In a recent interview on Stacey King’s podcast, former Chicago Bulls player Scottie Pippen made some controversial remarks about his former teammate and NBA legend, Michael Jordan.
Pippen described Jordan as a “horrible player” and criticized his style of play, claiming that he took too many bad shots and focused too much on scoring.
These comments came as a surprise to many, considering the success the Bulls had during their time together, winning six NBA championships between 1990 and 1998.
Pippen’s comments on the podcast sparked a discussion about the dynamic between Jordan and Pippen during their time with the Bulls.
While Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Pippen played a crucial role as his sidekick, often referred to as the “Robin to his Batman.”
Their partnership was a key factor in the Bulls’ success, as highlighted in the popular Netflix documentary series, “The Last Dance,” which delves into Jordan’s career and final season with the team in 1997/98.
However, Pippen’s recent remarks seem to suggest that there was tension and dissatisfaction between him and Jordan during their playing days.
Despite the success they achieved together, Pippen claims that Jordan’s individualistic playing style hindered the team’s performance.
According to Pippen, it was only when the Bulls embraced a more team-oriented approach that they started winning championships and people forgot about Jordan’s shortcomings as a player.
Notably, Pippen also took the opportunity to praise current Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, whom many consider to be a rival to Jordan’s status as the greatest player of all time.
Pippen commended James for his impressive statistical achievements and questioned whether this made him the greatest player in basketball history.
This is not the first time Pippen has expressed his feelings towards Jordan.
After the release of “The Last Dance,” Pippen stated in his memoir, “Unguarded,” that he felt like nothing more than a prop in the documentary series.
He claimed that the producers gave Jordan editorial control over the final product, resulting in a narrative that glorified Jordan while downplaying the contributions of his teammates.
While Jordan has yet to publicly respond to Pippen’s recent comments, sports journalist Jackie MacMullan revealed on the ‘Hoop Collective’ podcast that Jordan was surprised by the backlash he received following the release of “The Last Dance.”
It seems that Pippen’s remarks have struck a nerve with Jordan, causing some discomfort and confusion.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Jordan or the Charlotte Hornets, the team he currently owns, regarding Pippen’s comments.
However, it will be interesting to see if Jordan chooses to address these criticisms in the future, given the impact they have had on his public image.
