Where are They Now: Scottie Pippen

Hall of Fame and Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen is recognized around the world of sports not just as Michael Jordan’s sidekick but as a one of the greatest versatile and athletic players of all-time. Pippen was an all-around player that could do everything from playing point guard to power forward if need be in his heyday. You couldn’t find players like this before and now, that’s why his play was so glorified. Players like LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson were players that could have this kind of play in their careers as Pippen did.

Pippen wasn’t a highly recruited player out of high school in Arkansas as he was considered too short to play at a high level in the early 80’s. That’s what they thought! Standing only 6’1” coming into his freshman year at the University of Central Arkansas, he would become a walk-on that would grow to his form as a swing man that could get the job done and become a star that many were going to find out about through the NCAA and NBA scouts.

Having a spectacular college career it was time to enter the pros as a small forward that could be a game changer on any team; and that’s what he would be in 1987. As he was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in the first round as the 5^th overall pick then traded to the Chicago Bulls, Pippen was ready to play alongside M.J. and make them better.

It didn’t take long in Pippen’s young NBA career to have an effect on the basketball court. He and Jordan were young and considered to be a one-two punch that opponents didn’t want any part of. Even though the competition was fierce in the NBA at the time of the late 80’s with the Boston Celtics, Detroit “Bad Boys” Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers, the Bulls were up and coming and with a young coach in Phil Jackson they were on their way.

Pippen would go on to win six NBA titles with the Bulls and become one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as one of the best small forwards of all-time when his career was over. Scottie was so competitive and he always would do anything to help his teams win and that’s what it takes to be a champion in this league. Jordan appreciated Pippen for his play and they would make each other better in their respective careers.

Pippen could do everything from score the basketball, play intense defense and dunk the ball like the best as he would posterize some of the great ones.When it was all said and done there were no regrets on Pippen’s side. He’s been the great player that he knew he could be coming out of college and the ultimate team player that everyone grew to love through the years and today he is senior advisor to the Chicago Bulls president and COO Michael Reinsdorf. What was your greatest moment of Scottie Pippen?