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Scottie Pippen’s ‘No Bull Tour’: What Is It and Why Are Critics Calling It Anti-Michael Jordan?

Published 02/24/2024, 8:00 AM EST

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Scottie Pippen has hit the road with his much-anticipated ‘No Bull Tour.’ The tour, born out of Pippen’s desire to reconnect with fans, aims to take them further into the legendary Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 90s. Some members of the NBA community and analysts perceive the tour as a resistance to what was portrayed in Netflix’s ‘The Last Dance.’ Pippen has regularly ripped Michael Jordan ever since the documentary came out. However, he’s called the tour an opportunity for “telling some great stories about some of the great times.”

It’s likely that Pippen’s discontent with the docuseries and his seemingly perennial rift with former teammate Jordan made critics and fans question the inspiration behind his latest endeavor. The six-time champion teamed up with former teammates Luc Longley and Horace Grant for the ‘No Bull Tour’ to narrate the lesser-known stories behind the Chicago Bulls’ victories in the ’90s. In partnership with Australia’s National Basketball League, the tour began in Tasmania and will feature in Melbourne and Sydney as well. 

The tour comes close on the heels of the recent controversial incident during the Bulls’ Ring of Honor ceremony. During the ceremony, former GM Jerry Krause’s widow was booed when Jerry’s name came up. This left Mrs. Krause in tears, and many blamed ‘The Last Dance’ for the reactions to the architect behind the Bulls dynasty. Krause was portrayed as somewhat of a villain, where MJ & Co. had to work harder to win despite his poor management. This was only the latest incident that called out the authenticity of the documentary.

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The three former Bulls stars on tour have criticized the series as well for their portrayals in it. Pippen initially considered it “about Michael trying to uplift himself” before heavily berating the series in his book ‘Unguarded.’ Grant also had the same opinion as Pippen, calling 90% of it “BS.” Even Bill Cartwright, who won three championships with the team, was critical of the series.

Longley, who was not even a part of ‘The Last Dance,’ expressed his disappointment about the situation. However, on an episode of ‘Australian Story’ titled ‘The Last Dance: Missing Chapter,’ Longley gave his thoughts on the series. With the backlash it faced from former Bulls stars, it is not surprising to see claims of the ‘No Bull Tour’ being an attempt to get back at His Airness.

During the promotion of the tour, Grant commented, “Many people would like to ask us about that deceptive documentary; instead, get the tickets and you’ll hear plenty,” on his X. This new tour by the Bulls legends has ignited a firestorm of opinions by many. Stephen A. Smith was one of them. 

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The ‘No Bull Tour’ and Scottie Pippen get brutally criticized

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ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith isn’t one to shy away from expressing his skepticism. Speaking about Pippen’s new tour with Longley and Grant, Smith said, “Scottie Pippen is going to embarrass himself. Everybody knows he’s not Michael Jordan. He never was.”

Furthermore, he criticized Pippen for his opinion on the Last Dance series. He said, “His refusal to participate in a game because Phil Jackson didn’t call on him is well-documented…even Michael Jordan refers to him as his greatest teammate of all time. But he persists in objecting to his portrayal in the docuseries, which is a major error.”

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Former NBA player Gilbert Arena also shared his opinion on the new tour, “I don’t wanna hear you m*****f**ers b**h about what someone said or did to you, if it led to a ring.”

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While there are many opinions, most have one thing in common: Scottie Pippen should stop complaining about Michael Jordan. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!

Continue Reading: Scottie Pippen Broke Unspoken Rule With Larsa Pippen, Reveals Former Teammate: “You Just Don’t Do That”

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Written by:

Pritha Debroy

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Pritha is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. After reporting on the luxurious lifestyle of celebrities for a year, she used that experience to cover the glamor side of the basketball world. She has expertly covered Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan's complicated love story and the lavish vacations of NBA superstars, among other off-court scoops.
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Edited by:

Pragya Vashisth