2010 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Scottie Pippen

Official Website

About Scottie

  • Six-time NBA World Champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998).
  • Perennial All-NBA (1992-1998)
  • Perennial (10-time) member of the NBA All-Defensive Team. Leading vote-getter by NBA coaches for four straight seasons (1994 thru 1997).
  • Selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
  • Member of 1992 Dream Team and two-time Olympic gold medal winner
  • One of only 4 players in NBA history to lead his team in all major statistical categories (points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks) for the entire season (1995).

"I know Michael's the best player, but Pippen was the best player on that team" - Chuck Daly on the 1992 Dream Team.

"Scottie was our team leader. He was the guy that directed our offense and he was the guy that took on a lot of big challenges defensively...the year that Michael retired, Scottie I think was the most valuable player in the league. He was probably the player most liked by others. He mingled. He brought out the best in players and communicated the best. Leadership, real leadership is one of his strengths. Everybody says Michael was a great leader. He led by example, by rebuke, by harsh words. Scottie's leadership was equally dominant, but a leadership of patting on the back, of support." - Phil Jackson

"The luxury is for us to have a defender like Scottie who can cover more than one situation at a time. He's able to hang tight with whoever he's playing and help on a defensive set so the other team can't operate. Scottie is able to be a one-man wrecking crew". - Phil Jackson

"I know he makes me a better player. Unfortunately, it may take awhile, after we both retire, for people to realize just how good Scottie Pippen really was." - Michael Jordan

"It's natural ability, desire, and knowledge that makes Scottie such a great defensive player. He sets the tempo defensively for us. He can disrupt anybody's offense because he can play anybody from the point guard to the five position." - Michael Jordan

"Pippen could score 5 points and still dominate a basketball game" - Reggie Miller

"He's the best player in the league, it's that simple" - Chris Webber (March, 1994-95 season)

"He's the best athlete all-around ever to play in the NBA. Tell me somebody who can do what he could do for 48 minutes on the basketball court. He was the best all-around. He could play three positions, four positions, rebound, assists, steals... Michael was the singer and Scottie was the drummer. They didn't need no backup singers." - Charles Oakley

"There are certain things that Pippen does for that team that Michael doesn't do. Definitely defensively. I think offensively he's always conscious of getting the other guys involved. Not to take anything away from Michael, but I think Scottie is just more cognizant of the total package, and that makes them complement each other real well." - Julius Erving

"Scottie is one of the best teammates I've ever had. Everyone loves him. He's so unselfish the way he plays and plays so hard. He knows where you'll be and where you want the ball for a shot. And he'll consciously try to get you shots. He'll be aware when you're struggling in a game, or when you've gone awhile without a shot. He would run by and say, "I know you haven't gotten a shot. Don't worry. Next time, I'll get you one." He cares about everyone like no star I've ever played with." - Steve Kerr

"Tremendous teammate, that's what comes to mind when I think of Scottie Pippen. He was a very caring teammate who was always concerned about the team, always concerned about it. He just had a great understanding of the team concept. Everyone talks about a great teammate, but he really was a great guy to play with. He may have been having a 25 or 30-point game, but if he knew you were struggling, he'd find a way to get you going as well. He's that type of guy." - BJ Armstrong