NBA Analyst Comes to Michael Jordan’s Defense Against Scottie Pippen’s Controversial Comments

Published 11/04/2021, 2:30 PM EDT

When the ‘Last Dance’ first came out, it was like the perfect escape for all those NBA fans who had been longing for the season that had gone on hiatus. Nobody would have thought that a documentary series on Michael Jordan would have a ripple effect that just won’t come to an end even now. Yes, Jordan did face some backlash after it was released on Netflix.

However, nobody would have imagined that Scottie Pippen too, would end up resenting it and MJ too. But ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon feels otherwise.

Wilbon takes a stand for Michael Jordan

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On ESPN, Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Mike Greenberg, and Jalen Rose discussed the harsh comments that the exempt from Scottie Pippen‘s memoir contained about Michael Jordan. While Jalen sided with Pippen, Smith couldn’t help but point of the mistakes Scottie made.

But Michael Wilbon had a rather interesting take. His opinion was a hybrid of both Jalen and Smith’s. He said, “Scottie Pippen, to me, is the most underrated player of modern times. Now, he was indisputably great and it wasn’t Michael who didn’t appreciate him.”

“This is the problem I have… My first job in basketball at this network was with Dan Patrick and Scottie Pippen. I know Scottie, I covered him, I have worked with him, I love him. He is a good man. I don’t see how Michael underestimated him. We talk to Michael a fair bit and what does he say? I am never going to take credit away from those guys.”

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Is it the fans that are at fault?

Wilbon further continued to make brilliant points. He explained how it’s all of us that heap all the credit on Jordan. This actually does make a lot of sense because it’s the fans that play a huge role in making a player legendary. A player needs to have that level of following, the way Jordan does, to be given so much credit.

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Of course, there is no denying that Pippen played a big part in the Chicago Bulls‘ legacy with Jordan. However, Jordan was and always will be the one who led the way. And no matter who says what, nobody will ever change their perception about that.

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Yashima Bhatia is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports who specialises in providing nuanced predictions and updates for matches. She has a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication. Yashima's love for playing the game came up at a young age, when the excitement of the games coupled with the intensity of the Playoffs had her hooked.

NBA Analyst Comes to Michael Jordan’s Defense Against Scottie Pippen’s Controversial Comments

Wilbon takes a stand for Michael Jordan

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Is it the fans that are at fault?