Usually, when a player’s career is so deeply intertwined with the legacy of the sport’s greatest icon or GOAT, their individuality often gets overshadowed. That has been the case for Scottie Pippen, whose name has, for decades, been inseparably linked to that of Michael Jordan.
Put simply, every time Pip’s name surfaces in the media, MJ’s legacy immediately becomes part of that conversation, so much so that the former has now grown weary of it. Recently, Scottie finally opened up about how exhausting it has been to live under the constant link with Michael since the beginning of his NBA journey, subtly urging fans and media alike to stop associating his name with another individual after all these years.
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Pippen admits how tired he is of always being linked to Jordan-questions
From the moment Pippen entered the Chicago Bulls in 1987, he was expected to be the final piece that would help Jordan overcome the mighty Detroit “Bad Boys” Pistons. Then, when the Bulls won a three-peat and Michael chose to pursue a career in baseball, willingly leaving the league at the peak of his powers, it was Scottie who was expected to bring him back.
Then, when the pair reunited and led the Bulls to a second three-peat, Pippen’s contributions were once again overshadowed by the aura of Jordan — as fans conveniently forgot that the former forward was someone capable of competing for the MVP award.
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Moreover, even when “The Last Dance” documentary displayed the dominance of the Bulls throughout that decade, Scottie only felt insinuated by Michael, who held the editing rights of the project, for not giving him the respect and recognition for being his “sidekick” for decades, which led to an unexpected dark chapter of blame-gaming between the two.
In a recent interview with Daniel Arribas, the six-time NBA champion expressed his frustration, admitting to feeling exhausted with MJ-related questions. Pippen emphasized that he worked tirelessly to establish his own identity on and off the court. Despite the mystical presence of Michael, Scottie urged fans to stop the trend of putting their names together at every possible occasion.
“Is ten the highest score or the lowest? Then I’d say probably a 12,” Pippen said. “I’ve been used to it since my first day in the NBA. Everything has always revolved around Michael Jordan. But you know, I’m happy I was able to leave my own legacy and not have to talk about him all the time.”
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Jordan’s name took a toll on Pippen
On one side, it is easy to argue that without MJ, Pip may not have registered six championship rings, but the other side of that truth is equally significant. Jordan’s legendary aura was so immense that it often swallowed Pippen’s identity both during his playing career and afterward.
Despite being one of the most complete players of his generation — an elite defender, playmaker, rebounder, scorer and a player-friendly leader, Scottie was rarely given the full recognition he deserved. On the court, he never managed to secure an MVP title, and off the court, public perception largely cast him as “Robin” to Michael’s “Batman.” These lingering perceptions have clearly taken a toll on Pip over the years.
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It seems safe to say that while Pippen remains proud of the dynasty he helped build, there is an underlying frustration at how history continues to treat his greatness as a supporting act to someone else’s story.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.