RealGM

Vince carter is always talked about as having the predispositions for GOAT potential. First step, could fly, huge hands with which he could control the ball, great body control, amazing speed even at 225 lb., complete game, and everything else. Guys like lebron, jordan and kobe also get put into that conversation. jordan's big hands, first step, body control. kobe and mj's height combined with athleticism and all that. lebron built like a truck, can fly, 6-8.

What about scottie pippen? 6-8 or 6-9. 230. extremely long arms. Great leaping ability; he could dunk from the free throw line (he did it in a dunk contest). A very complete player. Extremely high bball iq. huge hands; he could palm the ball easily.

He did have a great, great career, and was a tremendous player. But, if given, say mj/kobe/bird's desire to win at all costs and their work ethic, could he have been in the convo for GOAT? Were his predispositions in the same realm as carter, jordan, bryant, lebron, etc.?

He would have been right there. From a physical standpoint, about all he lacked was a consistent jump shot. But it's the mental qualities that usually make the biggest difference, and that's where Scottie lacked. He just wasn't an alpha male.

I don't think he was ever as mentally tough as Jordan was. And when he had teams to himself, even when they were super talented like the Blazers were he still couldn't take them to the championship.

He was an amazing player, but I don't think he deserves to be in the race for highest potential, not with guys like Bron, MJ, Vince, and Kobe all who have more complete offensive games then Pip did.

Pippen was the equipment manager for Ark St. Not good enough to make the team.


Pippen was a project that blossumed. He was never a cant miss player like the before mentioned. Anyone who tells you VC had GOAT potential is not to be listened to. VC was the 3rd option on his college team. Most people didnt know who he was.

Of all things Pippen deserves credit for I believe the most is that he turned himself from a Darko type player into a HoFer. His own work and the work of Collins, Jackson and MJ is made Pippen into the player he was.
I wish more players had 1/10th the work ethic of Pippen and maybe just maybe the league could return to a new Golden age.

amen...amen..

He was drafted as a big pg prospect. Pippen did pretty good.

ronnymac2 wrote: But, if given, say mj/kobe/bird's desire to win at all costs and their work ethic, could he have been in the convo for GOAT? Were his predispositions in the same realm as carter, jordan, bryant, lebron, etc.?

No. Pippen's work ethic was fine by all accounts. You're correct in noting his physical gifts: extremely long, coordinated, could jump out of the gym, very fast in the open court etc. However, here are where his deficiencies lied imo:

- He was not agile on an elite level like guys like MJ/Kobe/VC are and were. He couldn't change directions nearly as fast either with the ball or without it, and couldn't give rapid subtle jukes to freeze a defender.

- Mentally he just didn't have that alpha male quality about him. Well, his ego did (by most accounts), but his on-court play suggested otherwise. Even in his later days he could be rattled by physical play and taken out of games offensively (to his credit, his defense and team game was always there).

- Lack of a consistent shot, especially a pull-up jumper. He also could not create his own shot (for the reasons listed above and below) nearly as well as other elite perimeter players.

- His handle, while fundamentally sound, was not very creative or quick. This prevented him from turning corners, getting guys off balance, playing deceptively on screen/rolls etc.

- His overall body control was a step below guys like Kobe/VC/MJ/TMac. This impacted his shot creation and finishing ability.


These things kept him from being that next level type of player imo.

J23forever broke it down very well.

Pip was also 6'7, not 6'8 or 6'9.

Other than that, J23F pretty much broke it down and Warspite made a good point about the relative ranking of Pippen pre-NBA and all that.

Pip was a great player but never a GOAT type; he didn't have the diversity of scoring skills to be that. Good rebounder, outstanding, ridiculous defender, great passer, but not a GOAT potential type guy.