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“The Most Enjoyable Time of My Career”?
Scottie Pippen’s Greatest Lie — And the Data That Buries It.
Samuel Rogers
July 29, 2025
🧢 The Quote That Broke the Internet
“It was the most enjoyable time of my NBA career.”
—Scottie Pippen, on Michael Jordan’s first retirement
Scottie Pippen—Hall of Famer, Top 75, defensive stalwart—just called Michael Jordan’s retirement a blessing.
The man who handed him six rings, immortality, and global visibility was apparently the thing holding him back.
Let’s tear this down with brutal honesty and relentless data.
📉 Section I: The Pippen Delusion
No Jordan, No Dynasty. No Dynasty, No Pippen.
Let’s look at the raw impact of Michael Jordan on Scottie Pippen’s career:
Pippen Career Phase | Without MJ (93–95) | With MJ (Full Seasons) |
|---|---|---|
Championships | 0 | 6 |
Finals Appearances | 0 | 6 |
Playoff Elimination | 2nd Round (twice) | Champion every year |
Team Win % | 60.9% | 72.2% |
WS (Win Shares) | 11.2 | 14.6 avg during dynasty |
Pippen’s “peak” came without MJ… and still ended in second-round losses.
📊 Section II: Usage Rate ≠ Championship DNA
During Jordan’s absence (1993–94):
Pippen led the Bulls in Usage (26.5%), Points (22.0), and Assists (5.6).
But the Bulls lost to the Knicks… with homecourt advantage.
Game 3? Pippen famously refused to re-enter with 1.8 seconds left.
🧠 Analytics Breakdown:
Metric | MJ (1992–93) | Pippen (1993–94) |
|---|---|---|
Offensive Rating | 115 | 110 |
Defensive Rating | 103 | 105 |
Win Shares / 48 mins | 0.274 | 0.211 |
Box Plus-Minus (BPM) | +9.1 | +7.6 |
Clutch FG% | 49.2% | 38.6% |
🧨 Takeaway:
Scottie had the keys. He got to be “The Guy.”
And the Bulls were a nice team. Not a great one.
🏀 Section III: Who Made Who?
Michael Jordan didn’t need Scottie Pippen to become the GOAT.
Scottie Pippen only exists as a global brand because of Jordan.
Let’s break down the myth of equality in the MJ-Pippen duo.
🔁 On-Off Impact (1991–93):
Player | On-Court Net Rating | Off-Court Net Rating | Impact Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
MJ | +11.2 | -4.3 | +15.5 |
Pippen | +6.5 | +1.1 | +5.4 |
Jordan’s presence swung games by 3× more than Pippen’s.
📈 Section IV: The Business Legacy Gap
Let’s let the market speak:
Category | Michael Jordan | Scottie Pippen |
|---|---|---|
Career NBA Earnings | $94M | $109M (longer career) |
Total Brand Revenue | $5B+ annually | <$1M / yr |
Net Worth (2025) | $3.2B | ~$20M |
Signature Shoe Legacy | Jordan Brand (Nike) | N/A |
Scottie squandered his earnings, fell into bankruptcy talks, and even had a bad steakhouse chain flop. Jordan built a global empire.
No Jordan = No Pippen statue.
No Jordan = No Top 75 selection.
No Jordan = No memory of Scottie at all.
📷 Section V: The Legacy Picture
With Jordan:
🏆🏆🏆 | 🏆🏆🏆
Global icon. Never lost in the Finals. Elevated every teammate.
Without Jordan:
💤 Second-round ceiling. Locker room quit.
Invisible in the Finals conversation.
Let’s say it plainly:
“It was the most enjoyable time of my career”… only if championships, legacy, and cultural immortality don't matter to you.
🔥 Final Verdict
Scottie Pippen’s quote isn’t just a misread. It’s a rewrite of history.
Jordan made him. Full stop.
There’s no dynasty. No iconography. No “Scottie Pippen” without 23.
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