It is a no-brainer that you never challenge Michael Jordan. No matter how confident you feel, you should not do that. Not when he is in his prime. And it doesn’t even matter if you happen to be the best defender in the NBA. Just ask Scottie Pippen.
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The 7x all-star and 6x champion were considered by many as one of the greatest defenders of his time. In fact, he is perhaps one of two reasons, Jordan’s greatness aside, why the Bulls won 6 championships.
On any given night, he would guard the team’s best player and make stops that would look otherworldly. Your favorite NBA legends were used to getting locked up by Pip.
But not Michael Jordan.
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Scottie Pippen got schooled by Michael Jordan
Craig Hodges, a member of the Bulls’ winning teams in 1991 and 1992 saw firsthand how Scottie challenged His Airness and fell.
As per the story, in 1990, Scottie found the courage to challenge Mike. Jordan backed up for a second before raining down hell on Pippen.
Craig Hodges on a practice in 1990 🗣#NBA #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/z25dAGKjBE
— The Jordan Rules (@Rules23Jordan) January 7, 2023
Things got so bad that Pip said, “Slow up, man“. And if this doesn’t speak volumes about Michael’s tenacity as a player and his competitor mindset, nothing else will.
Scottie, who was one of the best even at the time couldn’t touch Michael. Levels. Now their relationship is in tatters.
Nobody challenges Michael for a reason
The thing is nobody challenges Mike. He takes it too personally. The worst part? You won’t win. Scottie learned it the hard way and so did a myriad of others.
You do not see if there is any chink in his armor. Because if you wish to fight His Airness alone, you won’t find any.
Just take a look at this epic story about how he demolished a prospect from North Carolina.
