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“It Was Time for a Divorce”: Calling Michael Jordan Selfish on Camera, Scottie Pippen Reveals the Moment Bulls Dynasty Was Over With Phil Jackson

Published 05/29/2023, 10:16 AM EDT

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Many consider the 1990s Chicago Bulls to be the greatest dynasty in the history of the league. Like all good things, however, their remarkable success and domination eventually came to an end. Scottie Pippen, who played an imperative role in the team’s achievements, explained the crucial moment when it was necessary to disband the team after years of monumental triumph.

In a recent interview, Pippen made intriguing statements regarding Michael Jordan, a few of his teammates, and the head coach, Phil Jackson. The 6x NBA champion, without disparaging his team and coach, shared his thoughts on what went wrong with the Bulls.

Scottie Pippen reveals the moment he knew the Bulls dynasty was over

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Following a prolonged period of triumph with the Chicago Bulls, Scottie Pippen disclosed the moment when he realized that the team’s cohesion and effectiveness had declined. Pippen observed instances of selfishness among both players and coaches, which led to a breakdown in their overall functioning as a cohesive unit.

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During an interview with his former teammate Stacey King, Scottie Pippen expressed his uncertainty about whether Phil Jackson, the head coach, had ever supported him. Pippen highlighted how the handling of contract negotiations in the final years, with discussions revolving around wanting one more year, impacted his perception. He made it clear that regardless of the number of years they offered Jackson and him, it did not matter to him as he had decided to leave. Pippen further stated, “When you’re around selfish people then, it really was the breakup of our team, one selfish guy (Michael Jordan) on the team, another selfish guy (Phil Jackson) coaching the team. It was time for a divorce.”

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The Bulls icon openly acknowledged that he had a strained relationship with the head coach during his final years with the Chicago Bulls. He specifically described his teammate, Michael Jordan, as selfish and emphasized the existence of differences between them. It was unexpected to hear the six-time champion speak negatively about his former coach and teammate, considering their history of success together.

Scottie Pippen doesn’t need the credit in Jordan’s documentary

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Upon the release of “The Last Dance” there was a prevailing sentiment that Scottie Pippen didn’t receive the recognition he deserved for the team’s success. Pippen expressed his thoughts, stating, “I didn’t really need the credit. But I thought that it was definitely something that was more geared toward Michael and his perspective of how he saw the team. How he saw himself separate from the team.” He clarified that the documentary was not primarily focused on the team but rather on promoting Michael Jordan‘s career and ensuring his relevance in the modern era.

WATCH THIS STORY: Michael Jordan’s daughter pens an emotional letter to mom Juanita.

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Written by:

Aaditya Negi

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Aaditya is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports and has been following the game for a number of years. He is an avid fan of the NBA and follows what’s happening in the league on a daily basis. Having worked as an intern in the sports domain, his passion for writing arose from his fondness for the intricacies of the game.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra