Refusing To Acknowledge Isiah Thomas’ Pistons Were Old, Michael Jordan’s Teammate Scottie Pippen Gave Way to ‘Brutal’ Reality in 2020

The Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls will go down as one of the most intense rivalries in basketball ever. During the 80’s and the 90’s, the two teams would battle it out, often leaving players on both sides bloodied and bruised. The bad blood between the two teams still carries on, even if all the players have retired since. During the 2020 All-Star Weekend, both Isiah Thomas and Scottie Pippen were guests on First Take, where they once again debated Detroit versus Chicago.

Isiah claimed that the record spoke for itself, while Scottie clapped back at the Pistons guard, telling him that once the young Bulls had matured, the Pistons were no longer a match.

Scottie Pippen claps back at Isiah Thomas

The 2020 All-Star game wasn’t necessarily a game that will go down in history books. But on the sidelines, ESPN did manage to cook up some old beef as they invited Isiah Thomas and Scottie Pippen on First Take. While on the show, IT was asked about which team between the Pistons and the Bulls was better.

Responding to the question with a grin, the Piston legend said, “All I know is head to head, Detroit-Isiah, better than, Chicago”. The statement from Isaiah isn’t wrong as the Bulls have a 16-19 record against the Pistons in the Playoffs.

But Scottie Pippen had something to say about Isiah Thomas’s statement. Scottie, who was also a guest on the show, said, “We were younger. We weren’t physically mature enough to compete but once we matured it was over….. I wouldn’t even say they were old, they were defeated “.

Just like Isiah, Scottie did have a point of his own. Pippen and Jordan were still in their mid-20s when they were facing the Pistons. The youngsters didn’t pose a real threat till 1990. In 1991, Jordan and the Bulls finally made it past the Pistons, sweeping them 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, on their way to winning their First Championship.

Scottie and IT’s rivalry

Isiah Thomas is undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time, and possibly the greatest player to not play on the USA Dream Team. One reason for Isiah not playing on the team was Jordan and Pippen being against the idea of playing alongside Isiah. Isiah, who felt extremely hurt by the decision, decided to finally speak his mind while on NBA’s Open Court program.

Isiah told Ernie Johnson and the others present there, “Okay, I don’t mind Michael Jordan saying I don’t want Isiah to be on the Dream Team, I don’t mind if Larry Bird said I don’t want Isiah to be on the Dream Team, but if Scottie Pippen says I don’t want Isiah to be on the dream team… Man come on, you can’t say nothing! ”

The statement from Isiah makes it clear that the beef never cooled down, and looks like both parties are gonna take their feelings to their graves.