Michael Jordan’s influence has extended beyond just basketball footwear thanks to his legendary partnership with Nike. Jordan’s inspiration is an inspiration for entire generation of players.
One of the players who is often discussed alongside Jordan is Scottie Pippen, another famous basketballer and a then-teammate of Jordan. Within sports circles and betting scenes, there has been years-long debate about these teammates. Some think Jordan made Pippen’s career. Others believe Pippen was an indispensable asset to Jordan while on the court. Both of these claims have some merit.
Scottie Pippen Molded by Michael Jordan
The Beginning of Pippen
Many remember Scottie Pippen as a rookie player not being very good. Some of his earliest stats include 46 percent from the field, 17 percent from three-point range, and 58 percent from the free-throw line. These were not very impressive figures. However, with Michael Jordan taking on the role of his mentor, his performances notably improved as time progressed.
During their time together, Pippen played mostly a supporting role while Jordan continued to break records in the game. This was not limited just to Pippen, however. Most of Jordan’s teammates played the same role, allowing Jordan’s talent to shine.
However, a single player cannot make a great team. Jordan knew that he needed formidable players on the Chicago Bulls team that he could mold into good supporting players. Pippen, thankfully, was perfect for the job and in his rookie year, Jordan took him under his wing.
Scottie Pippen Improves
By Pippen’s second year, he was averaging 33.1 minutes per game, up from the 21 minutes he often got before Jordan mentored him. During his time on the court, he was noticeably playing off Jordan and doing well at it, earning around 14.4 points per game. By 1990, Pippen’s performance was very remarkably improved, and he and Jordan had formed a partnership of sorts. During games, Jordan would do his thing and Pippen would ensure that no other player got in his way. During Jordan’s time with the Bulls, they scored massive wins and his legacy was solidified.
After he left the team, the Bulls’ performance saw a decline, even with Pippen on the team. At that point, it was evident that Jordan made the team and not necessarily the other way around. While there is a debate to this day whether Jordan was more beneficial to Pippen’s career or Pippen to Jordan’s, the history and the numbers on both end tell a clear story.
The Legacy of the Partnership
Pippen was expertly molded by Michael Jordan, mostly for the benefit of Jordan himself. However, that act has gone on to define Pippen’s career as he went from an awkward overlooked rookie to a respected player in his own right despite the performance decline after Jordan’s departure.
While many basketball players in the world have been inspired by Michael Jordan, Pippen is one of the few who can boast of being mentored by him.
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