Chicago Bulls icon Scottie Pippen wasn’t just Michael Jordan’s sidekick. He was the guy who could practically do everything on the basketball court. He could run the fastbreak, play defense, crash the boards, and orchestrate the offense. Pippen’s ability to cover all gaps allowed Jordan to beast and feast on the offensive end.
Scottie’s team-first mentality
Other players would’ve preferred to be the team’s front and center. It would’ve been understandable if Pip asked the Bulls coaching staff to give him a bigger role on offense. However, according to head coach Phil Jackson, Pippen never complained about whatever task was handed to him. The small forward always embraced his responsibilities, all for the team’s sake.
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“I can only say again this is the most unselfish superstar in the game of basketball,” Jackson said ahead of the 1995-96 NBA season, via the Chicago Tribune. “He’s a guy we asked five or six years ago not to worry about points, get assists and rebounds and the wins and points will take care of themselves.”
“This year I want him to be a leader and fill in, get assists, find the guys who have to score, play defense, maybe score when a 6-foot guy is playing him. But I still think Scottie will lead this team in rebounding, more or less, and assists.”
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Contract dispute
Jackson’s comments came amid controversy between Pippen and the Bulls. Despite his gigantic role with the team, Pippen was just the fourth-highest-paid player in the squad behind Toni Kukoc, B.J. Armstrong, Ron Harper, and Michael Jordan.
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Jordan vouched for Pippen to be at least the second-highest-paid player on the team by offering a chunk of his salary. MJ deeply hoped Scottie would be rewarded for everything he had done for the team.
“I wish there was some way legally that I could give him some of the money he deserved as a player,”said Jordan. “He is underpaid. For years, I was underpaid, but I played it out. And I think he’s going to play it out, too. At the end of three years, I hope they reward him with a just and fair contract.”
Pippen did play it out despite earning just $2.92 million in the 1995-96 NBA season, which made him the 74th highest-paid player in the NBA. He shoved the issue aside and continued playing his heart out.
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He followed Jackson’s instructions, and true enough, he finished fifth in MVP voting, second in Defensive Player of the Year, was named an All-Star, and selected into the All-NBA and All-Defensive First Teams.
Scottie’s sacrifices helped the Bulls win 72 games in the 1995-96 season. Yet the team did not stop there. They knew that the real challenge lay in the postseason. Pip remained true to Jackson’s vision and embraced his role as a Swiss-army knife while Jordan abused defenses.
After all the drama and controversy, Pip delivered another championship to the franchise. He became known as the ultimate team player who did everything for the betterment of others.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.