When Scottie Pippen took the Berto Center court after practice Monday, Bulls operations chief John Paxson told Pippen his latest project would be to work with newly acquired point guard Jannero Pargo.
Such tutoring appears to be all that remains in Pippen's Hall of Fame career.
With 16 games left, Pippen confirmed he probably won't play again this season, and he already has acknowledged there is almost no chance he'll play next season. All that's left is a news conference to officially announce the end of a career that spanned 17 seasons and included six championships.
"I'd like to play once more to say goodbye to the game at this level,'' Pippen said. "But I don't think I can go anymore. I want to, but I don't think I can.''
It's no surprise. Pippen has played just 23 games this season and underwent surgery on his left knee Dec. 12. Problems with the knee continued to flare up as he tried to come back, and there's no reason to risk further damage this late in the season with nothing at stake.
Pippen has been known to change his mind, and he warmed up Saturday before the Bulls' game against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it's unlikely he'll put his body at risk with game action.
Paxson has praised Pippen's after-practice work with his younger teammates. It's one of the reasons Paxson signed him to a two-year, $10.3 million deal. But Paxson also was hoping for 60 games from Pippen in what was expected to be a run at a playoff berth.
It's likely Pippen won't hold Paxson to the second year of the deal.
Working with Pippen was a rush for Pargo, who signed a 10-day contract after Rick Brunson was waived. Pargo grew up on the South Side and attended Robeson.
"Home is where my heart is,'' Pargo said. "I grew up watching [Michael] Jordan, so it's definitely a dream come true.''
Pargo is likely to be the Bulls' last 10-day signee, and in case anyone was wondering, he was brought in with one purpose in mind.
"To win the game [tonight],'' coach Scott Skiles said. "We're trying to win games.
"We've got 18 wins with the roster the way it was, so I don't know why anybody would be insinuating we're not trying to win. We're trying to find people to help the Bulls win a game. It's not any more complicated than that.''
Big disagreement there. That's like saying Mark Messier's Edmonton numbers shouldn't count because he played with Wayne Gretzky, or that Jerry Rice's catches shouldn't count because he had Joe Montana or Steve Young throwing the ball.
Anyway, according to NBA.com, here's Pippen's career highlights. Your opinions may vary, but, in mine, Hall-Of-Famer? Yes.
- Six-time NBA World Champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998) - Name is scattered across the NBA’s all-time leader board: 41st in total points (18,804), fourth in steals (2,286), 16th in steals per game (1.98), 25th in assists (6,085), 15th in minutes (40,657), 16th in minutes per game (35.2), 29th in three-point field goals made (965) - Ranked first in Bulls history with 651 three-pointers and 1,983 three-point field goals attempted - Ranked second in Bulls history in: points (14,987, field goals (5,938), field goal attempts (12,304), free throws attempted (3,549), offensive rebounds (1,667), defensive rebounds (3,991), assists (4,444), steals (1,771), seasons played (11), games played (833) and minutes (29,857) - Ranked third in Bulls history with 5,658 rebounds and 765 blocked shots - Has never missed the postseason, making the playoffs 16 years in a row - Second in NBA history with 208 playoff appearances (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 237) - Owner of two NBA Finals records: most three-point field goals attempted in a career (117), most three-point field goals made in one game (7, tied with Kenny Smith) - Holds career playoff record for most three-point field goals attempted (660) - Member of the NBA All-Defensive Team from 1991-2000 (First Team member seven times) - Selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 - Seven-time NBA All Star (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997) - 1994 All-Star Game MVP - Made All-NBA seven straight years (1992-1998) - Two-time Olympic gold medal winner - Has recorded 20 career triple-doubles, including four in the playoffs - Ranked atop the all-time All-Star Game leader board in 3FGA with 22 (second), 3FG made with 7 (tied for 4th) and steals with 17 (eighth) - Career highs of 47 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists, 9 steals and 5 blocked shots
I agree with Martyewr. Pippen has to go in the Hall. Sure he wouldn't have done as much without Jordan, but you could say the same about Parish & McHale (Bird) or Worthy (Magic) or any 60's Celtics star (Russell). My favorite Pippen memory was when they switched him on defense onto Magic after Jordan got in foul trouble in the '91 Finals & he just put the clamps on him! That may have been the turning point in that series. Plus he had an awesome year in '93-'94, could have been MVP & the Bulls SHOULD have been in the finals. Except for a certain call made in a playoff game with the Knicks by Hue Hollins! But then again that's the same playoffs where Pippen refused to go in the last seconds of a game because the play wasn't drawn up for him....He did so many great things but people remember some of the boneheaded shit he did too...plus the Migraine! One last note: I'll never forget Pippen's "Ultimate Warrior" moment in an interview one time. He was talking about a game & used the word "dramastically". Still not sure whether he meant "dramatically" or "drastically". Maybe he meant "destrucity"
Who's judging American Idol? Paula Abdul? Paula Abdul judging a singing contest is like Christopher Reeve judging a dance contest!
Originally posted by The Amazing SalamiHall of Fame career????
What did he do sans MJ?? You shouldn't go the Hall cause you played on a team with the world's best player.
Averaged a career high 22.0 points, career high 8.9 rebounds, career high 2.9 steals to go along with 5.6 assists, while leading the Bulls to a 55-27 record.
And then there is all the stuff after he left Chicago, but 93-94, without Jordan, was his best year as a pro.
Originally posted by MARTYEWRBig disagreement there. That's like saying Mark Messier's Edmonton numbers shouldn't count because he played with Wayne Gretzky, or that Jerry Rice's catches shouldn't count because he had Joe Montana or Steve Young throwing the ball.
