“Scottie Was Hurt”: Bulls Insider Claims Friction Between Michael Jordan And Scottie Pippen After The Last Dance
Follow Us
Even months after the ‘Last Dance’ was released, people cannot seem to get over the sour relationship between Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. The New Yorker’s Isaac Chotiner spoke to journalist Sam Smith, who had published the famous ‘The Jordan Rules’ book, who revealed more about the broken relationship between the former Chicago Bulls teammates.
Smith was asked for his opinion on the portrayal of Pippen in the documentary and what is the current status of the duo. Smith said, “I don’t think their relationship is good now. I know Scottie was hurt by his portrayal. He was hurt, I believe, when Michael said he was selfish when he sat out.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“I think he was maybe not upset, maybe hurt,” Smith said. “Because I think he valued Michael. I think he was at Michael’s wedding when he got remarried. So they’ve always had an ambivalent relationship, that Scottie would like to be in Michael’s group, because, obviously, being around Michael, the spotlight shines brighter, but Scottie never saw himself as a sycophant.
“Michael tends to treat the people around him as, maybe not servants, but helpers. And Scotty would resent, at times, Michael’s treatment of him as less than an equal. I think he drifts back and forth in the relationship. And I think, with the documentary, his thing is probably to drift away a little bit.”
Was Michael Jordan disrespectful to Pippen in the documentary?
Throughout the documentary, Jordan always seems to respect Pippen. He famously even said, “Whenever they speak Michael Jordan, they should speak Scottie Pippen.” He also referred to Pippen as his greatest teammate and attributed his success to Pippen. “I didn’t win without him, that’s why I considered him (Pippen) my best teammate of all time.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
But during the documentary, Jordan also spoke about the time Pippen delayed surgery till the start of the 1997-98 season. Coach Phil Jackson never said anything about it. But it made Jordan upset. “I thought Scottie was being selfish,” he said. This statement reportedly irked and hurt Pippen.
Trending
Shaq Warns Lakers Locker Room Of Jeanie Buss Game Plan If Darvin Ham & Co Fail Vs Nuggets
April 24, 2024 09:42 PM EDT
Heat Injury Report: Latest On Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson Ahead of Game 2 vs Celtics
April 24, 2024 02:46 PM EDT
What Happened to Kenny Smith’s Legs? Unfolding the Sad Truth Behind TNT Host’s Dodgy Knees
April 22, 2024 08:05 PM EDT
Joel Embiid Banned By Empire State Building After Dangerous Incident On Court With Mitchell Robinson
April 26, 2024 02:59 AM EDT
“So Rigged”: All Hell Breaks Loose as Jamal Murray Forces LeBron James’ Lakers Into Bitter Embarrassment
April 23, 2024 06:21 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
However, Pippen himself never said anything. All the quotes about him being reportedly unhappy, have all come through various sources. Since the documentary has been released, all Pippen has done is share a picture of the duo on Instagram with a cryptic caption.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Jordan and Pippen are one of the greatest duos to play the game. As a fan of the sport, it hurts to see them not having the best relationship post their playing days.