The real reason why Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan drifted apart is now revealed, and it is not because of Marcus and Larsa.
Scottie Pippen isn’t proud of his infamous playoff meltdown in Game 3 of the Chicago Bulls’ 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Understanding the stigma surrounding the incident, Pippen addressed it openly, even dedicating an entire chapter to it in his memoir, “Unguarded.”
However, Pippen was frustrated with Michael Jordan for delving deeper into the incident in the documentary “The Last Dance.” Pippen felt it was unnecessary for Jordan to criticize him over something that happened when Jordan wasn’t even part of the team, as he was playing baseball at the time.
“Why did Michael find it necessary to bring it up again? Did he consider how it might affect me and my legacy? He wasn’t on the team in 1994. He was playing baseball,” Pippen wrote in his book.
Pippen’s Big Moment
For Pippen, the incident represented a pivotal moment in his career. With only 1.8 seconds left and the score tied at 102, Pippen was ready to take the last shot in the crucial playoff game against the Knicks. But Bulls head coach Phil Jackson called the play for Toni Kukoc instead. Feeling snubbed, Pippen refused to go back into the game.
Kukoc made the game-winning shot, lifting the Bulls to a 104-102 victory. Many were surprised by Jackson’s decision, given Pippen was the team’s best player at the time. The incident led to criticism of Pippen’s behavior, which he found difficult to shake off. This explains why he was so upset when Jordan brought it up again in “The Last Dance.”
Confronting Jordan
Pippen confronted Jordan about it, expressing that the portrayal in the documentary undermined his contributions to the Bulls and misrepresented the situation. Pippen said he told Jordan that it wasn’t fair to reopen old wounds and tarnish his legacy. Pippen also reflected on his anger towards Jackson for the decision.
“There was one person I was angry with: Phil Jackson. Michael was gone. This was my team now, my chance to be the hero, and Phil was giving that chance to Toni Kukoc? Are you serious? Toni was a rookie with no rings. By not going back in the game, I did the right thing,” Pippen added.
