Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Over the course of his illustrious career, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships, cementing his legacy as the driving force behind two separate three-peats in the 1990s. However, despite his undeniable talent and leadership, Jordan has been candid about the fact that one of his teammates had the edge when it came to being a more complete, all-around player.
Jordan’s basketball achievements are legendary. He claimed NBA championships in 1991, 1992, and 1993 before stepping away from the sport in the wake of his father’s tragic murder. During his first retirement, he pursued a brief career in baseball, a decision that surprised the world but allowed Jordan to process his grief. When he returned to the hardwood in 1995, he led the Bulls to three more consecutive titles in 1996, 1997, and 1998, solidifying his place as a basketball icon.
In addition to his championship victories, Jordan is a five-time NBA MVP and holds the record for the highest career regular-season scoring average at 30.1 points per game. He was the star of the show, known for his incredible scoring ability, competitive drive, and ability to take over games in crucial moments. However, behind his singular brilliance, Jordan was supported by a cast of excellent players, including the likes of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. These teammates were integral to the Bulls’ success, and their skills helped shape the dynasty that Jordan led.
Of all his teammates, it was Scottie Pippen who played the biggest role in complementing Jordan on the court. Pippen, a versatile forward, was known for his defensive prowess, playmaking abilities, and basketball IQ. Together, Jordan and Pippen formed one of the most formidable duos in NBA history. While Jordan was often the focal point of the offense and the primary scorer, Pippen filled in the gaps, doing a little bit of everything and excelling in areas that didn’t always make the highlight reels.
Despite Jordan’s supreme confidence and unshakeable self-belief, it has been revealed that he believed Pippen was a better all-around player than himself. Jordan never directly told Pippen this, as it wasn’t in his nature to openly praise others. However, according to Pippen, Jordan shared this sentiment with the Bulls’ head coach, Phil Jackson, during the 1992-1993 season.
In Pippen’s book, he reflects on this compliment, which he only learned about years later. “Something else happened on the way toward the United States capturing the gold medal in Barcelona,” Pippen wrote, as per MSN. “I gained respect from a place where it had been absent for the longest time. From Michael Jordan. He came to the conclusion that I was the best all-around player on the team — and on occasion even outplayed him. He never told me that himself. That wouldn’t be like him. He told Phil at training in the fall of 1992, and I didn’t hear about it until many years later. Either way, that is high praise from someone with three MVPs, and to this day, it means a lot to me.”
This acknowledgment from Jordan, even if it was relayed indirectly, speaks volumes about the level of respect he had for Pippen’s game. Jordan was never one to openly compliment his peers, especially during his playing days when his fierce competitiveness made him reluctant to give anyone too much credit. For him to admit, even privately, that Pippen was the best all-around player on the team was a significant moment.
On the court, the connection between Jordan and Pippen was undeniable. The two were almost always on the same page, playing off each other’s strengths to lead the Bulls to success. When they played together in the regular season for the Bulls, their record was an astonishing 514-177, a testament to how well they meshed as a duo. Jordan’s scoring and Pippen’s versatility created a balanced attack that few teams could contend with.
However, despite their shared success on the basketball court, Jordan and Pippen never developed a close friendship off the court. Pippen has been open about the fact that he and Jordan were not particularly close during their playing days and remain distant even now. In his book, Pippen addressed the nature of their relationship: “Michael and I aren’t close and never have been,” Pippen stated. “Whenever I call or text him, he usually gets back to me in a timely fashion, but I don’t check in just to see how he’s doing. Nor does he do the same. Many people might find that hard to believe given how smoothly we connected on the court.”
Their professional relationship was purely business, built on mutual respect and the shared goal of winning. While they may not have been best friends, their ability to work together on the court was all that mattered to Bulls fans. Their partnership led to six NBA championships, and both players had their jersey numbers retired by the franchise as a lasting tribute to their contributions to Chicago’s basketball history.
Scottie Pippen’s career stats speak for themselves. Across two separate stints with the Bulls, Pippen averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He was a six-time NBA champion, a seven-time All-Star, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times. He was the ultimate team player, capable of excelling in any role he was given and doing whatever was necessary for the Bulls to win.
In conclusion, while Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, even he recognized that Scottie Pippen had certain qualities that made him a better all-around player. Jordan’s indirect praise of Pippen is a testament to the latter’s skills and the pivotal role he played in the Bulls’ success. Though they may not have been close friends, their partnership on the court was nothing short of legendary, and together, they formed one of the most successful duos in NBA history. Their legacy is immortalized in the rafters of the United Center, where their jerseys hang as a reminder of the greatness they achieved together.
