Scottie Pippen had his dreams come true when the Bulls honored him with a statue: “Words really can’t express my feelings” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The Chicago Bulls selected Scottie Pippen as the fifth pick in the 1987 NBA Draft via trade with the Seattle Supersonics. Touted to be the perfect running mate to franchise star Michael Jordan, Pip displayed a high ceiling with his high-octane defense, versatile scoring and playmaking.
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Despite playing under the shadow of His Airness, Pippen succeeded in leaving his imprint on the game. Doing complete justice to his role as the second option, Pip did have the credentials to be the main guy as well, something we witnessed on a full scale amid Jordan’s baseball hiatus.
Neither the Bulls nor MJ could attain the success they did without Pippen. The seven-time All-Star tied all the loose ends, taking a significant load off Jordan’s shoulders on both needs of the floor. Playing anchor when needed, the 1995 steals leader would also step up during critical junctures.
Helping deliver six championships to the Windy City, the Bulls management decided to honor Pippen with a statue in 2010. A gesture for the Hall of Famer’s 12 seasons of service to the Chicago franchise. Learning about the announcement, the veteran forward was speechless.
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“Words really can’t express my feelings. It’s an unbelievable honor and truly amazing. It’s something you dream of as a kid growing up, but you can never foresee those childhood fantasies becoming reality. You see statues of individuals who have done great things and made their mark on history, but as a basketball player, you never really think about arriving at this point. It’s an amazing honor for the Chicago Bulls to do this for me,” said Pip, who made ten All-Defensive selections during his tenure in Chicago.
A complex relationship
No doubt, the statue was a great token of respect for Pippen, but the six-time champion did have his tensions with the Bulls management. It all began in 1991 when Pip agreed to a seven-year $18M deal with the Chicago franchise. Despite his agents advising him against signing it, the Central Arkansas product couldn’t resist the financial security it provided.
As years passed, NBA salaries soared, leaving Pippen as the 122nd highest-paid player in the league during the 1997-98 season. Things only got uglier, especially with the 6’8″ forward postponing his foot surgery instead of having it during the off-season. Rehabbing during the season, the veteran forward left Jordan with very little help. Continuing to revolt, Pip caused a huge stir when he demanded a trade publicly in November 1997. Fortunately, things were settled and the All-NBA player returned to camp.
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Winning his sixth title in 1998, Pippen finally had his desire met, with the Bulls trading him the very next season. The former Olympic Gold medalist earned himself a five-year $67M contract via sign and trade. A dissapointing end to a rather successfull association.
Turning a new leaf
Ironically, Pippen returned to the Bulls in 2003, finishing his career where it all started. In 2009, the management decided to retire his jersey No. 33 at the United Center. From the looks of it, the two parties had made their peace and for those who were still not convinced, the 2010 statue announcement was the perfect response.
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Addressing their decision to honor Pippen with a statue, owner Jerry Reinsdorf said the following: “Not only is Scottie Pippen one of the greatest players to ever wear a Bulls uniform, but he’s among the best players in the history of the league to play the game. He had a tremendous impact in bringing six world championships to Chicago, and there is no better way to pay tribute to him than with a permanent statue that honors his inspirational career.”
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.