Scottie Pippen Didn’t Have Michael Jordan’s Phone Number While They Were Teammates On Bulls: ‘Michael And I Aren’t Close And Never Have Been’

Scottie Pippen didn’t have Michael Jordan‘s phone number while they were teammates on the Chicago Bulls, which is surprising since they are universally recognized as the best duo in NBA history. 

In his book, “Unguarded,” Pippen revealed that he and Jordan have never been close. 

“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.”

When Jordan’s father was killed in 1993, Pippen didn’t offer him condolences.

It’s not a good look for Pippen, one of the greatest small forwards in NBA history. 

“As soon as I heard the news, I contacted Tim Hallam, the PR guy for the Bulls,” Pippen wrote. “I was hoping Tim could let Michael know how badly I felt for him and his family. I couldn’t call Michael myself. I didn’t have his number. Besides, he had a strong support group around him. He didn’t need to hear from me. What could I possibly say others couldn’t? Tim told me no one from the organization had been in contact with Michael. When I heard that, I should immediately have tried another way. I knew plenty of people who could have easily gotten a message to him. Instead I told myself I was off the hook because I had made my attempt.”

NBA reporter Stephen A. Smith, who is friends with Jordan, revealed in 2021 that Jordan will never talk with Pippen again after what Pippen wrote in his book. 

“His father passed away after the first three-peat,” Smith said. “So you had year one without Michael Jordan, year two. You had the three years you were with him for the second three-peat to express your condolences. You never did it. Michael Jordan never even thought about that until he saw it, and then he realized, ‘Wait a minute, you didn’t give me condolences on purpose. I didn’t even think about this.’ He’s (Pippen) crossed the line. Him and Jordan, it’s over. Take it from me. It’s over.”

Jordan and Pippen won three NBA championships before James Jordan was killed and three more after.

Pippen had numerous chances to talk to Jordan about James Jordan’s death, but he never did. 

Jordan and Pippen won six NBA championships together on the Bulls and three-peated twice.

Sadly, they won’t speak again, which is Pippen’s fault. 

Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks alongside Pippen, while Pippen averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks next to Jordan. 

The Bulls went 514-177 in the regular season when Jordan and Pippen played.