Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan were a dominant duo in NBA history, leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships between 1991 and 1998. However, despite their on-court chemistry, their relationship off the court has been questioned for years. Pippen has openly admitted that they were never close friends, describing Jordan as a difficult person to deal with.
The ongoing tension between them has been further complicated by personal matters, such as the relationship between Michael’s son, Marcus Jordan, and Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa Pippen.
Pippen’s Harsh Criticism of Jordan
In recent years, Pippen has become increasingly vocal about his dissatisfaction with Jordan. During an appearance on the ‘Gime the Hot Sauce’ podcast in 2023, Pippen controversially stated that Jordan was a “horrible player” before the Bulls became a winning team. He criticized Jordan’s early style of play, describing it as selfish and ineffective. According to Pippen, the Bulls only became successful when they embraced a team-oriented approach, rather than relying on Jordan’s individual skills.
Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan (NBA)Pippen’s resentment toward Jordan intensified following the release of the Netflix documentary The Last Dance, which focused on the Bulls’ 1990s dynasty. Pippen was displeased with how the documentary glorified Jordan while downplaying the contributions of the rest of the team.
He expressed disappointment that Jordan was the only player to profit from the series, further fueling his feelings of being undervalued. This portrayal seemed to confirm Pippen’s belief that Jordan prioritized his own legacy over the team’s success.
Pippen’s Bold Claims About Jordan and Basketball
One of Pippen’s most controversial statements came in his memoir Unguarded, where he claimed that Michael Jordan “ruined basketball.” According to Pippen, basketball in the 1980s was more team-focused, with players passing and working together.
However, Jordan’s rise to superstardom in the 1990s shifted the focus to individual achievements, encouraging young players to imitate his style of play rather than emphasizing teamwork. Pippen compared Jordan to LeBron James, arguing that LeBron’s ability to involve teammates makes him the true greatest player of all time.
Despite their shared success, Pippen and Jordan’s relationship remains strained. Pippen has acknowledged that they maintain mutual respect, but their friendship is not as deep as fans may have believed. His comments over the years suggest lingering resentment about how Jordan has been celebrated at the expense of his teammates. As both legends continue to speak publicly about their careers, it remains unlikely that their differences will be resolved, keeping their feud alive in the public eye.
