Scottie Pippen Threw Folding Chair Onto Court After Joey Crawford Ejected Him From Bulls Game: ‘I Didn’t Apologize Then And I Won’t Apologize Now’

During the 1994-95 NBA season, Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen threw a folding chair onto the court after referee Joey Crawford ejected him. 

Crawford ejected Pippen on January 24, 1995, against the San Antonio Spurs. 

“Late in the first half, Dennis Rodman, now on the Spurs, mixed it up with Luc Longley,” Pippen wrote in his book. “I couldn’t believe Rodman wasn’t called for a foul. I shared my opinion with Joey Crawford, the official, who didn’t appreciate what I had to say. He gave me a T. Now I was really ticked off, resulting in another T. Before I left for the locker room, I made sure to leave one last impression. 

“As I walked past our bench, I picked up a folding chair and tossed it onto the court, similar to what Indiana coach Bobby Knight famously did in 1985. I never like Joey Crawford. He was one of those refs, and there were several, who used the whistle to show how much power they had. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t thrown the chair. Someone could have gotten hurt. Even so, I didn’t apologize then and I won’t apologize now. Fine, I overreacted. So did Crawford, and I don’t recall him ever saying he was sorry.”

The Bulls struggled in 1994-95 until Michael Jordan came out of retirement in March. Chicago went 13-4 after Jordan returned to the NBA and finished the season with a record of 47-35. 

Behind Jordan and Pippen, the Bulls beat the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1995 playoffs in four games. However, the Orlando Magic defeated Chicago in the second round in six games. It was the only postseason series Jordan lost from 1991-1998.

“The celebration got underway. The Magic players carried Horace Grant, the returning conquering hero, on their shoulders as he waved a white towel,” Pippen wrote in his book. “I hated to lose, obviously, although a small part of me didn’t mind seeing Horace rub the loss in Jerry Krause’s face.”

In the summer of 1995, the Bulls acquired Rodman from the Spurs and the rest is history. Jordan, Pippen and Rodman guided Chicago to three straight championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. 

One of the greatest players in NBA history, Pippen had two stints with the Bulls. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks. Pippen made seven All-Star teams, 10 All-Defensive teams and seven All-NBA teams as a member of Chicago. 

A Hall of Famer, Pippen finished his NBA career with averages of 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in 1,178 games with the Bulls, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. 

Chicago retired Pippen’s No. 33 jersey, as well as Jordan’s No. 23 jersey. The Bulls won six championships and three-peated twice in the Pippen-Jordan era while doing undefeated in the NBA Finals.