During the COVID-19 pandemic, which shocked the world in 2020 and practically locked everybody in their homes, the entire world was eagerly awaiting the release of the long-announced documentary about the Chicago Bulls‘ glory days.
But we can only imagine what it was like for those who lived through those moments, the stars of those historic six titles in six Finals. While Michael Jordan was expected to be the main figure in The Last Dance documentary, the impression was that the rest of his teammates were somewhat overlooked.
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At first, much was said about Toni Kukoc because we are talking about a man who, during the second three-peat, was the team’s best scorer and facilitator after Scottie Pippen and MJ.
Steve Kerr, for example, received much more attention in that series, mainly because of his iconic game-winner against the Utah Jazz in the 1997 Finals. But statistically, Kerr wasn’t even close to Kukoc’s performances. Not long after the documentary’s release, Kukoc reflected on his small role.
“Just one proof of how great Steve Kerr is as a person — he told me he didn’t understand why he was even on that poster and that I should have been there, not him. I think Kerr summed it up best with that one sentence. Still, I really don’t mind that Steve is on that poster because, realistically, he’s the most recognizable name to the younger generation today as the Warriors’ coach. Makes total sense,” Kukoc told Index.hr.
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Pip was also disappointed with his role
Kukoc was right. As big as the Bulls still are to this day, the producers had to connect them with a younger generation who didn’t know much about who they were and what they represented.
The fact that Kerr was, at that time, a sensation as the Golden State Warriors coach was practically a marketing trick for younger audiences, and Kukoc understood that. Still, in another interview, Crotian admitted that he expected the documentary to be a bit more about the team and not so centered on Jordan.
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One of those who was also at least somewhat disappointed with the documentary was Pippen. The man who was perhaps the best Robin to a Batman in league history and without whom we almost certainly wouldn’t be talking about MJ with six rings.
Pip was always the ultimate team player, and the Bulls won precisely because they were a true team. At one point, he even challenged the narrative of Jordan’s leadership as portrayed in The Last Dance.
“I was a much better teammate than Michael ever was. Ask anyone who played with the two of us. I was always there with a pat on the back or an encouraging word, especially after he put someone down for one reason or another. I helped the others to believe in and stop doubting themselves,” Pippen said.
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Rogal believed he showed Scottie’s importance
Pippen felt crucial to winning those titles. He was the perfect complement to Mr. Air, the only one who could match him on the court, and supported the rest of the team, whom Jordan often criticized to motivate them to improve. After all, MJ had very little playoff success before and after playing with Pippen, which makes it clear why Scottie felt that way.
Jake Rogal, one of the producers of the film, admitted he was sorry that Pippen felt that way, considering that at the end of the day it showed how important he was to winning titles, especially in the 1997–98 season when he played with bad back issues and still contributed.
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“Yeah, when I hear Scottie say that, you feel bad, because I actually thought that he came off really well in the doc,” Rogal explained for Cinema Blend. “His interviews are awesome. He’s like a hero when his back’s hurt, and he’s still playing as a decoy. He’s a legend of the Bulls. He’s a legend of the sport. So I was surprised to hear that honestly, because I thought he was portrayed really, really well and favorably, and we weren’t being inaccurate.”
“We were just telling people the story, and I thought Scottie was a hero of it. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him, and I hope one day he can look back on that and see that he’s a hero of the story,” he added.
Pip resented MJ
Although Rogal is right, it’s not hard to understand Pippen’s perspective either, since part of the documentary portrays how he practically sabotaged part of the Bulls’ season to recover from an ankle injury, even though he could have waited until the offseason.
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Pippen felt he was shown as selfish for putting himself ahead of the team. However, the real reason lay in Jerry Krause’s refusal to pay him what he thought he was worth, given all he had brought to the franchise.
That was just one example, as Pip, like Kukoc, also resented Jordan for putting himself ahead of the team, believing it was unfair to the rest of the group. Still, Pippen recently changed his narrative for some reason, admitting he had a change of heart regarding the documentary.
“I thought it was very positive. I felt, at that time, we needed something positive and good to watch on TV. I felt the documentary was great; I didn’t have anything to do with it, which I was a little disappointed in, but it was a great documentary, it won some awards,” Pip explained when he was asked about The Last Dance.
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Although most of the public was largely on Pippen’s side, it became uncomfortable to hear him shoot poisonous arrows toward Jordan from time to time. On the other hand, Jordan himself rarely, if ever, said anything similar about his former teammate.
Maybe Pippen finally softened when he realized he had gone too far. Aware of the aura and magnitude of His Airness, he eased off a little over time. However, the impression remains that the relationship between perhaps the best duo in league history will never again be like it was on the court.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.