Scottie Pippen

[Mr.Espinoza ♔♔♔]

 

 

 

 

Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is a former American basketball player. Although his versatility allowed him to occupy different positions in the field, he played preferably in the eaves position.

He was chosen by the Seattle Supersonics in the first round of the 1987 draft with number 5 but his rights were immediately transferred to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Olden Polynice and a subsequent conditional draft election. With the Bulls he spent two cycles, the first from 1987 to 1998 and the second between 2003 and 2004. In the middle he played at the Houston Rockets in the 1998-1999 season and at the Portland Trail Blazers from 1999 to 2003.

He obtained six NBA rings (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998), was chosen 7 times in the best quintet in the league and 8 times chosen in the best defensive quintet. He is one of the 50 best players in NBA history, and participated in seven editions of the NBA Star Game.

Scottie represented his national team, and won the gold medal in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Career
Chicago Bulls
He grew up in Arkansas, where he attended college at the University of Central Arkansas. Attending a minor university, outside the NCAA circuit made some suspicions about his performance at the highest level, but his defensive ability and versatility played in his favor and a spectacular year at the University with averages of 26.3 points and 10 rebounds They led him to a good choice in the draft. He was chosen by the Seattle Supersonics in 5th place in the 1987 NBA Draft, but Jerry Krause, Bulls' Director of Operations had already noticed Pippen's young talent and soon agreed to a transfer that would lead to Arkansas to get to Chicago.

The Bulls bet had an immediate response, leaving from the bench averaged 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists helping the Chicago team reach the second round of Playoff for the first time in the last decade. They fell 4-1 in their tie against the Pistons of Isiah Thomas but there were reasons to be happy, the future of Pippen and the Bulls was unbeatable with a young and talented team.

In the following years Pippen continues its progression within the team and establishes itself as second player after Michael Jordan. In 1990 he recognized his worth being selected for the NBA All-Star Game for the first time and finally achieved his first title in 1991 against Los Angeles Lakers. Pippen and his great friend Jordan form an unstoppable couple that will lead the Bulls to win 3 consecutive championships between 1991 and 1993.

Jordan's surprising withdrawal at the end of the 1993 season leaves Pippen with the possibility to prove that it is more than just a good complement for Jordan. Without the long shadow of "Air" on him, in the 93-94 season he displays his best game leading the Bulls in practically all offensive and defensive sections, he gets the MVP of the All-Star and is a serious candidate for the MVP of the regular season He led the Bulls to a mark in the 55-27 season, overcame the first round with ease against the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-0 and fell in a tight 4-3 against the New York Knicks that had the field factor at their favor.

During this tie the most rocambolesque event of Pippen's professional life occurred. In the absence of 1.8 seconds for the end of the third game against the Knicks, with the score equal to 102 and 2-0 down in the series for the Bulls Phil Jackson, Chicago coach requests a timeout to prepare the play. To everyone's surprise, Pippen, the undisputed leader of the team, is not the one chosen to make this latest release but Jackson decides that Toni Kukoc is the one who throws. Pippen's anger is such that he refuses to enter the court for that last play, sits on the bench and with an upset presence the play. Kukoc receives the ball just over 6 meters from the basket, throws and scores. They are all faces of joy in the Bulls ... except in Pippen and Jackson.

After this moment of tension Jerry Krause begins to consider the option of transferring Pippen to Seattle in exchange for Shawn Kemp but the mid-season return of Jordan 94-95 with the Bulls makes the waters return to their course. This season the Bulls fall again in the second round, this time against the Orlando Magic led by Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee Hardaway. Even with Jordan back, the Bulls and Pippen see each other for the second consecutive year out of the title fight.

The following year the arrival of Dennis Rodman and with Pippen and Jordan in great shape achieve a historic milestone, a 72-10 mark in the regular phase that is the second best mark in the NBA (73-9 is the best mark, obtained on April 14, 2016 by Golden State Warriors). With this team as a base helped by players like Kukoc, Ron Harper and Luc Longley mainly, the Bulls get again 3 consecutive championships between 1996 and 1998.