Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had an epic conversation during the Chicago Bulls’ 20th anniversary of winning their first NBA title. For context, MJ had just become the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, while Pippen had been retired for seven years. Fortunately for us, the NBA media caught the former Bulls co-stars and revealed the juiciest part of the pair’s conversation.
MJ raved about Pip’s evidently lean and wiry physique. Seemingly ready for Jordan’s compliment, Pip hit back with a witty reply and challenged his fellow Hall of Famer to sign him up if that was the case.
“Out of all us guys, Scottie Pippen is the only one who looks like he can still play,” Jordan said via Bulls.com.
“Well, you’re the one giving out contracts, so sign me up,” Pippen quickly responded.
MJ was happy to reunite with Scottie
Having known Pippen since the ’80s, Jordan knew there and then that his former teammate was just quipping and fooling around. Understandably, it was perhaps the only thing they could do at the time, given their playing years were long over.
However, MJ admitted that spending some time catching up with the former Bulls forward and the rest of their teammates brought him back to the glory days of their legendary run.
“For us to reunite and tell old stories, it brings back a lot of great memories,” Michael concluded. “I wish we could turn the clock back. That’s how I feel. But Father Time’s coming, touches everybody. You’ve got to deal with the cards that you have. I miss it. I miss it.”
Looking back on that epic catch-up, it was only fitting that Jordan did not take Pippen’s challenge seriously. However, Pip’s audacity to even throw that bold statement at MJ must have been saying something more than meets the eye.
Perhaps MJ should’ve signed Pip
As it turned out, “His Airness” was right when he said that Pippen looked like he could still play at a high level in 2011.
Just a few years back, Pip played tremendously well in two European countries’ major basketball leagues – one in Finland and one in Sweden. In one of the games he played, the 42-year-old Scottie even logged an impressive tally of 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 30 minutes.
While Pippen’s mini Euro basketball tour was quite remarkable for his age at the time, it didn’t guarantee that he could still match the high level of competition in the NBA. But on the flip side, Jordan still had all the powers to sign Scottie to his team. Besides, the Bobcats didn’t have a single player of Hall of Fame stature at the time.
Unfortunately, he didn’t opt to do it, and Charlotte finished the season as the 10th seed in the East with a 34-48 record. If MJ signed Pip, perhaps his experience alone would’ve been enough for the team to at least make the postseason.