Michael Jordan defended Scottie Pippen for sitting out the final 1.8 seconds of the 1994 ECSF Game 3 between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. MJ understood why his most prestigious teammate of all time took the decision when Jackson favored Kukoc to take the shot over him. This was when Jordan had left for Minor League Baseball and Pippen had the keys to the team.
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In a 1995 ESPN interview, His Airness gave his reasons as to why the 1994 All-Star Game MVP was frustrated. Acknowledging that Pip has “changed for good” in his absence, the guard lauded how the forward started to handle multiple things. Then the interviewer asked him, what would he have done had Pippen refused to take the floor as he did in 1994 ECSF Game 3.
“He wouldn’t have sat. I think that was a part of Scottie and his maturity in a sense of what he thought he was. He wanted that last second shot, he thought he earned the respect because at that time I was here, he was throwing the ball in. So when I left, he should switch places, he should take that shot,” opined Jordan.
Michael Jordan Defending Scottie Pippen
“He Wanted That Last Second Shot. He Thought He Earned That Respect.”
ESPN | 1995
In Game 3, the Bulls were down 2-0 in the second-round series. It was the final seconds of the game, and Jackson drew up a play for another player Toni… pic.twitter.com/J3Ku9KAybh
— The Jordan Rules (@Rules23Jordan) December 23, 2023
While MJ understood the reasons for the forward being upset, he didn’t agree with his decision to sit the game out. As per the 6x NBA Finals MVP, he should have let the “fans do the talking” and should have played the game out. However, Pippen who had led the Bulls to an incredible 55-27(3rd In East) record felt slighted. He couldn’t believe that Kukoc was going to take the final shot with the scores tied at 102. But Jackson was vindicated when the play turned out in their favor.
Checking in for a fuming Pippen, Pete Myers made the inbound pass. Kukoc caught the ball just outside of the free-throw area in the middle. And then he nailed a 22-foot turn-around shot against elite defender Anthony Mason. Coach Jackson had drawn the play because Kukoc had sunk three game-winners from the long-range during the season.
Pip didn’t appreciate Kukoc taking the shot, who had scored 6 points before the game-winner, compared to his 25 points. Despite this outrageous act, the Bulls didn’t trade the forward. And Jordan in his 1995 ESPN interview also clearly stated that he wouldn’t trade him if he were the GM. After all, His Airness knew that he and the Bulls both needed his electric defense and his All-Around skillset.
Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan won a lot together
During the 1994-95 season, Jordan returned with around 17 games left in the regular season. The team bowed out in the ECSF again but they believed they could turn it around with MJ and Pip. Dennis Rodman joined them before the 1995-1996 season and gave them immense defensive depth. The belief resulted in three more championships and the second three-peat.
Pippen became a bigger menace in the presence of the 10x NBA scoring champion. This is why Jordan has repeatedly called the 1995 steals leader his best teammate. During the premiere of his oft-discussed 2020 documentary “The Last Dance”, he expressed that they should be mentioned in the same breath when it comes to winning.
”Whenever they speak Michael Jordan, they should speak Scottie Pippen. I didn’t win without Pippen. And that’s why I consider him my best teammate of all time,” stated 5X MVP.
This was the same Pippen who carried Jordan off the court after his much-fabled “Flu Game”.
Unfortunately, these images have been stained a bit ever since excerpts from Pippen’s 2021 memoir Unguarded were released. The one who helped Jordan cement his legacy now considers him a “horrible teammate” and a “horrible player”.
