"He was suffering" - Michael Jordan admitted he came back from retirement because of Scottie Pippen's struggles as a leader

“He was suffering” – Michael Jordan admitted he came back from retirement because of Scottie Pippen’s struggles as a leader originally appeared on Basketball Network.

The responsibility of perpetuating the Chicago Bulls’ winning culture fell on the broad shoulders of Scottie Pippen upon Michael Jordan’s retirement in 1993. From being regarded as Jordan’s sidekick and the Bulls’ second-best player, Pippen became known as the Bulls’ leader, superstar and franchise player.

It was a challenge he welcomed. He racked up career-highs in points (22.0), rebounds (8.7), and steals (2.9) in the first full season without MJ. He also won the All-Star Game MVP, which proved he’s one of the brightest stars in the NBA. From a team perspective, he guided the Bulls to an impressive 55-27 record, which earned them third place in the Eastern Conference.

High expectations

Pippen’s first season without Jordan seemed en route to have a happy ending. He enjoyed being in the limelight. Pip loved being referred to as a basketball club’s main man and the responsibilities that came with it.

“I was the happiest man alive,” Pippen said. “I got a chance to be the man for a change. It’s something that you embrace as a player, especially when you’re in a position where you’re probably not going to get that spotlight, like myself playing with Michael.”

However, Scottie soon learned leading a team wasn’t as simple as it seemed. The Bulls were eliminated in the second round of the 1994 NBA Playoffs. Pippen was unfairly criticized and even blamed for failing to guide the Bulls to another three-peat.

Jordan lurked along the sidelines amid all the commotion. He was happy for Pip’s new role, but soon learned that the forward was struggling with the pressure and constant bickering from critics. Mike admitted that apart from his love for basketball, helping Pip was one of the reasons he came back.

“Scottie was definitely one of the reasons I came back,” Jordan said in the spring of ’97, via the Chicago Tribune. “I sat in the locker room (the season after Jordan retired) and asked him how it was, how he felt, and he was suffering. He was taking the brunt of the rebuilding process and he shouldn’t have been. I could feel he wanted me back basketball-wise, and as a friend. And I missed him, too.”

“I know he makes me a better player,” the legendary Bull added. “Unfortunately, it may take a while, after we both retire, for people to realize just how good Scottie Pippen really was.”

Everyone’s favorite

Former Bulls guard Steve Kerr offered an interesting explanation behind the small forward’s failure as the team’s leader. It wasn’t because Scottie lacked the effort or know-how. Kerr believes that being a leader requires a certain level of relentlessness — a trait Pip lacked.

“It really became Phil’s team after Michael retired (in 1993) because it had to be,” Kerr said. “He was the dominant presence… Scottie was never a guy who was going to seize control of a team from a leadership standpoint. He was everybody’s favorite teammate, but one of the reasons for that was (that) he was vulnerable, and Phil was not vulnerable.”

Indeed, that one full season without Jordan was a boon and a bane for Pip. It opened his eyes to the pros and cons of being a franchise player. It didn’t end the way he did, but having Jordan back as his teammate wasn’t a shabby consequence.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.

“He was suffering” – Michael Jordan admitted he came back from retirement because of Scottie Pippen’s struggles as a leader

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