Scottie Pippen, one of the NBA’s all-time greats and Michael Jordan’s long-time teammate on the Chicago Bulls, has reignited the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate with a controversial new stance. Speaking on the PBD Podcast hosted by Patrick Bet-David, Pippen dismissed the common narrative surrounding Michael Jordan and LeBron James as basketball’s GOATs, instead naming Magic Johnson as his personal choice.
“I will say he, Michael, he was built different. Competitive 24/7, not too many people are built like that. Willing to compete at any level and at anything, so when you look at these players in today’s era, being LeBron, there’s really no comparison when you talk about the level of competitiveness.”
“Michael bunched up all of his competitiveness and sort of exposed it out to the world within 12 to 14 years. We saw his whole resume, his competitiveness, his drive, his will to win, what he’s want to do.”
“When someone like LeBron has to spread that out for 20 plus years it’s not the same drive, it’s not the same fight, it’s not the same hunger and so when people try to make those comparisons of those two players, it’s like talking to someone in the front seat in the back seat they ain’t even in the same lane.”
“When you ask who’s better, LeBron or Michael, you can’t ask me who’s the GOAT between LeBron and Michael. Neither one of them are GOATs they both won differently, you can’t put them at the pinnacle.”
“Magic Johnson to me is a bigger GOAT than anybody because of how he lead, how he brought a whole team, how when the greatest scorer in the game, Kareem, was not there and him as a rookie, steps in and plays a position that no one even knew he could play that’s transcending what you can do as a player.”
The six-time NBA champion then turned the conversation toward Magic Johnson, naming him as the true GOAT of basketball. Pippen cited Magic’s versatility, leadership, and ability to elevate his team, particularly during pivotal moments, as key reasons for his selection.
He pointed to Magic’s historic performance in the 1980 NBA Finals, where as a rookie, Magic played center in place of an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and delivered a 42-point, 15-rebound, 7-assist masterpiece to clinch the championship.
Pippen’s comments add yet another layer to his complex relationship with the GOAT debate. Over the years, he has named different players as his GOAT, including Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and even LeBron James at various times. His most recent assertion comes amid a strained public relationship with Jordan, fueled by the Last Dance documentary and other personal disagreements.
Pippen’s remarks are sure to spark further debate among NBA fans. While Jordan and LeBron dominate GOAT discussions due to their individual achievements, Magic Johnson’s name often gets overlooked despite his five championships, three league MVPs, and revolutionary playmaking as a 6’9″ point guard.
By naming Magic Johnson as his GOAT, Pippen not only challenges the established narrative but also shines a spotlight on leadership and team-first mentality as defining traits of greatness. Whether fans agree with him or not, Pippen has once again injected fresh energy into one of basketball’s most passionate debates.
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