Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen has added his voice to the ongoing debate comparing the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls with the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors.
In an interview with Marca, Pippen highlighted how the style of play and officiating rules would heavily influence the outcome of a hypothetical matchup.
“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,” Pippen said, via HoopsHype.
The six-time NBA champion argued that physicality defined the 90s era, noting that contact around the perimeter and in the paint shaped how teams operated offensively.
By contrast, he described today’s NBA as far more favorable to perimeter scorers. “For us to play in their era, it would be like breaking out of jail, you got freedom, no one is knocking you to the floor,” Pippen explained.
When asked directly about the Bulls’ chances against Golden State, Pippen admitted the Warriors’ offensive firepower could tip the balance.
“They would probably win, they have Steph and Klay, two of the best three-point shooters ever, and that wasn’t our expertise,” he said.
The comparison between the 72–10 Bulls and the 73–9 Warriors has remained a popular debate among fans and analysts. Chicago capped its historic season with a championship, while Golden State lost in the 2016 NBA Finals to Cleveland.
Pippen’s comments add context to the debate by underlining how era-specific rules can dramatically alter the effectiveness of stars like Curry.
Physical defenses of the 90s often tested guards with hand-checking, aggressive rotations, and hard fouls at the rim, while today’s league emphasizes pace, spacing, and three-point shooting.
