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Scottie Pippen: "Players are now at the point where they are saying, 'I'm going to play 50 games and you're gonna pay me for 82.' Players are a lot more sensitive. If you say something to me, it better be fucking nice or I will have you removed from the arena. It's bad players can't take criticism."
In the Mind the Game podcast, LeBron sees Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen as the ceiling for the Atlanta Hawks sensation. “Obviously, he has a long way to go. But as far as the talent, you look at a guy with long arms, 6’9", 6’10”, runs like a deer, super athletic. He’s improved his outside touch,” James said about Johnson. “But like you said, putting pressure on the rim, his ability to rebound, he can guard. He can guard one through five for the majority of ones and fives. ... And his playmaking — I see that he’s going to continue to improve.”
Q: Fans love the MJ vs. LeBron GOAT debate. You have a unique perspective as Jordan’s former teammate. Is it even a debate in your mind? Randy Brown: “I’m the wrong person to ask. I’m a LeBron James fan. I know his family personally, met LeBron James when he was in high school living in Ohio, when we didn’t know he’d be the LeBron James of today. “But what Michael Jordan brought to the game was extraordinary. He’s clearly the best guy to ever put on a uniform. 6-0 in the Finals. He set the standard of what the NBA should be, in uniform and when that uniform comes off. There’s no comparison between Michael and LeBron. LeBron should be compared to Scottie Pippen and Magic Johnson, as far as basketball abilities. “But what LeBron James is still doing right now is absolutely amazing. It’s going to be a sad day when you don’t see him anymore. I’ll forever be a fan.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo: I don't like working out with players that they play in the game today. I like working out with all-time greats. I'm not going to compete against them. And I want all of them to know that I respect them and value them, right? I've worked with Hakeem Olajuwon. I've worked with Kevin Garnett. I've worked with Kobe Bryant, I'm going to have the opportunity to work with Carmelo Anthony. I've talked on the phone with Scottie Pippen a lot of times. So, people that I can take stuff from them and add to my game. So, working out with Kobe was an incredible experience and I learned a lot of things. I had my notebook because I was younger back then. I was probably 22.
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Vin Baker: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman. You're talking about three of the top 75 players ever, but that doesn't take away again that doesn't take away from how great the Golden State Warriors are. There's different eras. The game is played differently. Do I think there were more stars in the '90s? Absolutely. The top 30 players in the 90s compared to the top 30 players today, I think the 90s would win.
Phil kind of made the joke that the '70s Knicks used to get together, and that 'I don't think there's going to be many get-togethers with the '96 Bulls.' He was sort of joking about it, that there are not going to be many reunions after all the things that have been said. Scottie Pippen called Phil a racist. Scottie has been an angry guy. He's been angry at everybody and doesn't have a relationship with the Bulls anymore. I was pretty close to him; we were going to write a book together, I still got the contract for it, but we finally didn't do it. He doesn't talk to me anymore either.
Sam Smith: Phil Jackson was very sympathetic toward him, despite whatever things he said about him. We talked about that in the book. He said, 'I feel like Scottie Pippen has had bad advice.' And the touching thing, though, was that when I asked him about how Michael reacted, he said Michael Jordan was really hurt by it, and not angry. He regrets losing this relationship.
It's pretty well documented now that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen don’t really have a relationship anymore. I know you and Scottie are still pretty close, but what are your thoughts on that? Horace Grant: Oh, man, I think and I hope and pray that they both come to such a moment that they can both sit down and talk this thing out. Now you have two great, great players, great teammates. I don't want to say beefing because you know when you 60 and older, we don't have that much time, so I would say to MJ and Pip, I pray and hope that you guys can settle this silliness.
How would you do in today’s NBA? Scottie Pippen: I’d do very well. The game has changed, sure — it’s more up and down now — but my style fit that kind of play even in the ’80s and ’90s. I don’t think it would be a big challenge. Q. Would you be the best player in the league? Scottie Pippen: Yes, I think so. There’s no reason to think otherwise. If I worked as hard as I did back then, I believe I’d easily be among the best.
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From one to ten, how tired are you of talking about Michael Jordan? Scottie Pippen: Oh [smiles]. Is ten the highest or lowest? Q. The highest. Scottie Pippen: Then I’d probably say twelve. Q. More than ten? Scottie Pippen: Yes, definitely more than ten. I’ve been dealing with that since I entered the NBA. It’s nothing new — everything has always revolved around Michael Jordan. But, you know, I’m happy I’ve been able to leave my own legacy and not have to talk about him all the time.
The former forward also compared today's basketball to that of his era, stressing that the rules, style of play and the importance of the three-pointer have completely changed the dynamics. For Pippen, today's NBA is less physical and much more open, which has allowed large and skillful players such as Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic to dominate the game. Scottie Pippen also spokeabout Luka Doncic and the Lakers: "His style of play took him to the Finals, but I'm not sure he can do it again. It was a one-off feat, but when they got to the Finals, they didn't have much else," he said.
Scottie Pippen on the 72-10 Bulls vs 73-9 Warriors: It depends on the rules. Are we playing with their rules, or are you playing with 90s rules? With the 90s rules, Stephen Curry is not the same player. But for us to play in their era, it would like breaking out of jail, you got freedom, no one is knocking you to the floor. They would probably win, they have Steph and Klay, two of the best three-point shooters ever, and that wasn’t our expertise.
How was your relationship with Michael Jordan? Scottie Pippen: “It’s never been on the top shelf, but that’s the nature of the business. I was like that with Phil Jackson, but we’re not tight anymore neither so it’s a part of life and the cycles that we go through.”
