Happy 50th Birthday, Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen wasn’t just one of the most important players in Chicago Bulls history, he was one of the greatest two-way players that’s ever played the game of basketball. Today, we celebrate his 50th birthday.

He’s seen as the “greatest sidekick in NBA history”, but Scottie Pippen was one of the greatest players in NBA history. Pippen was selected to seven NBA All-Star games, including winning the 1994 NBA All-Star Game MVP award, and making the NBA All-Defensive First Team on eight different occasions.

Scottie Pippen turns the tide in the 1991 NBA Finals

The Bulls lost a heartbreaker in Game 1 of their first Finals appearance in 1991 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Michael Jordan’s game-winning attempt rimmed in and out, and the Bulls found themselves in an 0-1 hole, needing a win in Game 2 before the series shifted to Los Angeles.

Enter Scottie Pippen guarding the great Magic Johnson.

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Jordan was needed offensively, and for him to guard arguably the greatest point guard of all-time and produce his usual offense, may have been too much for the game’s best player to handle in his first Finals appearance. So, Bulls head coach Phil Jackson slid Pippen over to guard Magic, and the series changed immensely.

The Bulls tied the series at 1-1 with a 19-point blowout in Game 2, 106-87. Magic scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists in 43 minutes, but shot 4-of-13 from the field and turned the ball over four times.

While guarding Magic, Pippen had one of his most important games of the 1991 postseason, scoring 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting, dishing out 10 assists, and grabbing five rebounds.

Of course, the Bulls would go on to win the next three games and win the first NBA title in the history of the franchise.

Scottie and the Pips lead the Bulls to back-to-back titles in 1992

The Bulls found themselves down 15 points to start the fourth quarter in Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals against Portland.

This was supposed to be the night to celebrate the Bulls winning back-to-back titles at home, but the Blazers had other plans. That of course, was until the Bulls pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history.

Outside of Pippen, the five for the Bulls to start the fourth quarter were all reserves. Pippen, along with the likes of B.J. Armstrong, Stacey King, Bobby Hansen and Cliff Levingston, lead the Bulls on a 14-2 run to start the quarter. Jordan would reenter the fray fresh and ready to finish the Blazers off.

The Bulls did just that, winning their second straight title, 97-93. Pippen was fantastic in the clincher, scoring 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing four assists.

“Smith stopped again by Pippen!”

Was the conclusion of Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals controversial? Yeah, you could definitely say that. But, was the conclusion of Game 5 one of the biggest moments in Scottie Pippen’s career? You bet it was.

In the waning moments of Game 5, and the Bulls leading by just one point, the New York Knicks had a plethora of chances (right around the basket) to take the lead (four to be specific). After a big block by Horace Grant on the first and second attempts, Pippen cleaned up the rest with two huge blocks inside the final 10 seconds to preserve a huge Game 5 victory at Madison Square Garden.

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Grant would find Jordan in the midst of the ruckus, and Jordan was dish a beautiful outlet pass to B.J. Armstrong to preserve a wild 97-94 victory and a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-seven series.

The hilarious thing about the chaos: Pippen wasn’t credited with a single block. (I’ll let you be the judge on that one.) But, Pippen did have 28 points and 11 rebounds, as the Bulls would finish off the rival Knicks in Game 6 back in Chicago to advance to the 1993 NBA Finals.

“The Dunk”

The NBA has had some moments where you literally jump out of your seat and go ballistic. Scottie Pippen’s dunk in the 1994 NBA Playoffs over Patrick Ewing was one of those moments.

The entirety of the dunk was perfection. From the viciousness of the dunk, to Pippen seemingly pushing Ewing to the ground, to Pete Myers being left hung out to dry on a high-five attempt, to Pippen talking trash to Knicks fanatic Spike Lee; everything about “The Dunk” was perfect.

Pippen is one of the greatest players of all-time, and every single one of those greats has their “defining moment” in the game. That dunk was easily Pippen’s.

“The House That Jordan (And Pippen) Built” receives another number

On December 9, 2005, Scottie Pippen rightfully took his place among the others in the United Center rafters, as his No. 33 was retired.

Among the attendees: Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson (who was coaching the Lakers at the time and who the Bulls were playing on this night), Dominique Wilkins, Horace Grant, Randy Brown, Craig Hodges, Will Perdue, Bill Cartwright, Stacey King, Charles Oakley, Toni Kukoc, Tex Winter and Dennis Rodman.

There wasn’t a doubt that Pippen was one of the greatest figures in Bulls history, and this night was exactly what Pippen earned and deserved.

The conclusion to one of the most underrated careers in NBA history

With Michael Jordan by his side this time, Scottie Pippen took his rightful place in the Basketball Hall of Fame back in 2010.

Pippen’s final resume: 18,940 points, 7,494 rebounds, 6,135 assists, 2,307 steals, 947 blocks and was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history.

This night was just the culmination of a 17-year career that gets forgotten by so many, but Pippen should be recognized as one of the most important players in the game’s history. Without Scottie Pippen, the Chicago Bulls aren’t the Chicago Bulls. The franchise is a worldwide brand, and without No. 33 tormenting perimeter players throughout his lifetime, the Bulls wouldn’t be what they are today.

Happy 50th, Scottie.

For some more on Scottie Pippen as well, SB Nation’s Blog a Bull site actually spoke to Pippen. You can listen to that interview here. Props to them for their “Scottie Pippen Week” material.

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