Scottie Pippen’s new memoir has caused a lot of controversy over recent weeks. In the memoir, Pippen slammed his former teammate Michael Jordan over a number of issues and tried to shed light on his real experiences with MJ during their legendary stint together.
Pippen said that Jordan used ‘The Last Dance’ docuseries to promote himself, and buried his former teammates through the endeavor. Scottie felt that he and many other integral Bulls stars were portrayed in a negative light, and the series only served to elevate Jordan’s career and legacy.
He also called MJ out for ‘patronizing’ him by calling him his best teammate ever, noting that he underplayed Pippen’s contributions to all the success he found in the NBA during their time together.
Fans were a little taken aback at Pippen’s comments, given that Jordan has taken every platform and opportunity, including the docuseries to praise Scottie Pippen and tell people that his success would not have been possible without Pippen playing and helping him.
During his press rounds for the promotion of his memoir, Pippen has seemingly doubled down on his criticism of ‘His Airness’. During an interview on SiriusXM radio, Pippen spoke about his resilient performance in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, where he played through a herniated disc to ensure Chicago won their 6th chip.
"I don't see many bad-back games, but I do see flu games." @ScottiePippen compares his back injury against the Jazz to Michael Jordan's infamous "Flu Game." Hear more on @SiriusXMNBA. https://t.co/vZSAKED5NR pic.twitter.com/65Q21Dgig2
— SiriusXM (@SIRIUSXM) November 9, 2021
Pippen explained the pain he was in, and how difficult it was for him to get up and down the court. When the interviewer brought up Jordan’s flu game, which occurred a year earlier in the Finals, Pippen questioned how people can think playing through the flu is harder than playing with a herniated disc.
“I wouldn’t have played in a Game 7, I just wasn’t able to go. I knew on Saturday that I probably had one game left in me. And at the start of the game, I got a dunk early in the game and got banged a little bit by (Karl) Malone. That really put me back on my heels throughout that whole game, where I was running back in the locker room (to get) Cortisone, whatever kind of medication I could get in me, heat pack, whatever to try to carry on. I definitely was not able to play a Game 7.”
“Here’s my breakdown on that. I’m going to ask you this. Is it easier to play with a herniated disc or to play with the flu? Well, I don’t see many bad back games, but I do see flue games. Flu. Come on.”
To compare the two, Jordan entered Game 5 of the NBA Finals in 1997 with the flu, and went on to an incredible performance, putting up 38 points against a dangerous Utah Jazz team.
As for Pippen’s games with his back injury, he had a less than stellar showing. He went 2-16 in Game 5, scoring 6 points. And in Game 6, he went 4-7 and scored 8 points. Clearly, the herniated disc had significantly diminished his game and incapacitated Pippen.
Pippen’s comments are just the latest in a series of verbal attacks he has made at Jordan. He has been very critical of Jordan, even mentioning how MJ was ready to ‘kick his a**’ for missing practice after the death of his cat.
Pippen has a lot of anger towards Michael Jordan, and it all seems to be coming out now. One can ask the question of why he’s only coming forward now. This might be the one question that his memoir doesn’t have the answer to.
