Scottie Pippen Was “Livid” with Michael Jordan and ‘The Last Dance’

 

Scottie Pippen was a capable scorer, a perennial All-Star, one of the greatest wing defenders the NBA has ever seen and is a six-time NBA champion. Pippen had some major issues with ‘The Last Dance.’

The ESPN documentary primarily revolves around the life and career Michael Jordan but it also highlights other key players in the Chicago Bulls teams that won two three-peats, first from 1991 to 1993 and then from 1996 to 1998. Scottie Pippen was an important member of that dynasty.

MJ considers Pippen the greatest teammate he’s ever had. Jordan said that Pippen helped him in the way he approached the game and played the game and that whenever they speak Michael Jordan they should speak Scottie Pippen. “I didn’t win without Scottie Pippen,” Jordan explained.

According to reports, Scottie Pippen was “beyond livid” with how the show turned out and hasn’t spoken to Michael Jordan since the first episode of ‘The Last Dance’ aired on April 19.

Pippen apparently didn’t appreciate the way he was made to look and how Jordan questioned his decision to undergo ankle surgery at the start of the 1997-98 season, when he could have done so during the offseason.

Scottie Pippen delayed that surgery to prove a point to Jerry Krause and the rest of the Bulls management, as he rightfully felt that he deserved a better contract.

ESPN 1000’s David Kaplan said in May that Pippen was “so angry at Michael and how he was portrayed, called selfish, called this, called that, that he’s furious that he participated and did not realize what he was getting himself into.”

ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan reported that those close to Pippen said he felt “wounded and disappointed.”

Weeks after the final episode of ‘The Last Dance’ aired on ESPN, Scottie Pippen posted a photo of himself and Michael Jordan from MJ’s “flu game” in the 1997 NBA Finals. This could mean that Pippen has reconciled with Jordan.

Pippen is possibly the greatest number two ever, he was the Robin to Jordan’s Batman, someone who ended up being important to his team’s success, just like the main star. He facilitated the offense, got everyone involved, scored when needed and also played great defense. Scottie Pippen embraced that and excelled in this Robin role for most of his time in the NBA.