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“Michael Jordan touched my life more than anyone else’s”: Scottie Pippen delivered an emotional tribute for the ‘GOAT’ at his Hall of Fame Induction

Samir Mehdi
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“Michael Jordan touched my life more than anyone else’s”: Scottie Pippen delivered an emotional tribute for the ‘GOAT’ at his Hall of Fame Induction

Scottie Pippen claimed that Michael Jordan touched his life more than anyone else’s at his Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in 2010. 

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were arguably the greatest duo to have ever played in the NBA. This isn’t set in stone quite yet as many have arguments for duos such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson or Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, but; going 6-0 in the NBA Finals in a single decade should warrant recognition that is second to none. 

Scottie Pippen was the greatest Robin to have ever played in the league and Michael Jordan excelled at being Batman when given a secondary option of the caliber of Scottie Pippen. A player who didn’t require all too many touches per game and was lethal on the defensive end of the floor, all while being a great facilitator on the offensive end to generate offense when Jordan was off the floor.

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Despite the success they enjoyed on the court, off it, the two All-Defensive talents weren’t all too close with one another. “We never really had that off-court relationship. Michael had his power and control. He established that years before I got there,” said Pippen in a recent interview with GQ. 

Scottie Pippen gave Michael Jordan his props at his own Hall of Fame Induction. 

Michael Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 and merely a year later, the HoF saw the arrival of Jordan’s right-hand man: Scottie Pippen. His Induction ceremony had several, notable NBA figures in attendance but none came close to be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan.  

During Pippen’s speech, he surprisingly gave a heartfelt tribute to the 5x MVP and attributed a ton of his success to no.23. “MJ, you have touched so many lives but none like mines. Thank you for being the best teammate. I will always cherish that experience and will cherish our relationship forever. Thank you.”

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Fast forward to today and both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen reportedly haven’t spoken to one another since the release of the Last Dance docuseries. It’s quite unfortunate that the greatest duo in the history of the league has had such an up-and-down relationship over the past 3+ decades. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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