From the Last Dance being a “Michael’s story,” to calling the documentary “great”. Scottie Pippen, over the years, has changed his stance on his relationship with Michael Jordan. The Bulls duo were tight on the court and often called Batman and Robin. But as per their teammate, Pippen was a better player than His Airness. This revelation did not sit well with the fans, who were not on board with this idea.

“I think he (Pippen) was better than MJ, just from a natural you 6’7 with the same components. But not only is your right your left, is that big, you know what I’m saying, and you finishing with both equally.” This was the statement from Craig Hodges, who was part of the Bulls dynasty from 1988 to 1992. The 2x NBA champion felt Pip with his height advantage was a better player than Michael Jordan. But height was not the only factor.

“Like that, the difference was that the level of confidence coming out of and so much when we look at it.” As per the Chicago native, the early confidence of people in MJ was the reason for his success. Meanwhile, Pip had to find his way. “Scotty come in having to prove itself from Central Arkansas, as opposed to knowing that dude, I’m 6’7, I got handles, I can jump, I can shoot, I still got to prove myself. Where M (MJ) was already proven to a degree, it was just a matter of how good he was going to become.”

On the surface, Craig Hodges’ claim that Scottie Pippen was better than Michael Jordan sounds like pure trolling — and the backlash makes that clear. Statistically and situationally, Jordan was a dominant force. He led the Bulls in scoring nearly every night, often drawing the league’s toughest defenders and spotlight, which in turn gave Pippen more space and time to evolve into his game.

And when MJ stepped away from the game in 1993, the opportunity was there: the team was officially Pippen’s. But despite his all-around brilliance — and an MVP-caliber season — the Bulls couldn’t replicate the same level of success without their alpha.

That contrast only reinforced the pecking order. So while Hodges may be highlighting Pippen’s versatility and defensive greatness, to say he was “better” than Jordan overlooks the brutal truth the postseason always reveals: the best player in the world doesn’t just fill the box score — he raises the ceiling of an entire franchise.

Michael Jordan continues to receive support over his alleged feud with Pippen

One thing to note about their relationship is that it never truly developed beyond the court. MJ was focused on building his legacy, so one can understand Pip’s frustration over their bond. But claiming the latter to be better—felt like a stretch to a fan. “Better than MJ… hell nah.” This sentiment was prevalent today and even before, when Pippen was taking shots at Michael Jordan. Even though Craig Hodges’ overall message was to end the beef, claims about Pippen did not sit well.

“lol Scottie was never better than Mike. He was a phenomenal player, but not even close.” Another fan also appreciated Pippen but knew that comparison with His Airness was a reach. “Scottie is one of the greats but MJ had the greatest impact on the game than any other player. IMO“.

The disdain towards Pippen can also stem from the ever-changing narrative about his friendship with Jordan. In some interviews, Pip called MJ a “horrible” teammate, and then in another called him “best” partner.

That’s why a fan added that All the Smoke hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson should have asked if Hodges actually believed in the argument. “better than MJ? You should have asked for clarity cuz I know Craig don’t believe Pip better than MJ 😂.”

Over the years, MJ has successfully claimed his position in the Mount Rushmore for NBA athletes. Other strong contenders include Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain. But hardly any claims about Pippen being on the list.