Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley have had beef for over 20 years at this point, and it all started during their time as teammates on the Houston Rockets. Following the breakup of the dynastic Chicago Bulls in 1998, Pippen joined the Rockets in a sign-and-trade, to team up with Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
To ensure the team had enough cap space to give Pippen a five-year, $67.2 million deal, Barkley took a massive pay cut. Pippen, however, would demand a trade after just one season, and Barkley went on television to express his disappointment over it. In response, Pippen blasted Sir Charles and stated he’d never apologize for it.
“I wouldn’t give Charles Barkley an apology at gunpoint,” Pippen said. “So, he can never expect an apology from me. If anything, he owes me an apology for coming to play with his sorry fat butt.”
The Rockets had finished 31-19 in that lockout-shortened season, and they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers in four games. Pippen didn’t want to stick around for another run after that, as he was very unhappy.
He was particularly disappointed in Barkley, whom he termed selfish later in the video, adding that he doesn’t show him the desire to want to win. Pippen also claimed that Michael Jordan had told him that Barkley would never win a championship because he doesn’t show any dedication and that he should have listened to MJ.
Pippen’s wish to be traded was fulfilled eventually, as he was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers later that year. In his lone season in Houston, he averaged 14.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 0.7 BPG.
Charles Barkley Had A Hilarious Reaction To Scottie Pippen’s Comments
Barkley was asked about Pippen’s comment on not giving an apology even at gunpoint and he had a hilarious response to it (at the 3:19 mark).
“He said he would never apologize. But, as you know, I always carry a gun with me,” Barkley said. “So, there is a chance. There is a chance. I’ma go to go to my truck and get my gun and see. So, if I get arrested for murder, y’all will know he didn’t apologize.”
He also mentioned that Jordan had called him to make it clear that he never made the remarks that Pippen claimed he did. Whether he did or not, Barkley would never win a title. His career ended in the 1999-00 season after a left quadriceps injury. He managed to get back on the court for one final game and called it quits after that.
As for Pippen, he did come close to winning a seventh title, as his Blazers lost in seven games in the Western Conference Finals to the Lakers in 2000. He would play another four seasons and retired in 2004 as a member of the Bulls.
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