Scottie Pippen opened up on his infamous episode against the New York Knicks in the 1994 NBA playoffs. The Chicago Bulls legend was the team’s star after Michael Jordan’s first retirement, leading them to compete in the Eastern Conference.
No. 33 knew that was his team, and he tried to do everything to lead the squad just like Jordan did in the prior three years. His competitive spirit was so fierce that Scottie refused to enter the court in the last play of a playoffs game, simply because Phil Jackson drew a play for Toni Kukoc and not him.
The retired forward recently talked with GQ’s Tyler R. Tynes, revealing a series of details about his career, his time with the Chicago Bulls, his relationship with Michael Jordan and more. Of course, he had to talk about the moment he ‘gave up’ on his team with 1.8 seconds on the clock in Game 3 of their second-round series. Pippen revealed he was mad because he was supposed to take that last shot since those Bulls were his team.
Going back to those nineties games, you took yourself out of the Knicks 1994 playoff game with 1.8 seconds left. What actually happened? Why’d you refuse to go in the game?
I don’t think it’s a mystery, you need to read between the fine lines. It was my first year playing without Michael Jordan, why wouldn’t I be taking that last shot? I been through all the ups and downs, the battles with the Pistons and now you gonna insult me and tell me to take it out? I thought it was a pretty low blow. I felt like it was an opportunity to give [Kukoc] a rise. It was a racial move to give him a rise. After all I’ve been through with this organization, now you’re gonna tell me to take the ball out and throw it to Toni Kukoc? You’re insulting me. That’s how I felt.
You talking about Phil Jackson?
Yeah. Go back and look at it and you can see it. It was my team. Why are you telling me to take the ball out on a game-tying shot. It wasn’t even a game-winning shot. Why are you trying to let him be the hero? He ain’t the leader of this team. No. You trying to make him a hero to hit that shot. If he misses, he playing wit’ house money. He playing what I done earned here. Okay? I have been earning this for Michael Jordan for years and he gets the last shot. And I’m supposed to step inside and let Kukoc get in there? [Scoffs.] Do you understand English? Oh. Okay. Exactly.
It’s well-known that Pippen and Jordan didn’t have the best relationship with Kukoc when he first landed in Chicago. Fortunately, that changed when they played together. Still, Scottie wasn’t happy with certain things happening on the court, including this moment.
Toni made the shot, giving the W to the Bulls with Pippen on the bench. Things went right for Phil Jackson and co. However, the player wasn’t happy with how the coach handled the situation. He was convinced it should have been him taking that shot.
Pippen finally opened up, and we know the reasons behind his attitude at the end of that game. Understandably, he wanted to get that shot, but Jackson thought differently and it worked for him.
