Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan are celebrated as one of the finest basketball pairs in history; however, their relationship off the court reveals a different narrative.
Over time, their bond has publicly deteriorated, and Pippen recently shared his perspective on why he feels their fractured relationship is unlikely to mend.
“I just think Michael is a very difficult person to deal with,” Pippen remarked during an episode of the PBD podcast. “I played with him for years, so I know that when it’s time for you to move in your direction, then you should go in that direction. Don’t linger or pretend that the relationship is as it once was, because it never will be the same. So, why try to fabricate something out of nothing? Or attempt to create something that never existed?”
Pippen elaborated on their time together with the Bulls, noting that their interactions outside of team events were minimal, highlighting that their connection was more professional than personal.
“I guess during the last three championships we won, we trained together at his home, but other than that, we didn’t really invest much time away from basketball. Most of our time was spent either working out or on the practice court,” he stated.
While Pippen has expressed considerable frustration with his former teammate in recent discussions, he also recognized in his book that the deterioration of their friendship wasn’t solely Jordan’s fault.
Image Source: Scottie Pippen @ Instagram
