Scottie Pippen Makes Shocking New Statement on Michael Jordan Bulls Relationship

When the dust had settled, Pippen had been named a seven-time All-Star and All-NBA honoree and a 10-time All-Defensive Teamer. He also finished as high as third in league MVP voting, during the 1993-94 season — when Jordan was in the midst of his first of three retirements.

Pippen has been a shoo-in to make the league's 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

During a new conversation with longtime NBA insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Pippen made a somewhat shocking revelation about his relationship Jordan.

“I wanted to be better than Michael Jordan,” Pippen declared of his approach to the game.

Jordan, even by the time Pippen entered the league in 1987, was already on a trajectory to become one of the best players ever. He had already been named a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA honoree, and after Pippen's 1987-88 rookie season Jordan would go on to earn 1988's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year accolades.

“There was something there to give me the confidence just to talk s---,” Pippen said. “I had a journey like [former Bulls power forward Charles] Oakley coming from a small school. 

Pippen was selected with the No. 5 pick out of Central Arkansas, while Oakley was drafted with the No. 9 selection out of Virginia Union in 1985. The 6-foot-7 wing's ball handling acumen, acquired by playing at the point in college, gave Chicago a unique alchemy.

“I came in this league as a point guard and [was] put at small forward,” Pippen explained. “I was kinda learning the game from a position that I was never put in.”

Eventually, head coach Phil Jackson frequently installed traditional, bigger shooting guards in as his starting point guards because Pippen and Jordan essentially could co-quarterback the offense from their positions. 

“Phil Jackson was really a player's coach,” Pippen said. “He had a great understanding of how the game was evolving.”