Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were arguably the best duo in NBA history. Sure, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade all had their eras of dominance, but no one consistently played at the level that MJ and Scottie did in dominating their competition.
The two former NBA players won six titles in the ’90s as members of the Chicago Bulls. Jordan won Finals MVP honors in all six of those seasons, and Pippen complemented him perfectly by feeding him the ball and playing lockdown defense.
Well, it’s been 20 years since Jordan returned to the NBA after initially announcing his retirement. Pippen recently weighed in on the effect it had on him and the Bulls team by rattling off numerous tweets.
I see it’s been 20 years since two of the most famous words in sports history: “I’m back”
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
To be honest, after MJ retired the first time in 1993 I thought he was done. I think a comeback was the furthest thing on his mind. — Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
Pippen then went on to talk about “what could have been.” He said the team was set to compete for its fourth straight title, which certainly seemed like it was in the cards.
I’ll always remember how shocked we were MJ walked away from the game like that. We were ready to go for a 4th straight.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
I kept tabs on him as he played baseball but we didn’t talk all that often. I gave him some space as he needed a break from basketball. — Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
I really didn’t know how much he loved baseball until that point. He was pretty passionate about the game and showed he could hold his own.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
Pippen then talked about when Jordan started showing up at the Bulls’ training center, which gave him the inclination that the greatest player in NBA history was mulling over a return to the league he once dominated.
When MJ started showing up at Berto spring of 1995 for practices, it didn’t take long to see he was serious about getting back in the game. — Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
And when Jordan did officially return, it was, obviously, a huge lift for the team.
We all felt after several practices that MJ’s return was inevitable but once he said “I’m back” it really gave us a lift.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
He wore 45 of course and we didn’t think too much about it in the moment but it wasn’t the 23 we were used to seeing. — Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
Even though he had to shake off the rust, it didn’t take MJ long to get his swagger back. He did it by torching the Knicks—a team that still doesn’t play much defense to this day! Some things never change.
MJ had to shake a little rust off but he showed at the Garden his swagger was back in the double nickel game.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
I think the Knicks were tired of him killing them all night so they over compensated on that last play and MJ found @34billy42 for the win. — Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
Pippen then spoke about when the Bulls lost to the Magic in the 1995 NBA Playoffs. He said the loss was tough for Jordan to swallow. The GOAT obviously rebounded, though, as he and the Bulls would go on to win three consecutive titles in the years that followed.
Losing to Orlando was tough. It had been a long time since we had MJ and lost in the playoffs. But it fueled us. He took it hard.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
We added some pieces to the roster, including one of the great rebounders of all time in @dennisrodman, and came back ready to work. — Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
So here’s to 20 years ago and ultimately, three more championships.
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) March 19, 2015
It sure is interesting to hear Pippen open up about what happened behind the scenes as a part of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.
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