NBA Legacies: Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen was one of the most influential basketball players of his time. The six-time NBA champion is famous across the world for his legacy, star-studded career, and impressive athletic achievements. Having worked alongside Michael Jordan and remaining very close to the Chicago Bulls for his entire career, Pippen is one of the names within NBA history that players want to live up to. From Olympic medals to controversy and media coverage, this is a brief history of Scottie Pippen’s NBA legacy. For information about the NBA’s latest predictions, check out NBA money lines and spreads.
Embed from Getty ImagesCollege
Pippen’s early career began as many other famous basketball players, with college sports and being noticed early on. Playing with The University of Central Arkansas, and following a growth spurt to a whopping six-foot-eight, Pippen was discovered by head coach Don Dyer. Despite the small media market of Central Arkansas, Pippen drew NBA attention due to his impressive range and defense.
Chicago Bulls
Having been spotted during college games, Pippen was then selected fifth overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1987 draft after an exchange with the Seattle Supersonics. Pippen became close with teammate Michael Jordan, who acted as a mentor, and led him to his debut NBA All-Star selection in 1990. Starting as a primary defensive stopper in the 1990-91 season, Pippen gained his first triple-double, but it wasn’t until Jordan’s retirement in 1993-94 that the young player emerged from his shadow. Pippen gained his first All-Star MVP honors after another successful season with the Bulls.
Following several years of success, Pippen experienced conflict and a few personal issues. The player caused a conflict with coach Phil Jackson about his designated position and, during the 1997-98 season delayed surgery in order to be more available during the offseason, although this meant that his recovery time would be cut into the following season. Following this, various team trading demands were expressed by Pippen after eleven seasons with the Bulls.
Olympics
In 1991, Pippen was announced as a member of the United States Olympic Men’s Basketball Team and was among the first American Olympic teams to feature active professional NBA players. Known as the gold-winning “dream team”, the players beat Croatia in 1992 and were iconic within the American Olympic records. The team was elected to the 2009 Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame. However, in spite of their global success, there was an element of friction between Pippen and one of his teammates that aired during his time with the Houston Rockets.
Houston Rockets
In the 1998-99 season, Pippen was the only solo cover of Sports Illustrated, making big gains for the Houston Rockets following his trade. In spite of these gains, Pippen was detained by the police in 1999 and scored his lowest since his rookie year. Following controversy with former teammate Charles Barkley on the court, Pippen asked to be traded after only one year with the Rockets.
Portland Trailblazers
The player was then introduced to the Trail Blazers for the 1999-2000 season as their new starting at small forward, unfortunately, Pippen was forced to miss a total of 18 games due to tendonitis. However, not one to give up easily, the player went on to return to the Chicago Bulls for the 2003- 04 season as a veteran. In spite of his iconic status, the player was held back by numerous injuries and eventually retired, playing his final game in February 2004.
Retirement
October 5, 2004, marked the official date of Pippen’s retirement as a professional basketball player. With an intense work ethic and known by many for his unusually long arms and jumping agility, Pippen made a brief comeback in 2008 at age 42. Having made various TV appearances, the player returned to the Bulls as a team ambassador in 2010 and remains an avid part of the Bulls’ history.
Over the years, Scottie Pippin hasn’t been one to shy away from times of hardship and will live on as a legend in the eyes of NBA fans. The legacy of the Bulls’ players is one of commendable work ethic and impressive athletic abilities. Having worked closely with other iconic names throughout his career and even being a part of the gold-winning Olympic team, Pippen is an impressive player with a respectable position within the hall of fame.
The Chicago Bulls were an essential part of this player’s career and played a huge role in creating a well-known figure within the basketball field. There are many TV cameos from Scottie Pippen who played himself and even voiced characters on several occasions, make sure to listen closely next time you hear his name in the media. Consistently making NBA highlight reels, the player is an essential part of basketball origins.
