Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen have apparently been on the outs over the previous a number of years. A number of years in the past, Pippen shared some blunt critiques of his Chicago Bulls cohort and continued to drop brutally trustworthy takes on MJ and his impression on the sport of basketball. Different veteran gamers have since weighed in on the matter, sharing their ideas not solely on Pippen and Jordan’s abilities however the possibilities of a reconciliation. With that, fellow Bulls alum Craig Hodges believes one element modified the dynamics between his teammates.
Former capturing/level guard Craig Hodges is likely one of the many gamers to have shared the courtroom with Air Jordan and “Pip” throughout their days with the Chicago Bulls. Hodges performed for the workforce for 4 seasons, profitable the championship titles with the squad in 1991 and 1992. Throughout an episode of All of the Smoke, Hodges was requested in regards to the relationship between his former teammates. He subsequently theorized (as shared in an X clip) that their dynamic modified when a sure distinction was awarded to various gamers years in the past:
As soon as Scottie turned one of many fiftieth finest [players of all time], his degree of confidence – not essentially the best way he performed – he was taking part in at Prime 50 earlier than then. He simply didn’t realize it, you are feeling me? He was below the affect of 23, that that is the way you do it. … When he turned Prime 50, it turned ‘[gestures like equal level] What? Let’s go.’ And I believe, to a point, that’s nonetheless there in that little rift they having.
In 1996, the 50 Best Gamers in NBA Historical past (as a part of the league’s fiftieth anniversary) have been introduced, with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen being named amongst their ranks. The 2 have been subsequently named to the seventy fifth anniversary workforce in 2021 as properly. What Craig Hodges is inferring is that when Pippen was named amongst the all-time greats, his confidence elevated, and that apparently modified the massive brother, little brother dynamic he seemingly had with Jordan on the courtroom.
The 2 Dream Staff members positively don’t appear to have any sort of sibling-like relationship now. In 2021, Scottie Pippen blasted his former colleague over the docuseries The Final Dance (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription). He accused His Airness, whose manufacturing firm had editorial management, of utilizing the doc to “uplift” himself and never give different gamers the credit score they deserved. Pippen additionally mentioned his ex-teammate “ruined” the sport of basketball and some years later, referred to as him a “horrible” participant as properly.
The previous small ahead has since acquired backlash for his feedback, with Charles Barkley criticizing him for “big-game searching” by taking these photographs at MJ in his memoir, Unguarded. Late NBA legend Jerry West additionally questioned the critiques, questioning why the Arkansas native was “bothering” to feud along with his previous teammate. As for whether or not the 2 would possibly reconcile, fellow Bulls alum Charles Oakley thinks it received’t occur. Craig Hodges stays hopeful, although:
Lord keen, it’ll come collectively, as a result of everyone obtained youngsters and grandbabies now. We too grown for that shit.
Scottie Pippen beforehand mentioned he and Michael Jordan “by no means have been nice buddies” and, at this level, the possibilities of them discovering some widespread floor does admittedly appear slim. Nevertheless, maybe one thing might convey the 2 again collectively, whatever the sorts of variables factoring into their relationship.