"He was a horrible player," Scottie Pippen takes shot at Michael Jordan

Scottie Pippen, one of the most celebrated small forwards in NBA history, played a monumental role in shaping the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s. A six-time NBA champion, Pippen was instrumental in propelling the Bulls to dominance, alongside Michael Jordan, from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. His illustrious career includes accolades such as seven NBA All-Star selections, three All-NBA First Team honors, eight NBA All-Defensive First Team selections, and an NBA steals leader title in 1995. Beyond the NBA, Pippen clinched two Olympic gold medals, representing the United States in Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996).

Despite this storied partnership with Jordan, recent remarks from Pippen have cast a shadow over their legacy, with the former champion delivering surprising and critical comments about his iconic teammate.

Pippen's shocking critique of Michael Jordan

During a recent appearance on the Gimme the Hot Sauce podcast, Pippen voiced his contempt for Jordan, labeling him as a "horrible player" during the early stages of his career. Reflecting on their time together, Pippen stated,

"Our game is a team game, and one player can't do it. I've seen Michael Jordan play before I came to play with the Bulls. You guys have seen him play. He was a horrible player. He was horrible to play with. It was all 1-on-1, shooting bad shots. And all of a sudden, we become a team and we start winning. Everybody forgot who he was."

This bold statement is part of a broader critique Pippen has made about Jordan in recent years, particularly after the release of The Last Dance documentary in 2020. Pippen believes the series overly glorified Jordan while diminishing the contributions of the rest of the Bulls roster.

Additionally, Pippen delved into their off-court dynamic, acknowledging that while they shared mutual respect as teammates, their relationship never extended to genuine friendship. Speaking on the PBD Podcast, he remarked,

"Michael is a very difficult person to deal with. Great teammate, but we just never were great friends."

Pippen’s comments underscore lingering tension between the two legends, contrasting sharply with the unity they displayed during their championship runs. His words shed light on a more complex narrative behind one of the NBA’s greatest partnerships.