You can’t talk about Pippen without Jordan. Not even to this day. In Scottie Pippen’s new book, Unguarded, he is very candid and bitter about Michael Jordan’s documentary, The Last Dance, which was sucked up by the sports world while the country was in Covid lockdown.
Pippen feels Jordan used the documentary as personal propaganda, writing “Michael was determined to prove to the current generation of fans that he was larger-than-life during his day.” Pippen even weaves LeBron James into this seemingly spiteful web, claiming Jordan felt he was “still larger than LeBron James, the player many consider his equal, if not superior.” BOOM.
Pippen’s cathartic narrative may leave him feeling redeemed, but at what cost? It sounds as though some of his griefs are petty and childish. One being how Jordan made $10 million off The Last Dance, ignoring the fact Jordan donated $2 million from his docuseries to local food banks.
Pippen is widely regarded as one of the best defenders ever. Wouldn’t he rather be remembered this way instead of as Michael Jordan’s envious former teammate? There is a shadow of hypocrisy in it all. Just a decade ago, Pippen asked Jordan to be his presenter at the 2010 Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony saying, “MJ, you have touched so many people’s lives, but none like mine. Thank you for being the best teammate.” Hmmm — not a good look.
