With the retirement of thirty-nine year-old, Chicago Bulls star, Scottie Pippen, one might ask the question, “Where would Pippen be if it weren’t for Michael Jordan?” My answer to that question would simply be, “Where would Jordan be without Scottie Pippen?”
Following the official announcement of Scottie’s retirement, Pippen met the media. One member of the press asked Scottie Pippen if he would have won any championships without Jordan.
“I’ve heard that numerous times,” Pippen replied. “But as I stand here and look back, I don’t think Michael had any championship trophies with out me. That would be my answer to that question.”
Was Scottie Pippen riding Michael Jordan’s coat tails to six championships?
In Michael Jordan’s first three years as a Bull, he never made it past the first round of the playoffs. During Michael’s fourth season–Pippen’s first -the Bulls advanced to the conference semi-finals with a do-or-die game five win over the Cavs. Pippen finished the game with twenty-four points, five offensive rebounds, a game high steals, and one key play after another. One of the most famous shots in Jordan’s career occurred in that game. It was a game winning shot over Craig Eloh. However, it was Pippen who hit a pull-up three, just before, to give the Bulls a chance for the last shot.
In 1990, MJ and Pip, led the Bulls all the way to the conference finals against the defending champion Detroit Pistons. In game seven of that series, when Pippen gave into the migraine headaches, the Bulls lost. The following year the Bulls faced the defending champion Pistons again in the conference finals. This time, however, Pippen stayed calm and the Bulls defeated the Pistons and advanced to the NBA Finals.
In the 1991 NBA Finals the Bulls faced off against the legendary Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls won the series in five games, starting the Chicago Bulls six championship Dynasty. Jordan made the highlight plays; the switch hand lay-up, but it was Pippen who caused havoc in the Lakers offense by guarding their point guard, Magic Johnson.
Steve Kerr, a former Bulls guard, says he loved playing with Scottie Pippen because he could see when a player was in a shooting slump and Pippen would work the offense to get that player open shots in order to get their shot back on. Scottie Pippen also ran the very complicated triangle offense, allowing Michael Jordan to get into scoring position.
Am I saying that Scottie Pippen was a better basketball player than Michael Jordan? By no means. However, I would venture to say that Scottie Pippen was a greater basketball player than Jordan. Yes, Michael was the best scorer and a good leader, but the definition of true greatness is making your teammates better. It was Pippen who set the screen, got the rebound, and made the perfect pass.