Scottie Pippen Gives Another Controversial Stance on Michael Jordan and LeBron James

• NBA

Legendary NBA basketball player, Scottie Pippen (57), continues to stoke the flames of controversy with his comments about his former teammate, considered by many as the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan. Pippen's barrage of comments began three years ago following the release of "The Last Dance," a series detailing the meteoric rise and dominance of Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 90s.

Pippen, evidently stung by his portrayal in the series, has since been unrelenting in his criticism of Jordan.

The Spark of a Feud

Pippen's latest critique was made during his appearance on the podcast, "Gimme the Hot Sauce!" His words were aimed squarely at Jordan's early years in the NBA before Pippen joined the Bulls.

"I've seen Michael Jordan play before I came to the Bulls. You guys have seen him play. He was a horrible player," Pippen asserted on the podcast. "He was horrible to play with. It was all 1-on-1, shooting bad shots. All of a sudden, we become a team and we start winning.

Everybody forgot who he was. He was a player who was really not at the top of his category." These incendiary remarks have intensified the discourse surrounding Pippen and Jordan's dynamic, a relationship already under scrutiny following the release of "The Last Dance."

LeBron James: The Greatest "Statistical" Player?

Pippen's controversial sentiments extended to another NBA luminary, LeBron James.

The former Chicago Bulls star held an intriguing stance on James, labeling him as the greatest "statistical" player of all time. "LeBron is the greatest winner," Pippen remarked. "He's a lot older now and gets criticized a lot.

He's never been a shotmaker. He's never been the guy to take the last shot. He's never been great at that. I said this many years ago, and I got criticized for it. When LeBron James leaves the game, he'll be the greatest statistical player to ever play the game."

“LeBron James will be the greatest statistical [player] to ever play the game of basketball.

[Michael Jordan] was a horrible player”.

- Scottie Pippen

(h/t @DieHardCBfans )

pic.twitter.com/8EN5xOpJOG — NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 26, 2023

Despite his critiques, Pippen has previously conceded Jordan's overall supremacy, stating in 2018 on ESPN: "Michael Jordan's the greatest player to ever put on shoes and play in our game.

No doubt about it. There is no game where I would pick LeBron James over Michael Jordan." As expected, Pippen's comments have sparked a wave of criticism. Unfazed, he took to Instagram to pay homage to his own legacy: "From humble beginnings to 6 championships, 2 gold medals, Hall of Fame, and leading the Bulls franchise with the most playoff wins.

Here's to the unsung heroes... Cheers!," he wrote alongside a childhood photo. As the debate rages on, it's clear Pippen is not one to shy away from the spotlight or controversy.

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