Michael Jordan texted Scottie Pippen after “The Last Dance” docuseries came out in 2020.
Jordan found out that Pippen was upset with him.
“The text was from Michael,” Pippen wrote in his book. “He didn’t reach out very often. ‘What’s up dude? I’m getting word that you’re upset with me. Love to talk about it if you have time.’ My schedule was packed that evening and I knew the conversation would take a while. I hit him back an hour and a half later: ‘Let’s talk tomorrow.'”
“The Last Dance” was a ten-part docuseries about the Chicago Bulls‘ final championship season in 1997-98. However, the documentary was basically a Jordan puff piece and Pippen was irate.
“Michael was right,” Pippen wrote. “I was upset with him. It was because of The Last Dance. … The final two episodes aired on May 17. Similar to the previous eight, they glorified Michael Jordan while not giving nearly enough praise to me and my proud teammates. Michael deserved a large portion of the blame. The producers had granted him editorial control of the final product. The doc couldn’t have been released otherwise. He was the leading man and the director.”
Jordan and Pippen won six NBA championships together and three-peated twice while going undefeated in the NBA Finals during the 90’s. They are universally recognized as the greatest duo in NBA history.
However, Jordan and Pippen are no longer on speaking terms.
“On and on it went, the spotlight shining on number 23,” Pippen wrote. “Even in the second episode, which focused for a while on my difficult upbringing and unlikely path to the NBA, the narrative returned to MJ and his determination to win. I was nothing more than a prop. His ‘best teammates of all time,’ he called me. He couldn’t have been more condescending if he tried.
“On second thought, I could believe my eyes. I spent a lot of time around the man. I knew what made him tick. How naive I was to expect anything else. Each episode was the same: Michael on a pedestal, his teammates secondary, smaller, the message no different from when he referred to us back then as his ‘supporting cast.’ From one season to the next, we received little or no credit whenever we won but the bulk of the criticism when we lost. Michael could shoot 6 for 24 from the field, commit 5 turnovers, and he was still, in the minds of the adoring press and public, the Errorless Jordan.”
Pippen wrote in his book that he caught up with Jordan two days after MJ messaged him. Pippen didn’t hold back in his text back to Jordan.
“I was disappointed in the documentary,” Pippen texted Jordan. “It didn’t shine a good light on me. You were promoting The Last Dance but switched it to the Michael Jordan documentary. I don’t know what you are selling. Was I great or was I villain?”
The Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics and Utah Jazz (twice) for their six NBA titles. Jordan won all six Finals MVPs.
Pippen wrote in his book that he hated when people called him “Robin.”
“God, I hated that term and being referred to as Robin to his Batman,” Pippen wrote. “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 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 an incredible 514-177 in the regular season when Jordan and Pippen played.
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It’s time for Jordan and pippen to resolve their differences and admit their faults. If not the legacy of the bulls dynasty will forever be tarnished.
Jordan needs to just needs to be a little more humble and give credit where credit is do. I dont know bout y’all but if you traded his ” supporting cast” for any other team in the league minus that teams star i dont think he gets 6 rings. But Mike thinks his team owes him and has no appreciation for all the other guys that bust their ass for those 6 rings. C’mon Mike.
That a direct quote from Mike? Or just you conjecturing…..
Barkley said, “opinions are like a$$holes, Everybody has one”.
Sorry Pip, you felt that way. Why even make a big deal about this when you know that people will ALWAYS remember how your tandem-play with MJ resulted to 6 rings!? You have to be matured enough to realize there can ONLY be one King. And that would be MJ. Let’s face it, MJ is far larger than basketball itself. You on the other hand is ONLY at the level of the basketball world.
Do you think at any point, people will be as interested in watching The Last Dance if it promotes mainly the Bulls team per se?
Nope. It was MJ presence and him being the spotlight and central figure in the whole doc.
Why? Because he was the one who made such way-above impact and significance for the people to remember.
If I may remind you, the foundation of MJ’s success and universal appeal was established EVEN BEFORE you were in the league.
His INCREDIBLE first-time -seen on a player as an individual with practically no help from his original Bulls team from 1985 up until the time you came in, we’re already galvanized in the minds of both fans and haters (because their teams lost) alike, as MJ establishing his legacy.
So we give the control of the doc to whoever it was due, and that would be MJ. He not only far more deserved it but people are only much interested to see the doc BECAUSE IF HIM!
That’s how much RELEVANCE he left on his legacy.
So, whether you were placed on a bad light, or they could have mention other things positive about you, IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER!
Why?
Because you’re included in the legendary team who won (2) Back 2 Back 2 Back Chips and people will NEVER forget that.
Now as far you being sour and salty whenever keen observers and sport enthusiast calls you “Robin” – instead of feeling that way, how about feeling thankful that you played with the next biggest role, side by side with The True GOAT
who ever played the game.
Next time your ego starts inflating too much than what you really are in the eyes of the world, say this to yourself:
*”I only became THIS famous because I played with the greatest who ever lived!”
■ I seriously DOUBT that the fame and accolade you’re receiving now, will ever be at this level, should you have played on another team and against MJ himself.
AND FINALLY… Ask youself:
*”Have I ever heard in the sportcasting world these words:
[ When a player or a personality exceeds the level of excellence he/she is expected to perform within that respective special field ]
“(HE/SHE) [the name of the person], IS THE SCOTTIE PIPPEN OF ____________!” (name of sport/ profession/carrer/ special field).
*** NOW BE THANKFUL, if it was remarked in the sense that the person is the BEST ROBIN to complement The BATMAN.
THAT’S the accomplishment NO ONE could TAKE AWAY from you.
NOW GROW UP, Dude!!!
let’s be real…pippen would be a nobody had he not been paired with Mike. rookie season only averaging 7ppg? playing alongside mj allowed pippen to become the elite player he was.
and how does he feel slighted in any way? Mike is always on record as giving his teammates credit for the wins.