Scottie Pippen never asked Michael Jordan if he would return to the NBA in 1995.
Pippen and Jordan are the best duo in NBA history, but they were not close friends while playing for the Chicago Bulls.
“As usual, Michael didn’t confide in me,” Pippen wrote in his book. “Nor did I dare ask him what his plans might be. I knew how far our relationship went and I didn’t take it a step further.”
Jordan returned to the NBA in March 1995. He played 17 games during the 1994-95 season and averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks.
On March 28, 1995, Jordan scored 55 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. That game is known as “MJ’s Double Nickel” game.
The Bulls went 13-4 with Jordan in the lineup in 1994-95. They were the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
In four quick games, Chicago beat the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1995 playoffs. However, Jordan and the Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic in the second round in six games.
In the summer of 1995, Jordan filmed the movie “Space Jam.” On the movie set, he practiced and worked out at the “Jordan Dome.”
When training camp started in the fall, Jordan was in fantastic shape.
The Bulls went 72-10 in 1995-96. Jordan reclaimed his throne as the top player in the world by winning his fourth MVP and eighth scoring title. The UNC product averaged 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.5 blocks.
Chicago beat the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Magic in the 1996 Eastern Conference playoffs to advance to the NBA Finals.
The Bulls faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals.
Behind Jordan, Chicago defeated Seattle in six games. Jordan won his fourth title and fourth Finals MVP on Father’s Day. He cried in the locker room since he was missing his dad.
With the Bulls, Jordan won six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs, 10 scoring titles, three steals titles and one Defensive Player of the Year Award. He’s arguably the greatest player in NBA history.
Jordan has career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks with the Bulls and Washington Wizards. He’s first in NBA history in points per game, fourth in steals, fifth in field goals and second in player efficiency rating.
Pippen played for the Bulls (twice), Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks and made seven All-Star teams, 10 All-Defensive Teams and seven All-NBA Teams.
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 alongside Pippen, while Pippen averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks next to Jordan.
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