The turbulent relationship between NBA legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen has been a hot topic, especially since the release of “The Last Dance” documentary. Over the years, Pippen has frequently expressed his dissatisfaction with the media’s portrayal of his contributions compared to Jordan’s. His recent allegations, however, are perhaps the most sensational yet.
In his autobiography “Unguarded,” Pippen claims that NBA scorekeepers manipulated some of Jordan’s defensive statistics to ensure he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988. Pippen recounts instances where he would deflect the ball to Jordan, only to see the credit for the steal recorded in Jordan’s favor. He even describes a moment when a scorekeeper handed the game stats to then-coach Phil Jackson and seemingly acknowledged the favoritism toward Jordan.
Supporting Pippen’s allegations, sports analyst Tom Haberstroh examined Jordan’s defensive stats and discovered a significant discrepancy between his home and away performances. At home, Jordan’s averages were remarkably higher, with 4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game, compared to 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks on the road. When adjusting for playing time, Jordan’s combined blocks and steals were 82% higher at home.
Pippen’s assertion not only questions Jordan’s individual accolades but also adds fuel to the debate over Jordan’s status as the greatest player of all time. If true, these claims could significantly alter the narrative surrounding Jordan’s legendary career.
This controversy is part of a long-standing rift between the two former teammates, with Pippen often feeling overshadowed despite his significant contributions to the Chicago Bulls’ success. The new revelations from Pippen’s book add another layer to the complex history between these basketball icons.
