• Scottie Pippen struggled to adjust to the life of an NBA star upon being drafted
• The Bulls’ legend once claimed that he didn’t take basketball seriously in his first two seasons
• Pippen retired as a six-time champion with the Bulls
The Chicago Bulls didn’t ensure nearly a decade of championship success by just drafting Michael Jordan in 1984. They got the key secondary piece around MJ in 1987 when they traded for Scottie Pippen’s draft rights from the Seattle SuperSonics.
Pippen ultimately became arguably the greatest co-star the NBA has ever seen, but he struggled to adapt to the life of an NBA superstar in his first two seasons in the league. He openly admitted the same to sports biographer Roland Lazenby.
“My first year or two, I admit that I messed around a lot. I partied, enjoyed my wealth, and didn’t take basketball as seriously as I should have. I’m sure a lot of rookies did the same thing I did. You’re not used to the limelight or being put in a great situation financially.”
Pippen averaged 11.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 46.7% shooting from the field and 63.4% from the free-throw line in his first two seasons in the NBA with the Bulls.
By his fourth season, the Bulls were hoisting the NBA Championship as Pippen averaged 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the 1991 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Scottie Pippen Is One Of The Greatest Forwards Of All Time
Pippen is known as the co-star to Michael Jordan on the Bulls, but he was more than just that. Jordan likely never wins those titles without having a player as versatile as Pippen next to him. Pip revolutionized the forward role, often playing as a primary playmaker in Phil Jackson’s triangle. While he and Jordan have no love lost now, there is no denying Pippen’s greatness.
He averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists for his career for the Bulls, Rockets, and Blazers in 17 seasons. He was a six-time champion, seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, and 10-time All-Defense selection.
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