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CHARLOTTE, NC – MAY 8: Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls huddle together against the Charlotte Hornets on May 8, 1998 at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

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CHARLOTTE, NC – MAY 8: Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls huddle together against the Charlotte Hornets on May 8, 1998 at Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan dominated the NBA together for ten straight seasons with the Chicago Bulls. The legends formed one of the most legendary duos in basketball history. But things took a strange turn when Netflix dropped The Last Dance in 2020. As viewers hailed The Last Dance, Pippen seethed behind the scenes. To him, it wasn’t a celebration of the Bulls—it was a glorified MJ show. In 2021’s Unguarded, Pippen lambasted the series for sidelining his and his teammates’ contributions.
Not only that, he straight-up confronted Jordan about the documentary. In a sit-down with The Guardian, Pippen admitted he reached out to share his frustration, adding, “I don’t think it was that accurate in terms of really defining what was accomplished in one of the greatest eras of basketball, but also by two of the greatest players.”
On top of that, Pippen didn’t shy away from calling out the doc’s tone. In his eyes, it wasn’t just a tribute—it was a PR play. “I thought it was more about Michael trying to uplift himself and to be glorified,” he said. So, instead of honoring the team’s journey, the spotlight stuck to one man.
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Now fast forward to this week, and the beef isn’t cooling down. Pippen stirred the pot again, posting a throwback photo of the Bulls in a team huddle with coach Phil Jackson. The caption? “The circle of people around you matters…” While Jordan is busy plotting his surprise NBA return, Pippen’s message seems like a quiet jab—or maybe something more.
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Either way, it might be more than just a post. Jordan’s May 2025 announcement as an NBC special contributor adds fuel to Pippen’s throwback shot, especially now that he’s producing a rival docuseries. So it seems Pippen is ready to talk—this time, on his terms.
What’s your perspective on:
Is Pippen's quest to reclaim the Bulls' story a justified move or just sour grapes?
Have an interesting take?
Scottie Pippen could settle scores with Michael Jordan
While Scottie Pippen has been quietly sending jabs online, something much bigger is brewing behind the scenes. Partnering with Hidden Empire Films, Pippen is producing a docuseries on the Bulls’ 1990–91 championship. And no, it’s not just another trip down memory lane. It will be centered on the famed ‘Game 5 Ball’ that sparked his dynasty.
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But unlike The Last Dance, this one’s got a very different tone. “I think it’s going to be more about the whole run of that season,” Pippen shared. “My ideal is to see this ball really sort of tell a story of what it was like for basketball in the ‘90s and what it was like for our journey to get to that first championship.” With a 2025 release on the cards, fans might finally hear a version of the story that hasn’t been filtered through MJ’s lens. In fact, Pippen isn’t just telling the team’s story—he’s centering it around a very specific relic.
“We’re looking to do a documentary on this basketball because we think that there’s a lot of stories to be told,” he told TMZ Sports. He’s talking about the “Game 5 Ball”. The same one that clinched the Bulls’ first ring and closed the book on the Lakers’ Showtime era. “I think that ball really was a start of a dynasty and almost, I want to say, the end of a great dynasty in the Los Angeles Lakers.”

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JUNE 11: Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls celebrate after winning game five of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz on June 11, 1997 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE/Getty Images)
On June 12, 1991, Pippen’s Bulls avenged a Game 1 loss by winning four straight, ending the Lakers’ “Showtime” dynasty. It also ignited Chicago’s six‑title reign. It’s a Bulls arc, the series promises to chart in vivid detail. Magic Johnson versus MJ and Pippen—it marked the start of a whole new chapter in NBA greatness. Unlike The Last Dance’s MJ‑centric lens, Pippen told TMXSports the new series “highlights this basketball because we believe it holds a lot of untold stories,” weaving in locker‑room dynamics, Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, and under‑the‑radar heroes beyond Jordan
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Even director Deon Taylor feels the weight of it. “The ‘Game 5 Ball’ isn’t merely a relic; it’s the ‘holy grail’ of the sport,” he said. For Pippen, this might just be the mic drop he’s been waiting for. As fans anticipate the docuseries in 2025 and tune in for Jordan’s NBC debut this October, the true victory will go to whoever redefines how we remember the Bulls’ reign. In the end, Pippen’s bold move proves that in the modern NBA, the most dominant play is reclaiming your story.
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Is Pippen's quest to reclaim the Bulls' story a justified move or just sour grapes?