In the history of the NBA there are a number of duos that are considered the best. Among the best it might be only Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen who deserve to be called the greatest duo in NBA history.
Starting from Kareem Abdul Jabbar-Magic Johnson, Karl Malone-John Stockton, David Robinson-Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant-Shaq O’Neal, LeBron James-Dwyane Wade, until now LeBron-Anthony Davis, the NBA has always had a duo that achieved success.
However, the Jordan-Pippen duo are often regarded as the greatest in NBA history. Without Pippen Jordan might not be able to win the NBA up to six times. That statement is often expressed by a number of players, former players, and observers of the NBA.
No matter how great Jordan as a basketball athlete, Chicago Bulls coach at the time, Phil Jackson, realized the Number 23 could not be a champion alone. Jordan needs an equal duet partner so the Bulls can become champions.
When Pippen began entering the NBA with the Bulls in 1987, Jordan had become a senior for the number 33 player because he entered the NBA in 1984. However, it took time for Phil Jackson to enter the Bulls in 1989 to form Pippen as Jordan’s equivalent duo.
The climax occurred in the 1990/1991 season when the Bulls first won the NBA title. At that time Jackson made a significant change by changing Pippen’s playing position, from forward to guard. Jackson’s decision made Pippen a versatile player.
Pippen began to compensate for Jordan’s level of play through his ability to score points, become a facilitator, and extraordinary survival.
“I always felt Pippen’s contribution to the team was even greater when we moved him from forward to guard in the 1990/1991 season. Using Pippen as a guard in a triangle attack made him do extraordinary defense and pass, while utilizing his attacking ability,” Jackson said quoted from the Basketball Network.
Pippen played with Jordan at Bulls in 1987 to 1993 and 1995 to 1998. Like Batman and Robin, the collaboration of the two players made the Bulls successfully won six NBA ring titles.
Interestingly, Jordan in an interview with Ahmad Rashad said Pippen also made him a more perfect player. Jordan regards Pippen as his most trusted teammate.
“Actually, it wasn’t just me who pushed Pippen, but Pippen also pushed me. It’s like a brother and sister scenario. If the Bulls want to succeed, then I have to pull Pippen together. We have to find ways to continue to challenge each other. In the end we formed a tandem. “I don’t think there will be two players like us anymore, who grow up and succeed together,” Jordan said.
Pippen also became the first person to be called Jordan when he made a speech to enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2009. One year later Pippen made Jordan his companion when he accepted the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“I have a lot of people to thank. In the video [presentation] that you saw at the beginning, you not only saw me, but you also saw Scottie Pippen. Every NBA title that I won was Pippen,” Jordan said.
