becomes less valuable to you. That gulf is why we’re in a stalemate right now and could have one for a while,” Windhorst concluded.

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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WindhorstESPN</a> doesn’t see a Kevin Durant trade happening for a while ��
 “The market does not want to pay a super premium price for [Kevin Durant].” <a href="https://t.co/ePagwlac3h">pic.twitter.com/ePagwlac3h</a>
 — Get Up (@GetUpESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GetUpESPN/status/1545408060260327425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2022</a> </blockquote></div>
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While this isn’t the first time a superstar requests to leave, they’ve done it with one or two years left on their contracts, so KD’s situation is nearly unprecedented. That’s why we shouldn’t expect any closure or final decision soon.

NBA News: Scottie Pippen backs Kevin Durant, says it's time players get back at the owners

NBA News: Scottie Pippen backs Kevin Durant, says it's time players get back at the owners - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/scottie-pippen-takes-another-massive-shot-at-michael-jordan-20211103-0007.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Jordan</a> is considered by some as the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/The-15-greatest-NBA-players-of-all-time-20200329-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">greatest player in NBA history</a> and for very good reasons. But as great as he was, he admits that he wouldn’t have found the same success if he didn’t have<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/scottie-pippen-tries-to-discredit-michael-jordan-flu-game-20211109-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scottie Pippen</a> by his side.
For decades, analysts and fans alike gave Pippen his flowers. He got praise and recognition for his contributions to the two three-peats and was even considered one of the greatest two-way players of all time.
Nonetheless, Pippen still grew sick and tired of living in Jordan’s shadow. He didn’t like how he was portrayed in ‘The Last Dance’, so he told<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/leaked-video-proves-scottie-pippens-takes-on-michael-jordan-are-fake-20211118-0006.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> his side of his story in his new book</a>, pretty much ripping and calling out Jordan on every single paragraph.
<h2>Dennis Rodman Says Scottie Pippen Is Just Jealous Of Michael Jordan</h2>
That’s why Dennis Rodman, who saw how they dealt with each other firsthand, took some time to call BS on Pippen’s words. Per The Worm, there’s nothing more to it than Pippen’s jealousy of Jordan.
“The book, I don’t know what to say about that,” Rodman told Cinema Blend. “I livedwith those guys for four years, and I never saw that. But I just think Scottie is so hurt, because he wants to get that recognition with Michael. Because he grew up with Mike and that whole 11 years they played together with each other, and he [disliked] the fact that Michael got $10 million for that documentary, he got nothing. I didn’t care about getting shit. I didn’t care about the money. … That’s between [Michael] and Scottie.”

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<h2>Pippen Says Jordan Ruined Basketball</h2>
Scottie has shared some bold and questionable takes about Jordan’s impact and personality, going as far as to say that he – of all people – had ruined basketball:
“I may go as far to say Mike ruined basketball.In the 80s on the playgrounds, you’d have everyone moving the ball around — passing to help the team. That stopped in the 90s. Kids wanted to be ‘Like Mike.’ Well, Mike didn’t want to pass — didn’t want to rebound, or defend the best player,” Pippen wrote in his book. “He wanted everything done for him.That’s why I always believed LeBron James was the greatest player this game has ever seen — he does everything and embodies what the game is truly about.”
Michael Jordan has yet to address Pippen’s comments and he’s not likely to engage in that back and forth. Even so, it’s sad to see Scottie going out this way, and several fans have lost all respect for what was once considered one of the best players of all time.

Dennis Rodman takes a big shot at Scottie Pippen over alleged beef with Michael Jordan

Dennis Rodman takes a big shot at Scottie Pippen over alleged beef with Michael Jordan - Bolavip US

