The first bit of “The Last Dance” was certainly a sight to behold. We got a glimpse behind the scenes of one of the most famous and greatest teams of All-Time.
But many also realized the importance of Scottie Pippen, who was essential in helping the Bulls accomplish their goals. Throughout the first part of the film, we got to see how appreciated he was by the organization and his teammates.
But apparently, before the ’97 season, Bulls GM Jerry Krause wanted to trade Pippen for an up-and-coming young star named Tracy McGrady.
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Apparently, Jordan stepped in to stop the deal from happening, and it led to the team closing out that season with their sixth NBA Championship.
Jordan and Pippen might be the greatest duo that ever lived. And even with how good T-Mac turned dut to be, that last Chip may not have been possible without him. He helped keep Jordan fresh, gave him some help in the offense, and also locked up bigger wing players on the defensive end.
In 16 seasons, he made 7 All-Star appearances, made 7 All-NBA rosters, was a 10x All-Defensive Player, and, of course, became an NBA Hall-of-Famer.
He was a perfect match to Jordan, and the documentary really sheds light on it. No doubt, Bulls fans are rejoicing Krause didn’t end up trading him that summer.