In his new memoir titled “Unguarded: A Journey Beyond Defense,” Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan’s former teammate who won six NBA championships alongside him, argues that player number 23 “ruined basketball.” An excerpt from the memoir reads:
“I could go even further to say that Mike spoiled the game. In the ’80s, you needed a team-oriented style of play to progress together. That disappeared in the ’90s. Every kid wanted to be like him. He didn’t want anyone to surpass him and demanded everyone to protect him. He wanted everything to be done for himself. That’s why I believe LeBron James is the greatest player of all time. He has done everything and sacrificed for his teammates.”
“The Deterioration of Jordan and Pippen’s Friendship Over the Past Two Years”
Pippen’s words seem to be a direct response to Jordan’s portrayal of him in the ten-part documentary series, “The Last Dance,” aired last year. While Jordan praised Pippen, he also suggested that player number 33 wouldn’t have achieved much without him by his side. Jordan provided evidence: during the two years when this legendary duo was apart, Pippen couldn’t lead the Chicago Bulls to a championship, despite playing the role of the team’s primary star.
“The Deteriorating Relationship Between Two Former Teammates”
The bond between these two former teammates has significantly deteriorated since then. Pippen has expressed clear resentment towards Jordan’s remarks, while Jordan seems relatively unfazed by his teammate’s criticism. After all, he has achieved immense success both as a player and in his business ventures. Even some of their contemporaries, like Charles Barkley, have criticized Pippen for attempting to rewrite history and generate more attention through shocking statements in his memoirs.
