“I’m Just Trying to Show the World What I Can Do”: Scotty Pippen Jr. on Dropping a Triple Double

Abhishek Dhariwal | 22/07/2024
"I’m Just Trying to Show the World What I Can Do": Scotty Pippen Jr. on Dropping a Triple Double

The 2024 Summer League semifinals featured a fierce battle between the Grizzlies and the Clippers. The Grizzlies eventually prevailed 99-98, thanks to a standout performance by Scotty Pippen Jr. The 23-year-old Memphis point guard scored 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to help his team qualify for the championship game.

He also had 2 steals and 1 block by the end of regulation. Son of Chicago Bulls legend, Scottie Pippen, Pippen Jr. also dropped a triple double to seal the win. During the post-game interview, he said, 

“I think I can showcase what I can do. I’ve had triple-doubles before in my career. And finally being able to do it on the biggest stage I feel has been great for me. So, I’m just trying to show the world what I can do.”

Scotty Pippen Jr.‘s triple-double made the Grizzlies guard only the sixth player in NBA history to record a triple-double in the Summer League. The Grizzlies will be hoping that he will continue this form as they gear up to face either the Warriors or Heat in the championship game. 

Carrying the burden of a famous name has been tough on Pippen Jr. He is much smaller than his father, which may have been a reason why teams were skeptical about his skillset and whether he’d have the same kind of impact as his father when he came into the league.

Scottie Pippen vs. Scotty Pippen Jr.

So far, father and son have had quite different career trajectories. While Pippen Sr. was the fifth overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, Pippen Jr. went undrafted when he declared himself for the 2022 NBA draft.

But the Los Angeles Lakers soon picked him. After spending some time on the bench, Pippen was sent down to the G-League before finally getting waived by the team. He then went on to sign a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, now playing for the Memphis Hustle in the G-League. 

Pippen Jr.’s father had a starting role with his team in his second year in the league, whereas he is still signing 10-day or two-way contracts while bouncing around the G-League in his second year as a professional athlete. 

Pip’s son is still trying his best to make his NBA dreams come true. And his triple-double performance is a testament to that. In the five games he has played for the Grizzlies in the Summer League, Scotty Pippen Jr. has averaged 20.0 points, 8.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game.

And while the son of the six-time NBA champion has not had the same level of success or gotten the same level of recognition as his father, Pippen Jr. has not given up just yet. 

Post Edited By: Bhavani Singh
Scotty Pippen Jr

About the author

Avatar photo

Abhishek Dhariwal

A fan of Basketball since the late 2000s, Abhishek Dhaiwal has been covering the game for over five years. Having done his masters in Journalism and Mass Communication, Abhishek is an NBA sports journalist at The SportsRush. A fan of the San Antonio Spurs since the Tim Duncan era, Abhishek has an extensive knowledge of the sport and has covered more than 1500 articles. Having a firsthand experience of the sport, Abhishek has represented his city and state at a District and National level. And it is the same level of expertise he aims to bring while covering extensive topics both on and off the court of your favorite basketball stars.

Don’t miss these