Scottie Pippen’s career might have been one of the most underrated ones in the league’s history. Pippen played a crucial role in making the Bulls dynasty, winning two three-peats alongside Michael Jordan. However, it was MJ who received the limelight during this era. But once Jordan left the Bulls, Scottie Pippen was making millions. And as he journeyed across the NBA he found a new idol, $40 Billion worth Paul Allen.
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After Michael Jordan’s first retirement, Pippen claimed he was the happiest. Perhaps it was his chance for redemption. However, Michael returned in 1995, and Jordan’s glory again overshadowed Pippen’s career. Once again, MJ’s second retirement showed a ray of hope for Scottie Pippen to regain his lost glory.
After MJ left in 1998, Scottie Pippen was traded to Houston Rockets and then to Portland Trail Blazers in 1999. This was the first time Pippen earned a contract that suited his resume. When he was with the Trail Blazers, owner Paul Allen’s net worth had mesmerized Pippen. The Microsoft co-founder was worth $40 billion then and became the role model Pippen always wanted. He had the right formula to help Scottie become a billionaire. But it was a big ask.
Scottie Pippen was in awe of Paul Allen’s billionaire status upon first meeting him
Scottie Pippen had created a new role model for himself in Paul Allen after being overshadowed by Michael Jordan throughout his career. Pippen always wanted to be rich and seeing a billionaire like Paul Allen filled his head with dreams. His chances were never the same as Michael, given he could never land a good enough sporting deal or market himself.
Paul Allen’s aura had impressed Pippen. He seemed enthralled and intrigued with the net worth of the Microsoft co-founder. Speaking about the same, he revealed his appreciation in a Sports Illustrated interview.
“What does he have? Forty billion? I want to know: How can I make a billion? I just want one of them! What do I need to do? But I don’t want to approach him like that. I don’t want people coming up to me just for what I do, and I’m sure he doesn’t. So I have to let that relationship grow a little bit.
Like, win a championship, and then I can say, ‘Tell me how I can make a billion dollars. Tell me how I can become a billionaire.”
It had been only a few months since Scottie arrived in Portland from Houston. The legendary small forward was undermined since his Bulls days, having one of the lowest payrolls amongst NBA players. Perhaps, some advice from a multi-billionaire would have helped him reach his goal of becoming a billionaire, just like his former teammate Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s relationship remains sour to this date
Although MJ and Scottie Pippen were known for their incredible chemistry on the court, their off-field relationship grew sour to the point the two are now throwing stones at each other from afar. In a recent statement, Pippen had also claimed Jordan to be a ‘horrible player’ compared to LeBron James.
After the release of the docuseries ‘Last Dance,’ Pippen was particularly critical of how the series glorified Jordan to a large extent. He expressed his dismay over how the series had ignored the achievements of the rest of the Bulls teammates in their championship runs.
Although Scottie Pippen was ignored and underappreciated for his contributions to the game, no one can ever deny that he was unparalleled as a player. The Bulls dynasty could dominate the league for most of the 90s because of him.
