Chicago Bulls legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen won six NBA championships together in the ’90s.
They are universally recognized as the greatest duo of all time.
However, Pippen wrote in his book that he “had no relationship” off the court with Jordan.
“Then, back in Chicago, every morning around seven o’clock, Ron Harper and I met at Michael’s house in the suburbs to lift weights in his basement,” Pippen wrote in his book. “After an hour or so, we enjoyed breakfast cooked by his chef that included pancakes, oatmeal, grits, eggs over easy, fresh-squeezed orange juice, etc. Hence, the nickname for the group: the Breakfast Club.
“The idea was Harp’s. He saw it as a way for guys to bond. He couldn’t believe it when I told him Michael and I basically had no relationship away from the court. Like everyone else who came to the Bulls, he assumed we were tight.”
The Bulls went 6-0 in the NBA Finals and three-peated twice in the Jordan-Pippen era.
Both Jordan and Pippen have their jerseys retired in Chicago and are in the Hall of Fame.
“Michael and I aren’t close and never have been,” Pippen wrote. “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. Away from the court, we are two very different people who have led two very different lives. I was from the country: Hamburg, Arkansas, population about 3,000; he was from the city: Wilmington, North Carolina.”
The Bulls were 514-177 in the regular season when Jordan and Pippen played.
Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks next to Pippen, while Pippen averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks alongside Jordan.
Pippen finished his NBA career with averages of 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks, while Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks.
Arguably the greatest player in NBA history, Jordan won five MVPs, one Rookie of the Year Award, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, six championships, six Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles and three steals titles with the Bulls. He also played two seasons with the Washington Wizards.
Pippen played for the Bulls (twice), Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. He made seven All-Star teams, 10 All-Defensive teams and seven All-NBA teams with Chicago.
