Scottie Pippen’s competitive mindset didn’t stop at opponents—it extended to Michael Jordan, his legendary teammate.
“I wanted to be better than Michael Jordan,” Pippen told NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson in a recent interview.
Pippen, a six-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist, entered the league without hype but with unwavering self-belief. He credited that drive to his background and the path he took to the NBA.
“There was something there to give me the confidence just to talk shit,” Pippen said, referencing his roots and comparing his journey to Charles Oakley’s. “Just having that confidence in myself instilled more confidence.”
Drafted out of Central Arkansas, Pippen didn’t arrive as a star. Early on, under head coach Doug Collins, he was asked to play small forward despite coming into the league as a point guard.
“I came in this league as a point guard and [was] put at small forward,” he said. “I was kinda learning the game from a position that I was never put in.”
Pippen’s evolution accelerated once Phil Jackson became head coach. Jackson, he said, had a forward-thinking approach and built a system that leveraged his versatility.
“Phil Jackson was really a players coach,” Pippen said. “He had a great understanding of how the game was evolving.”
Under Jackson, Pippen flourished as the ultimate two-way player. His responsibilities expanded far beyond scoring—he guarded top scorers, initiated offense, and anchored the defense.
Though Jordan often took the spotlight, Pippen consistently took on the league’s toughest defensive assignments. His defensive skill and all-around game made him essential to the Bulls’ six-title run.