It’s funny to think how different <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> history would’ve been if it wasn’t for trades. Would <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kobe-bryant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kobe Bryant</a> had become such a legend if he had stayed with the Charlotte Hornets? Would the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/boston-celtics-t101837" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston Celtics</a> beas dominant if it wasn’t for Bill Russell?
There’s always something going on in the league. GMs are constantly trying to improve their team at someone else’s expense, and what might seem like a great deal at the time could turn out to be a disaster.
Looking back, five trades have had a massive impact on the history of the Association, not only because of the pieces implied in the transaction but also because of how they paved the way for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/The-15-Greatest-NBA-Players-of-All-Time-20200329-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unmatched legacies</a>. Here, we’re going to talk a little bit about that.
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<h2>5 Trades That Changed The NBA Forever:</h2>
<h3>5. Dirk Nowitzki To Dallas Mavericks</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211214_BUS_180618_dirk_nowitzki.jpg_22993414_7cbf75cb.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Dirk Nowitzki – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Trade Package: Dirk Nowitzki &amp; Pat Garrity for Robert Traylor.
No one, not even the most optimistic Dallas Mavericks fan ever thought that Dirk Nowitzki was going to turn out to be as great as he was. He was just another skinny kid from Europe who wasn’t fast or athletic but had a smooth jump shot.
The Milwaukee Bucks weren’t exactly impressed by Dirk’s shooting skills and used their 9th overall pick just to trade him away to the Mavs. Dirk’s career got off to a terrible, slow start and he looked like a bust more often than not. Then, it all changed.
Nowitzki now has a shot at being considered the greatest foreign player of all time. He scored 31,560 points throughout his career and changed the power forward position with his ability to stretch the floor. He had one of the most incredible championship runs of all time and even won MVP.
<h3>4. James Harden To Houston Rockets</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211214_BUS_180618_james_harden.jpg_22993414_bef60958.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> James Harden – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Trade Package: James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook &amp; Lazar Hayward for Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin, a 2013 1st round pick, a 2013 2nd round pick, and a 2014 1st roundpick.
Regardless of how many draft picks Sam Presti manages to gather, he’ll always be judged for this trade. The Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t keep both James Harden and Serge Ibaka, so he chose to re-sign the rim protector and trade away the Sixth Man of the Year.
That looked like the right choice at the time. He already had plenty of scoring with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and Ibaka simply was a better fit for their needs. But looking back, the reality is that he traded James Harden over $4 million. FOUR million.
Harden went on to become one of the most explosive scorers in the league and the Thunder didn’t make it to the NBA Finals again. Moreover, they didn’t get much out of the draft picks they got, and neither Jeremy Lambnor Kevin Martin could provide the explosive offensive spark that Harden gave them.
<h3>3. LeBron James To Miami Heat</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211214_BUS_180618_lebron_james.jpg_22993414_54b17fd0.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> LeBron James – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Trade Package: LeBron James for a 2011 2nd round pick, 2021 2nd round pick, 2013 first round pick, 2016 first round pick, pick swaps in 2012.
Contrary to what most people think, LeBron James didn’t just sign with the Miami Heat. It was a sign-and-trade and it got the Cleveland Cavaliers plenty of draft assets. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for the fans to forgive him right away.
LeBron’s infamous “Decision” and “Taking his talents to South Beach” made him one of the most hated players on Earth but it finally allowed him to blossom and win multiple NBA Championships.
James cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time and the Cavaliers were a bottom-feeding team once again. He spent the best years of his career side by side with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh before an epic homecoming that only made him more of a basketball legend.
<h3>2. Scottie Pippen To Chicago Bulls</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211214_BUS_180618_scottie_pippen.jpg_22993414_bb438350.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Scottie Pippen – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Trade Package: Scottie Pippen &amp; a 1989 1st round pickfor Olden Polynice, a 1988 2nd round draft pick, and a 1989 1st round draft pick.
Yeah, believe it or not, the great Scottie Pippen could’ve played for the Seattle Supersonics. As a matter of fact, he could’ve been traded multiple times in his career but Michael Jordan demanded the Chicago Bulls to kill those deals over and over.
Pippen was exactly what the Bulls needed to turn the corner and become a competitive force in the Eastern Conference. He was the perfect complement for Jordan and his top-notch defense made them the best one-two punch in the league, and it wasn’t even close.
Together, Pippen and Jordan went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and turned the Bulls into the greatest dynasty of all time. They made the game global and dominated the league in an era that was just stacked with talent. He and Jordan are the reason why many Hall of Famers could never win a ring.
<h3>1. Bill Russell To Boston Celtics</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211214_BUS_180618_bill_russell.jpg_22993414_ad864e22.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Bill Russell – Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Trade Package: Bill Russell forCliff Hagan and Ed Macauley.
The Atlanta Hawks franchise has always struggled to find success, but they only have themselves to blame for that. They could’ve had the winningest player in NBA history but instead traded him away for an aging star.
The Boston Celtics traded two players for the second overall pick, turning that pick into Bill Russell. Russell went on to become the most dominant force in the league, and perhaps the most dominant NBA player of all time.
Even if Russell’s competition was far from the pros we see nowadays, he still made the Celtics the team to beat in the league. Winning 11 rings (8 consecutive)in 13 seasons, he’s the reason why the C’s are still tied for the most NBA championshipsall-time at 17. His numbers weren’t impressive at all but he’s one of the greatest rim protectors to ever live.

