There is no smoke without fire, and 30 years ago both Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr engaged in a fiery brawl that left their teammates shocked. It served as a reminder of the competitive nature and dynamics of the Chicago Bulls. The altercation occurred during a practice session of the Bulls team. Michael Jordan had just made his return from his first retirement.

During a scrimmage, Jordan was defending Kerr and things got heated. Kerr, who was not one of the biggest on the team, wasn’t backing down. Jordan was already notorious for his relentless and rough practice sessions. After a quick exchange of words, the confrontation reached its boiling point when Jordan punched Kerr in the chest. 

Following the punch, Kerr immediately punched Jordan back in response before the coaches and teammates intervened. However, the pair reconciled and Kerr subsequently mentioned that this altercation helped strengthen their relationship as his not backing down made Jordan respect him.

Scottie Pippen dodges questions about Jordan’s fight

Recently, on the PBD podcast, Scottie Pippen, another one of Jordan’s famous teammates was asked about the incident. Before revealing what was said, Jordan and Pippen share a bittersweet history. They were considered close friends, singing praises and even being side to side when inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, their relationship turned sour when a 2020 documentary by Jordan’s production house and ESPN about their championship success glorified Jordan and left Pippen and the others as background characters.

In spite of this, when asked during the podcast about the incident, Pippen commented, “I didn’t see him fight anyone” when prodded again, he said, “I must have missed practice that day”. When asked if it was a code of keeping the secret he replied humorously, “My cat was sick”. 

Although in jest, the camaraderie shows. Almost seemingly defending Michael Jordan despite the marked tension between the two. 

However, throughout the years Pippen has also acknowledged Jordan’s basketball prowess. In a discussion about the greatest players, Pippen remarked that if LeBron and Jordan switched eras, probably Jordan would be considered better. 

Pippen has also occasionally suggested that while Jordan’s methods were harsh, they contributed to the Bulls’ dominance in the 1990’s. This perspective aligns with the idea that Jordan’s competitiveness set a standard that drove the team to greatness. These comments highlight the complexity of the relationship between the two, which reflects both his criticism of his leadership style and recognition of his exceptional talent.