There’s no denying that when the Chicago Bulls dominated the ’90s, Michael Jordan stood at the center of it all — the man, the myth, the legend. But if you ask Scottie Pippen, that legend came with a price. And for some players, that price wasn’t worth paying.
The Hall of Fame forward recently opened up once again about what life was really like during those championship runs. And while history and most of the narratives tend to glorify the dominance of Jordan, Pippen made it clear that MJ’s success didn’t just exist in a vacuum.
Mike wanted nothing but the best
According to the seven-time All-Star, that relentless, cutthroat leadership style might’ve won titles, but it also spooked away a lot of talent and terrorized his teammates.
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“I’ll put it like this. Out of all my years that I played in Chicago and played with Michael, I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play there with Michael. I do recall a couple of them coming there during the offseason when he retired, the two years he was away from the game,” the Arkansas native said a while back in Stacey King’s “Gimme The Hot Sauce” podcast.
Jordan’s fire and obsession with winning are legendary. But as “The Last Dance” documentary reminded everyone, that fire was the hottest in practices, behind closed doors. It was directed at teammates, young players, and anyone who didn’t meet his standard, which, by the way, was on an unprecedented level.
For some, it was motivation to get better and prove that they belonged in the big boys’ league, standing side by side with one of the greatest players ever. For others, it was suffocating.
Pip, once considered Mike’s right hand and partner in crime, didn’t mince his words when talking about this sensitive subject.
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“So I say that to say this: the success of the Bulls came from the team, it didn’t come from Michael Jordan. It didn’t come from him being critical of other players, if anything it discouraged other players. No player wants to be talked down to, belittled or even made fun of, in some way. I felt like that was all the things that were brought out in a documentary… It’s on video,” the six-time Champion added.
Legit statement or just some bad blood?
Although there is definitely some bad blood behind Pippen’s statements, he’s not completely wrong. Throughout their dynasty years, the Bulls were rarely viewed as a destination for top-tier free agents, but, on the other hand, they really didn’t need any. The team was built through drafting, trades and development — a system that worked to perfection under Phil Jackson.
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But when Jordan retired for the first time in 1993, things shifted slightly. In his absence, the Bulls brought in veterans like Ron Harper, while Toni Kukoc finally arrived from Europe after years of anticipation. While they weren’t superstar-caliber signings, their arrival might be exactly what Pippen was referring to: players more willing to join a Bulls locker room that didn’t have Jordan in it.
Scottie’s relationship with Michael has become increasingly complex in recent years. From public comments to memoir excerpts, the cracks in their once-unbreakable dynamic have been on full display. And it seems it will stay that way for years to come.
If there’s one thing that’s become crystal clear over time, it’s that Pippen wants his share of the credit. It might be a jealousy thing, but it also might be out of principle. The Arkansas native wasn’t just MJ’s sidekick; he was the glue, the balance, the other half of a dynasty. And now, he’s just making sure everyone remembers it, one way or another.