Scottie Pippen And Michael Jordan Once Drank Beers Before A Bulls Preseason Game: ‘Both Of Us Were Sick Of These Games’

Scottie Pippen wrote in his book, “Unguarded,” that he and Michael Jordan once drank beers before a Chicago Bulls preseason game. 

Pippen and Jordan won six championships, three-peated twice and went undefeated in the NBA Finals, so preseason games were pretty meaningless to them.

“Michael and I drank a couple of beers prior to a preseason game,” Pippen wrote in his book. “Both of us were sick of these games, also meaningless. I couldn’t miss then either.”

Notice how Pippen said he couldn’t “miss then either.” The Hall of Famer also drank beer before the 1994 All-Star Game, the contest he won MVP.

Pippen had 29 points and 11 rebounds in the 1994 All-Star Game while shooting 9-of-15 from the field, 5-of-9 from 3 and 6-of-10 from the free-throw line. 

“That was a crazy day,” Pippen wrote. “Before the game, I hung out in my hotel room with a buddy, Michael Clarke, a former teammate of Pete Myers‘s at U of A in Little Rock. Michael and I played tonk, the loser drinking a shot of beer. This went on for hours. I probably drank the equivalent of three beers.

“Suddenly, it was time to leave for the arena. So I was a little tipsy. So what? I wasn’t planning on putting much energy into what is nothing more than an exhibition. And, you may recall, ever since I was snubbed in 1991, I didn’t think much of the All-Star Game to begin with. The strangest thing then happened. When I got on the court to warm up, my level of concentration was off the charts. I hit every shot, including three-pointers.”

In Episode 6 of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” docuseries, Pippen, Jordan and Ron Harper are shown drinking beers in the postgame locker room after a Chicago victory over the Orlando Magic on April 11, 1998.

“After a hard day, I would take Gatorade,” Jordan said. “But I don’t think so.”

During that same scene, Jordan told Pippen and Harper that his old Bulls teammates used to drink beer and smoke cigarettes at halftime. 

“Aye, if they go back 10 years ago, you’d see half the brothers drinking a case at halftime,” Jordan said. “When I first joined the team, they was drinking beers at half and smoking a cigarette. And you know what? Sh*t, they was getting the cigarettes from the coaches.”

Pippen is one of the best players in NBA history, while Jordan is widely considered the GOAT.

Drinking beer before a preseason game sounds pretty cool. Again, preseason games were pointless to Pippen and Jordan.