Five trades that changed the NBA forever

Five trades that changed the NBA forever - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/chicago-bulls-t101422" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Bulls</a> changed <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> history for good. Led by <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Jordan</a>, they won six NBA championships over eight years, made the game global; and dominated the league like few other teams in any sport.
Needless to say, Jordan couldn’t do everything alone. He always had Scottie Pippen right by his side to lead his team to success, forming the most famous one-two punch in the history of the Association.
Nonetheless, their relationship off the court wasn’t as good as it was on the hardwood. In fact, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scottie-pippen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pippen</a> recently admitted that he didn’t even reach out to Jordan when he found out about his father’s murder.
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<h2>Scottie Pippen Says He Should’ve Reached Out To Michael Jordan When His Father Died</h2>
“Another opportunity, if you can call it that, came during the summer of 1993, and I feel horrible every time I think about it. Michael’s father, James Jordan, had been murdered,”Pippen wrote. “The two were inseparable. When I heard the news, I should have reached out to Michael right away. Having lost my own dad three years before, I might have been able to offer Michael some comfort. To this day, he and I haven’t spoken about his father’s death.”
 
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<h2>Pippen Has Taken Multiple Shots At Jordan</h2>
That might as well be the only part of his new book where Pippen admits some wrongdoing and how he should’ve been there for Jordan. In fact, most of the memoirs consist in calling MJ out and calling him a bad teammate.
Pippen went as far as to say that Jordan ruined basketball because young players wanted to be like him. He also claimed that the Bulls won in spite of him being a bad teammate and that he was as good as a player as him.
Scottie went from being one of the most respected figures around the league to having fans of all ages calling him out for these controversial remarks, so it’s nice to see that he was also able to take a deep look in the mirror and acknowledge his mistakes.

Scottie Pippen says he regrets not being there for Michael Jordan during his father’s death

Scottie Pippen says he regrets not being there for Michael Jordan during his father’s death - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scottie-pippen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scotie Pippen</a> has been all over the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> news but not for the best reasons. Despite being one of the most beloved and respected veterans in sports history, it seems like he’s losing most of his fanbase over his comments towards <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Jordan.</a>
Pippen was livid at the way Jordan portrayed him and his teammates in his documentary. He wrote a book to try and discredit no. 23, his legacy, and everything he did for the game of basketball.
That’s why most people are taking Jordan’s side on this dispute, especially after <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/leaked-video-proves-scottie-pippens-takes-on-michael-jordan-are-fake-20211118-0006.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the footage</a> proves that Jordan always had a lot of praise for him and that most of his takes are just delusional and salty.
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<h2>Shaq Says He’ll Punch Pippen If He Says He Was Better Than Jordan</h2>
When asked about that controversy, Shaquille O’Neal was trying to be politically correct, stating that those things can happen whenever you have two strong characters in the same locker room:
“You got two alpha males on the same team, you’re gonna have these problems,” Shaq said, per Essentially Sports.
Nonetheless, O’Neal quickly changed his stance when the interviewer told him that Pippen had just said that he was better than Michael Jordan. To this, he couldn’t help to cringe in disbelief and even say he’d punch him if he said that to his face:
“He didn’t say that. He never said that. If that man say that in front of me, Imma hit him right in the esophagus. Yeah Imma drop him, do not finish that sentence,” he added.
 
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<h2>Pippen Says Jordan Ruined Basketball, Bulls Won In Spite Of Him</h2>
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Pippen has madeseveral questionable remarks in his book, going as far as to say that Jordan ruined basketball and that the team won six NBA championships in spite of him being a bad teammate:
“I may go as far to say Mike ruined basketball,” Pippen wrote. “In the 80s on the playgrounds, you’d have everyone moving the ball around — passing to help the team. That stopped in the 90s. Kids wanted to be ‘Like Mike.’ Well, Mike didn’t want to pass — didn’t want to rebound, or defend the best player.”
“(…) In the doc, Michael attempted to justify the occasions in which he berated a teammate in front of the group. He felt these guys needed to develop the toughest to get pastthe NBA’s more physical teams.Seeing again how poorly Michael treated his teammates, I cringed, as I did back then,” Scottie added.
“Michael was wrong. We didn’t win six championships because he got on guys. We won in spite of his getting on guys. We won because we played team basketball, which hadn’t been the case my first two seasons, when Doug Collins was our coach. That’s what was special about playing for the Bulls: the camaraderie we established with one another, not that we felt blessed to be on the same team with the immortal Michael Jordan. I was a much better teammate than Michael ever was.Ask anyone who played with the two of us,” he concluded.
At the end of the day, Pippen is getting exactly what he wants, and that’s our attention. The sad part is that he’s losing everybody’s respect in the way. Also, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of one of Shaq’s fists, so I’d be careful if I were him.