Anyway, according to NBA.com, here's Pippen's career highlights. Your opinions may vary, but, in mine, Hall-Of-Famer? Yes.
- Six-time NBA World Champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998) - Name is scattered across the NBA’s all-time leader board: 41st in total points (18,804), fourth in steals (2,286), 16th in steals per game (1.98), 25th in assists (6,085), 15th in minutes (40,657), 16th in minutes per game (35.2), 29th in three-point field goals made (965) - Ranked first in Bulls history with 651 three-pointers and 1,983 three-point field goals attempted - Ranked second in Bulls history in: points (14,987, field goals (5,938), field goal attempts (12,304), free throws attempted (3,549), offensive rebounds (1,667), defensive rebounds (3,991), assists (4,444), steals (1,771), seasons played (11), games played (833) and minutes (29,857) - Ranked third in Bulls history with 5,658 rebounds and 765 blocked shots - Has never missed the postseason, making the playoffs 16 years in a row - Second in NBA history with 208 playoff appearances (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 237) - Owner of two NBA Finals records: most three-point field goals attempted in a career (117), most three-point field goals made in one game (7, tied with Kenny Smith) - Holds career playoff record for most three-point field goals attempted (660) - Member of the NBA All-Defensive Team from 1991-2000 (First Team member seven times) - Selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 - Seven-time NBA All Star (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997) - 1994 All-Star Game MVP - Made All-NBA seven straight years (1992-1998) - Two-time Olympic gold medal winner - Has recorded 20 career triple-doubles, including four in the playoffs - Ranked atop the all-time All-Star Game leader board in 3FGA with 22 (second), 3FG made with 7 (tied for 4th) and steals with 17 (eighth) - Career highs of 47 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists, 9 steals and 5 blocked shots
Almost ALL these accomplishments can be attributed to playing beside Micheal Jordan. People love to point to the 93-94 season, why? He wasnt great that season, he was GOOD. Bottom line, Pippen did Jack Shit without MJ. He was NEVER a go-to guy at anytime in his career. Remember when he sat out that last play when the shot wasnt called for him? You know why that shot wasnt called for him? Because Phil Jackson didnt have confidence in him to make the shot. If he was as good as people seem to think he was, then there shouldnt have been any questions.
On PTI once Tony and Mike both agreed that if the 50 greatest players list was done today Pippen wouldnt even be discussed as a possibility. Ive heard other Sportswriters saying the same thing.
Well, well, well. If it isn't the serious, elusive, Leroy Green. I've been waiting a long time for this Leroy. I am sick and tired of hearing these bullshit Superman stories about the wassa legendary Bruce Leroy catching bullets with his teeth. Catches bullets with his teeth? Nigga please.
Originally posted by rockdotcom_2.0 Remember when he sat out that last play when the shot wasnt called for him? You know why that shot wasnt called for him? Because Phil Jackson didnt have confidence in him to make the shot. If he was as good as people seem to think he was, then there shouldnt have been any questions.
I'll just say that there are reasons why John Paxson and Steve Kerr are forever remembered in Chicago, and it's not because they fed MJ for the final shot in certain NBA Finals games.
(edited by spf2119 on 18.3.04 0955) Toil not to gain wealth, cease to be concerned about it. Proverbs 23:4
Well, the “never missed the postseason” streak is going to end this year, due to no fault of his own.
But to the guys who say Scottie Pippen isn't deserving of the Hall of Fame... well, I'd agree with you if you were right.
It can be argued that Scottie Pippen didn't do anything without MJ (if one ignores the 55-27 record in Jordan's retirement year and the 1999-2000 season he had with the Blazers), but it's important to remember this:
Michael Jordan didn't do jack, playoff-wise, without Pippen. Michael Jordan didn't win the NBA Championship until after Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Phil Jackson arrived. In fact, he didn't come all that close to winning a title until all the Bulls' pieces were in place.
Sure, some of Scottie's actions in the 1993-94 season were utterly reprehensible to basketball fans, because he wasn't used to having to shoulder the burden of leadership. But in addition to being a 7-time NBA All-Star, Pippen was also one of the NBA's best defensive players throughout his career. He was never as good as MJ, but name five people in the history of the NBA who are as good as MJ.
Being on Jordan's team shouldn't take away from the fact that Pippen was the second-best player on the best team in the NBA for many years. Did John Paxson make the All-Star team seven times? Did Bill Cartwright average 22 points a game? Did B.J. Armstrong score 18,000 career points?
One man couldn't do it by himself. The Bulls tried that strategy for five or six years and consistently made the playoffs, to Jordan's credit, but never came anywhere near a championship. Every great player needs a second great player-- or barring that, an above-average team-- alongside him to make it over that hump. Shaq needed Kobe, Bird needed McHale, Magic needed Kareem, Russell needed a revolving door of Celtics. And Michael needed Scottie.
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How anyone could say Scottie Pippen doesn't belong in the NBA Hall of Fame is asinine. His statistics and track record back it up. You can call him a second-fiddle all you want but was James Worthy one as well? Worthy is in the hall of fame.
It would be a travesty if Pippen did not get in. Look at some of the inductees, Drazen Petrovic, Bill Walton (We're talking NBA here.), Don Nelson, too many obscure foreign players, and women too.
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This game emphasizes the point that 3 pointers taken 3-4 feet off the arc are only cool if they go in...when they miss badly, repeatedly, one finds themselves wondering if they even see the arc painted on the court.