"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to play the game,...... but I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will but he keeps everybody involved."
As you can imagine, those are words that could pretty much start a riot just about anywhere. I mean, we're talking about Scottie Pippen a man who played alongside Michael Jordan, and played a key role on ALL six of Chicago's NBA titles. One of the greatest sidekicks to ever grace the hardwood. He was the "Robin" to Jordan's "Batman". And at times, I'm sure Batman probably wishes he had Scottie Pippen.
Later on via his twitter account, Pippen clarified his comments saying:
"Don't get me wrong, MJ was and is the greatest. But LeBron could by all means get to his level someday."
 |
| You're right!! It's gotta be the shoes! |
The only thing I see is that even if LeBron goes on to win multiple championships, and set all sort of records in the NBA, his legacy will always be tied to one date in history; July 8, 2010. For the record, that was the day of "The Decision", when LeBron announced to the world that he would be "taking his talents to South Beach". A day that will live in infamy, especially if you're a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.
Before Jordan finally won a championship, he had to get past the one team that always got the better of him; the "Bad Boy" Pistons. Jordan could have demanded a trade to Boston (hook up with Larry Bird), New York (hook up with Patrick Ewing) or even LA; where he would have hooked up with Magic, but also Sam Perkins and James Worthy (his teammates at North Carolina).
I'm sure none of them would have really had a problem with Jordan on their team. The Pistons had dethroned Boston, and taken over as THE team in the East. I'm sure Madison Square Garden would have been big enough for both Ewing and MJ. The Lakers had a few more title runs in them before Magic's sudden retirement.
Rather than take an "out route", Jordan worked harder and harder until he overcame the Pistons, then proceeded to beat everyone else. As Michael Jordan said, he wasn't trying to hook up with Magic Johnson or Larry Bird; he was trying to beat those guys. In his prime, he beat the best in the league. Patrick Ewing, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Shaq & Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Stockton & Malone, Payton & Kemp, and even Alonzo Mourning. Save for Isiah Thomas (and Shaq to an extent), Jordan was responsible for most of these guys going "ringless" during their primes.
If there's one thing that we can agree on, the NBA isn't stacked with as much talent now as it was then. Therefore, LeBron kind of stands in "rare air", with only a handful of players to match him. LeBron admitted that he couldn't beat Boston while still playing for Cleveland, leading him to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. I'm sure their celebration after eliminating the Celtics in the 2nd round of the playoffs didn't quite give it away.
Most analysts have said that until LeBron wins his first championship, only then can the debates and comparisons begin. I say that even if he wins more rings that Jordan, you still can't compare the two. LeBron may have helped change the fortunes of Cleveland just like Jordan did for Chicago, but he didn't really make anyone better. Look at Chicago in the first season during Jordan's brief "retirement"; they weren't only a playoff contender but a title contender as well. Look at Cleveland immediately after LeBron's exit. Is there anybody in the Cavaliers that can say they are better for having played with LeBron?
Scottie Pippen has the right to voice his opinion, and I'm sure he was in awe of LeBron's performance in Game 5 as Miami rallied to beat Chicago in the last 3 minutes. He was seated courtside after all. Maybe he was just caught up in the moment, or maybe he's still bitter that he could never prove his doubters wrong; that he could never win without Jordan.
In the 1993/94 season, Pippen's audition to prove that he could be The Man was going rather well. Had the Bulls got past New York in the 2nd round, they would have most likely gone on to win the NBA title. I'm sure Pippen wouldn't have had it any other way.
After the end of the Bulls dynasty, Pippen was traded to Houston where he teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley for the lockout-shortened season in 1999. This was widely seen as attempt to help Barkley win a championship. That didn't work out, and Pippen joined a star-studded Portland team shortly thereafter.
In Portland, he featured on a team that included veterans such as Greg Anthony, Detlef Schrempf, Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace and an up-and-coming Jermaine O'Neal. Portland, who seemed destined for their first championship since 1977, fell to LA (ironically, coached by Phil Jackson), courtesy of 4th quarter collapse in Game 7 of the conference final. That loss firmly shut the door for Pippen and saw the re-birth of another Laker Dynasty.
Jordan valued Pippen so much that he (Jordan) threatened to retire had Pippen been traded to Toronto on draft-day in exchange for Tracy McGrady. Jordan knew that he couldn't get to the summit without Pippen, and I'm sure he's said that himself a few times. It's really hard to imagine what Jordan's career would have been like, had Jerry Krause (then Bulls GM) not traded Olden Polynice to Seattle in exchange for Scottie Pippen.
There's no doubt that Pippen would have had himself a good NBA career. The one thing that he can't escape, is that his legacy will always be tied to the hip with that of Michael Jordan. He benefited the most from playing alongside Jordan; who else had 6 championships during the Bulls' dynasty? Rather than embrace it, I'm sure he's fighting it with every inch of his body.
Just about everyone knows of Pippen's invaluable contributions to the Bulls' dynasty. He works for the organization in an ambassadorial capacity, and they just recently unveiled his statue. I think it's high time that Pippen just sat back, chilled and let bygones be bygones. Leave Mike alone.
Scottie Pippen has the right to voice his opinion, and I'm sure he was in awe of LeBron's performance in Game 5 as Miami rallied to beat Chicago in the last 3 minutes. He was seated courtside after all. Maybe he was just caught up in the moment, or maybe he's still bitter that he could never prove his doubters wrong; that he could never win without Jordan.
 |
| Look ma, no MJ!! |
After the end of the Bulls dynasty, Pippen was traded to Houston where he teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley for the lockout-shortened season in 1999. This was widely seen as attempt to help Barkley win a championship. That didn't work out, and Pippen joined a star-studded Portland team shortly thereafter.
In Portland, he featured on a team that included veterans such as Greg Anthony, Detlef Schrempf, Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace and an up-and-coming Jermaine O'Neal. Portland, who seemed destined for their first championship since 1977, fell to LA (ironically, coached by Phil Jackson), courtesy of 4th quarter collapse in Game 7 of the conference final. That loss firmly shut the door for Pippen and saw the re-birth of another Laker Dynasty.
 |
| MJ knew he could lean on Pippen if needed. |
There's no doubt that Pippen would have had himself a good NBA career. The one thing that he can't escape, is that his legacy will always be tied to the hip with that of Michael Jordan. He benefited the most from playing alongside Jordan; who else had 6 championships during the Bulls' dynasty? Rather than embrace it, I'm sure he's fighting it with every inch of his body.
Just about everyone knows of Pippen's invaluable contributions to the Bulls' dynasty. He works for the organization in an ambassadorial capacity, and they just recently unveiled his statue. I think it's high time that Pippen just sat back, chilled and let bygones be bygones. Leave Mike alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment