mobile app bar

“Michael Jordan would not have made the 1996 NBA Finals without me”: Scottie Pippen talks about the Sonics trading him in 1987 while taking shots at the ‘GOAT’

Samir Mehdi
Published

“Michael Jordan would not have made the 1996 NBA Finals without me”: Scottie Pippen talks about the Sonics trading him in 1987 while taking shots at the ‘GOAT’

Scottie Pippen says Michael Jordan would not have made it to the NBA Finals if the Sonics hadn’t traded Scottie on draft night in 1987. 

Scottie Pippen has been on his own, personal tirade if controversial statements this past week or so. He’s taken shots at Charles Barkley, Kevin Durant, Stephen A Smith and many more in hopes to stir up more talk about his upcoming memoir. Now, it seems as though he’s shifted his focus to his previous championship teams and is going after Michael Jordan. 

He started off his takes on the 90s Chicago Bulls by claiming Phil Jackson was racist for trusting Toni Kukoc with a last second shot in the 1994 NBA Playoffs over him. This certainly was not true as Kukoc was simply the better shooter between the two. Besides, Michael Jordan was always given the go-ahead shot with the game on the line and he most certainly is not of Caucasian decent.

Also read: “Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t ready to have money thrown on him”: The Lakers legend hilariously gets showered with money after Charles Barkley ‘GUARANTEES’ the Bucks will win the NBA Finals

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, though didn’t share an equal amount of limelight, did share the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow 6 times in a span of 8 years. However, with all the talk being about Jordan, Pippen seems to want to make the record straight. 

Scottie Pippen firmly believes Michael Jordan wouldn’t have made the 1996 NBA Finals without him. 

A great sliding doors moment in the history of the NBA is one where the Seattle SuperSonics decide to trade Scottie Pippen, the 1987 NBA Draft’s 5th overall pick, to the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan hadn’t been out of the first round ever, that is, until Pippen showed up.

Also read: “How did he predict a Bucks vs Suns Finals 5 years before it happened?!”: NBA fan incredibly prophesized Devin Booker going up against Giannis Antetokounmpo back in 2016

In a recent segment with Dan Patrick on the Dan Patrick Show, Pippen claims Jordan wouldn’t have even sniffed the NBA Finals, especially in 1996, if the Sonics didn’t trade him away on draft night. This statement came after Patrick asked Scottie what it would’ve been like to face off against Michael Jordan as a Sonic in the 1996 NBA Finals. 

In all fairness to Scottie, as mentioned before, Jordan had never experienced the level of success he experienced with the All-Defensive forward, when without him. However, to claim that a talent like MJ would not have reached the Finals without him at least once is outlandish. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

instagram-icon

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.

Share this article