Scottie Pippen has never lacked confidence, and his recent comments prove it. In a new interview with Daniel Arribas of El Pais, the six-time NBA champion said without hesitation that he would be the best player in the league if he played today.
“Yes, I think so. There’s no reason to think otherwise. If I worked as hard as I did then, I’d easily be among the best.”
It’s a bold claim, one that immediately sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. There’s no denying Pippen’s greatness, but the question of how he would translate to today’s NBA is a fascinating one.
Scottie Pippen’s peak came during the 1993–94 season, his first year without Michael Jordan, when he averaged 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.9 steals per game.
He finished third in MVP voting, fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and made both the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team. He led the Bulls to 55 wins and was just one questionable call away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
That season remains one of the best all-around campaigns ever from a non-center, showcasing his versatility and two-way brilliance. But when viewed through the lens of today’s NBA, it’s worth asking: would those numbers make him the best player in the league, as Pippen suggests?
The short answer is probably not.
In today’s game, stars like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama dominate the conversation not just because of their versatility but also because of their offensive efficiency, floor spacing, and the sheer volume of production they bring every night.
Pippen’s 22 points per game in the 90s, while elite for that era, would likely translate to an All-Star level output today, maybe a fringe MVP candidate in a great season, but not quite the best player alive.
Defensively, however, he’d be right near the top. His combination of length, instincts, and switchability would make him a nightmare in the modern positionless era.
It’s fair to say he’d be one of the best two-way players in basketball, probably behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama. His defensive IQ and ability to guard one through four would fit perfectly in today’s switch-heavy systems.
Offensively, though, Pippen’s lack of consistent three-point shooting might hold him back. During his prime, he was a streaky shooter at best, hitting just 32.6% from deep in that 1993–94 season. Modern spacing and pace would help him, but he’d still need to adapt his game, something that’s not guaranteed.
Pippen’s claim isn’t pure arrogance; it’s rooted in the mentality that made him one of the greatest winners of all time. He was often overshadowed by Michael Jordan, but when given the chance to lead, he proved capable of carrying a team on both ends.
Still, calling himself the best in an era that includes Jokic’s offensive genius, Giannis’s dominance, and Wembanyama’s evolving two-way impact feels like a stretch.
Realistically, Scottie Pippen would be an All-NBA mainstay, a perennial top-10 player, perhaps, but not the best.
His defense, versatility, and leadership would thrive, but the modern league’s offensive firepower would make it hard for anyone, even a legend like Scottie Pippen, to reign supreme.