Shaq threatens to punch Scottie Pippen for his comments on Michael Jordan

Shaq threatens to punch Scottie Pippen for his comments on Michael Jordan - Bolavip US

Finally, after all these years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scottie-pippen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scottie Pippen</a> got what he always wanted: Everybody’s attention. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/chicago-bulls-t101422" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Bulls</a> legend has been all over <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> news lately for the bold remarks he’s made on his new book ‘Unguarded.’
The book came as a response to Michael Jordan’s ‘The Last Dance,’ which Pippen thinks wasn’t a fair portrait of Jordan’s teammates and what truly happened during the Bulls’ final championship run.
It pretty much consists of calling out Jordan, dissing him, trying to discredit everything he accomplished and multiple cheap shots. He even went as far as to say that MJ ruined basketball and called <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James</a> the GOAT over him.
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<h2>Scottie Pippen Says Michael Jordan Ruined Basketball, Calls LeBron James The GOAT</h2>
“I may go as far to say Mike ruined basketball,” Pippen wrote. “In the 80s on the playgrounds, you’d have everyone moving the ball around — passing to help the team. That stopped in the 90s. Kids wanted to be ‘Like Mike.’ Well, Mike didn’t want to pass — didn’t want to rebound, or defend the best player. He wanted everything done for him. That’s why I always believed LeBron James was the greatest player this game has ever seen — he does everything and embodies what the game is truly about.”
<h2>Pippen Claims He Never Said LeBron Is The GOAT</h2>
Now, Pippen says that he never said such a thing, even though it’s literally put on paper. According to the six-time NBA champion, there’s no greatest in a team sport, therefore James can’t be the GOAT:
“There’s no greatest in a team sport,” Pippen said in an interview. “Let me get that clear… There’s no greatest in baseball. There’s no greatest in football. There’s no greatest in basketball. There may be a greatest in golf. There may be a greatest in tennis and maybe some other individual sports that I can’t think of right now. But in team sports, there are great teams and there are outstanding individuals, but that don’t make them the greatest.”
 
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Well, that leaves us wondering… did Scottie even write the book? Or did he care to give it a read after barfing all those spiteful, baseless comments? What does he truly think of the GOAT debate? I guess we’ll find out in the sequel…

Scottie Pippen backpedals, says he never called LeBron James the GOAT

Scottie Pippen backpedals, says he never called LeBron James the GOAT - Bolavip US

Ever since ‘The Last Dance’ aired, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/scottie-pippen-reveals-shocking-truth-about-his-relationship-with-michael-jordan-20210627-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scottie Pippen</a> has shown <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/scottie-pippen-tries-to-discredit-michael-jordan-flu-game-20211109-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his true colors</a>. He’s gone to great lengths to try and discredit <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Jordan</a>, firing delusional takes left and right and taking shots at his teammate nonstop.
Pippen rapidly went from a respected and beloved figure to an infamous character around basketball fans. His desire for attention and attempts to uplift himself by taking Jordan down have been blatantly rejected by the community.
To make things even worse for him, a recently-found clip of Jordan lauding him and praising him as a teammate pretty much contradicts everything he’s said about the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/chicago-bulls-t101422" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Bulls</a> legend.

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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Scottie Pippen, really has lost his mind.
 Here’s MJ accepting the 1997 finals MVP and inviting Scottie to hold it up with him, tells him your my MVP and goes on to talk about how much Scottie means to him and that they should share it. <a href="https://t.co/8ud4TYnfzq">pic.twitter.com/8ud4TYnfzq</a>
 — Didier Occident (@DidierOccident) <a href="https://twitter.com/DidierOccident/status/1457736909220950025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2021</a> </blockquote></div>
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<h2>Video Of Jordan Lauding Pippen Proves Scottie Has Lost His Mind</h2>
“Scottie Pippen is… we a tandem,” Jordan said after being named Finals MVP in 1997. “It’s hard to split us up. He means a lot to me when I go out and play on the basketball court. He relieves a lot of the pressure that I have to deal with, I try to do the same for him. It’s hard to take this MVP by myself, he’s gotta take half of it. I take the trophy, he may get the car.”
Obviously, that wasn’t the only time that Jordan praised Pippen and thanked him for his contributions. He took plenty of time of his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech to address how he would’ve never reached those heights if it wasn’t for no. 33:
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“Whenever they speak Michael Jordan, they should speak Scottie Pippen,” Jordan said. “He helped me so much in the way I approached the game, in the way I played the game. Everybody says, well, I won all these championships, but I didn’t win without Scottie Pippen, and that’s why I consider him my best teammate of all time.”
“I would never be able to find a tandem, another support system, another partner in the game of basketball like Scottie Pippen,” he concluded.
 
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Pippen is going down badly right now. He didn’t need to do this to sell his book, people would’ve bought it and read it anyway. This is just disrespectful, delusional, and flat-out sad for those who grew up watching that historically great tandem dominate the league.

Leaked video proves Scottie Pippen’s takes on Michael Jordan are fake

Leaked video proves Scottie Pippen's takes on Michael Jordan are fake - Bolavip US

Leaked video proves Scottie Pippen's takes on Michael Jordan are fake

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