The NBA has produced some of the most legendary duos the sports world has ever seen. From Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dazzling Los Angeles to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant powering the Lakers to three straight titles, certain partnerships have defined eras.
Even just a few years ago, players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, known as the “Splash Brothers,” built their legacy on teamwork and mutual respect. But the same can’t be said for Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, whose personal relationship has remained complicated at best.
Scottie Pippen’s Relationship With Michael Jordan Was Not What Most Expected
NBA legend Pippen recently returned to Spain as an ambassador for the Sanitas Foundation to lead its annual Inclusive Sport event. Before the event, he sat down with “Marca” for an exclusive interview, and inevitably, the question of his relationship with Jordan as a teammate came up.
Pippen’s response wasn’t earth-shattering, but it certainly carried a sting of honesty.
“It was never a very close relationship. But when we played, we had great chemistry. That’s the way this business is. Same with Phil Jackson. We’re not close friends anymore. That’s life, things change,” said Pippen as per Marca.
For context, Pippen entered the NBA in 1987 after being selected fifth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. But he was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls.
When he teamed up with Jordan, he helped form one of the most formidable dynasties in sports. Together, the pair led the Bulls to six NBA championships, three straight from 1991 to 1993 and another three-peat from 1996 to 1998.
Moreover, in his career, Pippen racked up seven All-Star appearances, won the 1994 All-Star Game MVP, and, together with Jordan, captured Olympic gold in 1992 as part of the historic “Dream Team.”
Pippen was a defensive powerhouse and had countless defining moments, such as his iconic Game 6 dunk over Patrick Ewing in the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals. That elite play symbolized his ability to rise in big moments, proving he was far more than Jordan’s sidekick.
Yet despite all their shared triumphs, Pippen’s latest comments make it clear that their relationship off the court has always been strange.
Many fans might be surprised, but not all. That’s because Pippen has voiced similar sentiments before. After Jordan’s documentary “The Last Dance” aired in 2020, Pippen later expressed frustration over how he was portrayed. Moreover, he even called Jordan “selfish” in his memoir “Unguarded.”
“Michael and I aren’t close and never have been. 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,” read a part in Pippen’s memoir.
In the end, their legacy as perhaps the greatest duo in basketball history remains intact. But as Pippen has once again reminded the world, the bond between him and Jordan will never mirror the friendships seen among other legendary NBA pairs.
