Scottie Pippen ‘Had So Much Fun’ Playing Without Michael Jordan In 1993-94: ‘Without Michael Judging Every Move, No One Was Afraid To Make A Mistake’

Michael Jordan retired from the NBA in 1993, so Scottie Pippen was the leader and best player on the Chicago Bulls in 1993-94. 

Pippen, one of the top players in NBA history, “had so much fun” playing without Jordan in 1993-94. 

“From game to game — possession to possession — our opponents didn’t know whom they needed to worry about, quite a contrast from the old days,” Pippen wrote in his book. “The players we added in the offseason were veterans with a high basketball IQ who picked up the nuances of the triangle faster than those who were on the team in 1989. Having four or five guys learn a new system instead of twelve also helped. 

“I’d never had so much fun. Without Michael judging every move, no one was afraid to make a mistake. The change in Horace Grant was most noticeable. He was playing with more confidence. I can’t recall him complaining once, about anything, though he was still almost certain to leave when he became a free agent at the end of the season. The damage caused by the organization was too severe, and Jerry Krause wasn’t going anywhere. 

“My goal was never to replace Michael as a scorer. I attempted less than 2 shots (17.8 to 16.4) more per game than the season before. My goal, as always, was to be the facilitator, to push the ball up the court to get easy baskets in transition.”

The Bulls went 55-27 in 1993-94 without Jordan. Pippen averaged 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.9 steals and 0.8 blocks. He finished third in MVP voting behind Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. 

Pippen won the 1994 All-Star Game MVP. The NBA legend finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds for the East while shooting 9-of-15 from the field, 5-of-9 from beyond the arc and 6-of-10 from the free-throw line. 

A Hall of Famer, Pippen was “tipsy” during the 1994 All-Star Game. 

“That was a crazy day,” Pippen wrote in his book. “Before the game, I hung out in my hotel room with a buddy, Michael Clarke, a former teammate of Pete Myers‘s at U of A in Little Rock. Michael and I played tonk, the loser drinking a shot of beer. This went on for hours. I probably drank the equivalent of three beers.

“Suddenly, it was time to leave for the arena. So I was a little tipsy. So what? I wasn’t planning on putting much energy into what is nothing more than an exhibition. And, you may recall, ever since I was snubbed in 1991, I didn’t think much of the All-Star Game to begin with.

“That strangest thing then happened. When I got on the court to warm up, my level of concentration was off the charts. I hit every shot, including three-pointers.”

Pippen finished his career with averages of 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in 1,118 games with the Bulls, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.

The NBA icon made seven All-Star teams, seven All-NBA teams and 10 All-Defensive teams and won six rings.