Scottie Pippen Named His NBA GOAT – Not Michael Jordan or LeBron James

Scottie Pippen is widely regarded as one of, if not the best, second options in NBA history. Six championships in six finals appearances during a legendary run with the Chicago Bulls has cemented Pippen’s legacy in the game.

A versatile, two-way wing with stifling defence and elite length, Pippen was the perfect Robin to whom many view as the greatest player of all time: Michael Jordan.

However, when asked about his GOAT, the Arkansas native had a surprising answer that deviates from the norm among fans of the sport. Appearing on the PBD Podcast, Pippen first highlighted the issue with picking a GOAT, claiming that such a label “doesn’t exist in team sports.”

When pushed for an answer, the 59-year-old made the bold choice of looking outside the big two of Jordan and LeBron James, instead opting for legendary Lakers point guard, Magic Johnson.

“You can’t ask me who’s the GOAT between LeBron and Michael. Neither one of them are GOATs. They both won differently. You can’t put them at the top of the pinnacle. Magic Johnson, to me, is a bigger GOAT than anybody because of how he led, how he brought a whole team, how, when the greatest scorer in the game, Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], was not there and him as a rookie, steps in and plays a position that no one even knew he could play, that’s transcending what you can do as a player.”

Michael Jordan’s career highlights (selected)

6x NBA Champion
(1991–1993, 1996–1998)

6× NBA Finals MVP
(1991–1993, 1996–1998)

5× NBA Most Valuable Player
(1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)

14× NBA All-Star
(1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003)

3× NBA All-Star Game MVP
(1988, 1996, 1998)

10× All-NBA First Team
(1987–1993, 1996–1998)

10× NBA scoring champion
(1987–1993, 1996–1998)

3× NBA steals leader
(1988, 1990, 1993)

2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
(1987, 1988)

While it’s refreshing to see an alternative view offered on the GOAT debate — which has become a breeding ground for toxicity and one-upmanship, with all involved convinced that to prop up their guy requires tearing down the other — it’s unexpected coming from Pippen, given all the winning these two did together.

Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen’s Relationship

They’ve won together, but they’ve also fallen out

Jordan and Pippen have had a complicated relationship in the years since sharing the court, and as of today, it’s frosty at best.

Netflix’s ‘The Last Dance’ put significant strain on the two, with Pippen upset at the level of focus he received in what he viewed as a Jordan propaganda piece. He felt disrespected and underappreciated by the picture painted in the hit documentary, believing it was the team that led to their success, rather than the brilliance of an individual.

While Pippen clearly holds some resentment towards his old running mate, he still respects Jordan and his talent. When asked — from an owner’s perspective — who he would draft out of all former players, he stated, “I’m gonna pick Michael”, followed by himself and one of Denis Rodman or Horace Grant, explaining that he backs his former roster to win in any era.

“We did it for three years. Michael and I did it for six.”