Craig Hodges Believes Scottie Pippen Was Better Than Michael Jordan From A Natural Standpoint

Craig Hodges won two championships with Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls. He led the league in 3-point shooting percentage in 1985-86 and 1987-88. 

Hodges was recently a guest on the All the Smoke podcast with former NBA forwards Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson and the ex-Bulls guard said Pippen was better than Jordan from a natural standpoint. 

“I think he was better than MJ just from a natural (standpoint),” Hodges said. “You 6’7 with the same components, but not only is your right (hand), your left (hand) is that big. And you finishing with both equally like that.”

Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks next to Pippen, while Pippen averaged 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks next to Jordan.

In Episode 2 of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” doc, Jordan called Pippen his best teammate of all time. 

Jordan never won a playoff series with the Bulls until Pippen joined the franchise in 1987. 

“I would never be able to find a tandem, another support system, another partner in the game of basketball like Scottie Pippen,” Jordan said. “He was a pleasure to play with. He helped me so much in the way that I approached the game, the way I played the game. Whenever they speak Michael Jordan, they should speak Scottie Pippen. Everybody says well I won all these championships, but I didn’t win without Scottie Pippen. And that’s why I consider him my best teammate of all time.”

Pippen had two stints with the Bulls. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks with Chicago and made seven All-Star teams, seven All-NBA teams and 10 All-Defensive teams.

Jordan also played for the Bulls twice. He averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.9 blocks and won five MVPs, six Finals MVPs, three steals titles, 10 scoring titles and one Defensive Player of the Year Award with Chicago. 

Arguably the best player in NBA history, Jordan made 12 All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams and nine All-Defensive teams with the Bulls. 

Jordan and Pippen went 6-0 in the NBA Finals.