In his book, “Unguarded,” NBA icon Scottie Pippen wrote that he “hated” being called Michael Jordan‘s “sidekick.”
Pippen and Jordan won six NBA titles together on the Chicago Bulls. They went 6-0 in the Finals and three-peated twice.
However, Pippen and Jordan are no longer on speaking terms for several reasons.
“Perhaps the sport had been too small for our big egos, he seeing me as his sidekick,” Pippen wrote. “God, I hated that term and being referred to as Robin to his Batman, someone he felt he needed to pull along to approach every game and practice as intensely as he did; me, a team-oriented purist, offended when he tried to win games by himself.”
Jordan texted Pippen after “The Last Dance” doc came out. Jordan found out that Pippen was upset at him over how the doc turned out.
Pippen took several shots at Jordan in his book and the Bulls legends haven’t spoken to each other in years.
“Michael Jordan was 1-9 in the playoffs before I joined the team,” Pippen wrote. “In the postseason he missed, the Bulls went 6-4. The Last Dance was Michael’s chance to tell his story. This is mine.”
Jordan and Pippen were teammates from 1987-88 to 1992-93 and then again from 1994-95 to 1997-98. The Bulls won titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
In his book, Pippen — one of the top defenders in NBA history — wrote that he was a much better teammate than Jordan, who punched Will Perdue and Steve Kerr.
“I was a much better teammate than Michael ever was,” Pippen wrote. “Ask anyone who played with the two of us. I was always there with a pat on the back or an encouraging word, especially after he put someone down for one reason or another. I helped the others to believe in and stop doubting themselves. Every player doubts himself at some point. The key is how you deal with those doubts.”
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.
“I don’t usually allow our lack of closeness to bother me,” Pippen wrote. “I have plenty of friends. Yet there are occasions, and watching the doc was definitely one, when I think about the relationship I wish the two of us had, and it hurts. It hurts a lot. By no means am I an innocent party here. I missed some openings that might have made a difference, and I have to live with that.”
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.
MJ 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 and Washington Wizards.
Pippen played for the Bulls (twice), Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. He asked Jordan to present him into the Hall of Fame. They were on speaking terms back then.
