They also wonder how the team might have functioned if its second-best player weren't wired the way Pippen was. Even teammates who did not enjoy the withering glares and verbal jabs concede Jordan's methods had some effect. "You need both," Buechler said.ĪS CHRONICLED IN the ESPN docuseries "The Last Dance" and in Sam Smith's seminal book "The Jordan Rules," Jordan's intimidation tactics were meant to steel teammates for the postseason. Teammates said the juxtaposition is not meant as criticism of Jordan's ruthlessness. Scottie would put his arm around you and make sure you were OK. He is a kind soul." You had to be ready every day for his criticism. "He was a perfect complement to Michael," Kerr said last month on the Lowe Post podcast. Some of it was about the contrast in leadership styles with Jordan. Some of the fondness stemmed from Pippen's playing style: pass-first, eager to take the toughest defensive assignments. "He is my favorite Bulls teammate," said Bill Wennington, a member of Chicago's last three title teams. "He was beloved by everybody," said Steve Kerr, a Bull from 1993 to 1998. Pippen had built up enough goodwill to sit. "We wanted him to play, but we understood." "We knew why he took that deal," said Will Perdue, Pippen's teammate over eight seasons. ![]() Pippen and 11 siblings grew up in a two-bedroom house in rural Arkansas. They sympathized with his contract situation - why he had once craved the security of a long-term deal, and the resentment he felt when it became clear he was underpaid. Teammates didn't mind that Pippen timed his foot surgery in October 1997 so he would miss the first two-plus months of that season. ![]() "It was, 'I hope Scottie goes somewhere and gets paid, gets what he deserves,'" Buechler recalled. Randy Brown, who signed with Chicago in 1995, tells Pippen he loves him at the end of every phone call.Īt their final team dinner, days after winning the 1998 NBA title, Phil Jackson ushered players into a private room, away from coaches and spouses, and asked each to toast one teammate. Love comes up often when former teammates discuss Pippen - particularly those, like Buechler, who joined the Chicago Bulls during Michael Jordan's brief retirement and remained once Jordan returned. "And for me to tell her that - it shows how much love I have for that guy." Tell him how thankful you are for what he did for your dad." "Reily," Buechler implored his daughter, "turn around right now and introduce yourself. ![]() She texted her father about her celebrity sighting. 'He was beloved by everybody': How Scottie Pippen lifted Michael Jordan and the Chicago BullsĪ COUPLE OF years ago, Jud Buechler's daughter Reily was walking through Los Angeles International Airport when she spotted one of Buechler's longtime teammates: Scottie Pippen. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |