Scottie in his book "Unguarded": MJ & I were never close friends & I was always the better teammate.

[dougthonus]

I don't strongly disagree with you, but I will say why did Paxson admit then that the bulls organization did him dirty? Why did he cry on the phone? And why did Paxson reach out to Pippen only after the doc came out?

I mean literally each and every one of these things has the most obvious explanation of "John Paxson cares about Scottie Pippen and is a good guy".

If you look at these events without Pippen's bitter lens:
Paxson - Gave Pippen a 10M deal to play 23 games. At the time, Bulls fans mostly said this deal was a makeup for Pippen being treated poorly in contract negotiations in the past.

Paxson - Gave Pippen a job where he had to do nothing except show up and be friendly at a point where Pippen had money troubles and wasn't finding real work in the NBA.

Paxson - Reached out and when the doc came out because he knew Pippen would be hurt by it

Paxson - Reached out and expressed empathy towards Pippen's struggles with the org

I mean what did Scottie Pippen ever do for John Paxson? This seems like a one way friendship where time and time again Paxson did a lot of really big, important, helpful things for Pippen and Pippen somehow cast himself as a victim.

[TheFinishSniper]

I lost all my respect for Paxson for what he did to MY franchise in last 10 years, but I dont see what he did wrong in past with Pip. I mean it is very clear to say Pip is not well. And seems release of Last Dance just steam rolled those issues in public eye.

[The Explorer]

I don't strongly disagree with you, but I will say why did Paxson admit then that the bulls organization did him dirty? Why did he cry on the phone? And why did Paxson reach out to Pippen only after the doc came out?

I mean literally each and every one of these things has the most obvious explanation of "John Paxson cares about Scottie Pippen and is a good guy".

If you look at these events without Pippen's bitter lens:
Paxson - Gave Pippen a 10M deal to play 23 games. At the time, Bulls fans mostly said this deal was a makeup for Pippen being treated poorly in contract negotiations in the past.

Paxson - Gave Pippen a job where he had to do nothing except show up and be friendly at a point where Pippen had money troubles and wasn't finding real work in the NBA.

Paxson - Reached out and when the doc came out because he knew Pippen would be hurt by it

Paxson - Reached out and expressed empathy towards Pippen's struggles with the org

I mean what did Scottie Pippen ever do for John Paxson? This seems like a one way friendship where time and time again Paxson did a lot of really big, important, helpful things for Pippen and Pippen somehow cast himself as a victim.

I'm not sure its that obvious.

- Pippen perceived Paxson's reaching out to him was to make sure he didn't cause any trouble. Right or wrong that was his reading of it
- According to Pippen, Paxson knew how much he wanted to have a say in personnel matters, but Paxson never included him in the discussions back in 2003-2004
- After getting assigned scouting jobs in 2014 and submitting scouting reports to the front office, Pippen never heard back from Paxson. Silence until he no longer worked for the Bulls

If Pippen's account is true, there is more than meets the eye. We'll probably never know all the facts to make a judgement either way.

[GoBlue72391]

I lost all my respect for Paxson for what he did to MY franchise in last 10 years, but I dont see what he did wrong in past with Pip. I mean it is very clear to say Pip is not well. And seems release of Last Dance just steam rolled those issues in public eye.

I mean, a guy can be a **** GM and a good person at the same time. While I don't care for Pax the GM, it does seem like he treats those around him well, possibly even to a fault, and his failures as a GM shouldn't influence the overall perception of his character, so to lose ALL respect for him is extreme.

The same could be said for Jerry. I don't care for him as an owner, but he definitely seems like a good guy who does well by those in the organization. People aren't just black and white and how good or bad someone is at their job shouldn't be the only metric for earning respect.

[troza]

I don't strongly disagree with you, but I will say why did Paxson admit then that the bulls organization did him dirty? Why did he cry on the phone? And why did Paxson reach out to Pippen only after the doc came out?

I mean literally each and every one of these things has the most obvious explanation of "John Paxson cares about Scottie Pippen and is a good guy".

If you look at these events without Pippen's bitter lens:
Paxson - Gave Pippen a 10M deal to play 23 games. At the time, Bulls fans mostly said this deal was a makeup for Pippen being treated poorly in contract negotiations in the past.

Paxson - Gave Pippen a job where he had to do nothing except show up and be friendly at a point where Pippen had money troubles and wasn't finding real work in the NBA.

Paxson - Reached out and when the doc came out because he knew Pippen would be hurt by it

Paxson - Reached out and expressed empathy towards Pippen's struggles with the org

I mean what did Scottie Pippen ever do for John Paxson? This seems like a one way friendship where time and time again Paxson did a lot of really big, important, helpful things for Pippen and Pippen somehow cast himself as a victim.

I'm not sure its that obvious.

- Pippen perceived Paxson's reaching out to him was to make sure he didn't cause any trouble. Right or wrong that was his reading of it
- According to Pippen, Paxson knew how much he wanted to have a say in personnel matters, but Paxson never included him in the discussions back in 2003-2004
- After getting assigned scouting jobs in 2014 and submitting scouting reports to the front office, Pippen never heard back from Paxson. Silence until he no longer worked for the Bulls

If Pippen's account is true, there is more than meets the eye. We'll probably never know all the facts to make a judgement either way.

The thing is... What we know?

Pippen was advised to not take that deal... and that it wouldn't be renegotiated. We can even get Jordan into this talk as he wasn't complaining in 95/96 about his contract... How were the Bulls treating him wrongly here?

Pippen selected to have surgery in a time that would make him miss lots of games for the 97/98 season. The Bulls of course tried to trade him when his value was amazing and, as far as we know, Jordan had a big influence of stopping that trade. I don't see what the Bulls did wrong here (protecting their interests) and I see Jordan standing by his side and not making a big fuss about that even when Pippen was selfish for his teammates (not that he was wrong in doing that... even Shaq did that years later) but if we think about: Pippen did that because he was not satisfied with the contract he signed knowing all the conditions... so, hard to really say that the was the good teammate here.

Pippen got the contract and the trade he wanted before the (98/)99 season. People ignore this... the Bulls could have traded him for a better offer or let him go to anyone that could actually sign him for free... as we got nothing in return... yet, full respect for sending him to a contender he wanted and giving him the money.

Pippen got back at the end of his career (and wasn't he the one that got caught saying that he wasn't going to do nothing?). Really not treated with respect from the Bulls.

Anything that happened between him and Paxson we can argue but Pippen felt mistreated by the Bulls all that time when the team just did what they agreed. Look, we all know that he had the right to be unhappy but we can't say that the Bulls did treat him badly.

Jordan wanted a better contract? Didn't complain and made it happen... thanks to the Knicks and David Stern but he did make it happen. Pippen complained and got nothing...

And all of this is making me feel that maybe he wasn't the better teammate at all. Krause tried to trade him in 94 for Kemp (after what he did against the Knicks on the play for Kukoc) and in 97 (after he decided to have surgery at the start of the season instead of being ready at the start of the season). And there are good reasons to make that decision here, even if we don't like Krause (mainly what he did after 96)

Fun fact: both times Jordan was at his side (he told George Karl to make that trade happen, he stopped the trade in 97) as far as we know.

All of this... Pippen feels that he deserves something that he probably doesn't deserve... while others made things happen, he felt he deserved those things.

And in the end he was not reunited with Phil Jackson and won 3 more titles with the Lakers because he got that big contract he wanted... and I don't know where I read this, but I bet this is hurting him a lot.

On the matter of him making Jordan... I bet he helped a lot. At least when he accepted his role for that Bulls team on the court, it helped Jordan and the team a lot. No way to deny this. But the NBA has a big list of teams with good players without a superstar and besides the Pistons in 2004... none had success... so, it is hard to not see the bigger role Jordan had on that team...

[GoBlue72391]

I don't strongly disagree with you, but I will say why did Paxson admit then that the bulls organization did him dirty? Why did he cry on the phone? And why did Paxson reach out to Pippen only after the doc came out?

I mean literally each and every one of these things has the most obvious explanation of "John Paxson cares about Scottie Pippen and is a good guy".

If you look at these events without Pippen's bitter lens:
Paxson - Gave Pippen a 10M deal to play 23 games. At the time, Bulls fans mostly said this deal was a makeup for Pippen being treated poorly in contract negotiations in the past.

Paxson - Gave Pippen a job where he had to do nothing except show up and be friendly at a point where Pippen had money troubles and wasn't finding real work in the NBA.

Paxson - Reached out and when the doc came out because he knew Pippen would be hurt by it

Paxson - Reached out and expressed empathy towards Pippen's struggles with the org

I mean what did Scottie Pippen ever do for John Paxson? This seems like a one way friendship where time and time again Paxson did a lot of really big, important, helpful things for Pippen and Pippen somehow cast himself as a victim.

I'm not sure its that obvious.

- Pippen perceived Paxson's reaching out to him was to make sure he didn't cause any trouble. Right or wrong that was his reading of it
- According to Pippen, Paxson knew how much he wanted to have a say in personnel matters, but Paxson never included him in the discussions back in 2003-2004
- After getting assigned scouting jobs in 2014 and submitting scouting reports to the front office, Pippen never heard back from Paxson. Silence until he no longer worked for the Bulls

If Pippen's account is true, there is more than meets the eye. We'll probably never know all the facts to make a judgement either way.

Why on Earth would Pip expect to be included in personnel matters? He was washed at that point and on the brink of retirement. That's a delusional expectation and just reinforces the point that Pip is just looking for things to be mad about. Same for the first point; he chose to perceive it that way.

As for the last point, he actually has some merit to be angry about that one. If true, that was unprofessional for sure and he has a right to be upset about it.

[d boy gentleman]

No wonder Larsa divorced him. Dude isn't stable at all...

[dougthonus]

- Pippen perceived Paxson's reaching out to him was to make sure he didn't cause any trouble. Right or wrong that was his reading of it

Sure, but Pippen's reading of it just doesn't pass the common sense test based on the exact context that only Pippen provided. Reading Pippen's quotes on the topic I think his view seems poor.

- According to Pippen, Paxson knew how much he wanted to have a say in personnel matters, but Paxson never included him in the discussions back in 2003-2004

So what? Pippen sure as heck wasn't owed this, and we have 20 years of history since then showing no one else wanted to work with him either and every time he got an industry job he quickly faded away and didn't stick anywhere.

- After getting assigned scouting jobs in 2014 and submitting scouting reports to the front office, Pippen never heard back from Paxson. Silence until he no longer worked for the Bulls

This seems indeed poor. If they gave him real scouting opportunities and didn't follow up, even if his work was exceptionally poor, then they screwed up. I'm willing to bet based on everything else that there is significant missing context here, but if not, I agree he has a right to be annoyed here.

If Pippen's account is true, there is more than meets the eye. We'll probably never know all the facts to make a judgement either way.

Yeah, of course we'll never know either way, but I'll generally side with the guy that:
- Gave Pippen a 10M handout at the end of his career
- Gave Pippen an easy job when he needed the money
- Called Pippen to reach out on several occasions when he knew Scottie would be hurting

Let's also remember, Paxson isn't Pippen's dad here. He doesn't owe Pippen a darn thing, yet he repeatedly seems to make steps to try and help Scottie out often in important ways that also have some risk for him personally. These are two grown men whom should have an even amount of given and take in their relationship, yet what did Pippen ever do for Paxson or for anyone? Pippen's sense of entitlement is out of this world.

As I said earlier, I think Pippin is going through some serious stuff in the short term that has put him in a bad spot, has long term mental health issues, or is just a complete a-hole. Pippen actually being a legitimate victim with justified anger doesn't seem to be one of the reasonable possibilities to me based on what information is known and what information can be reasonably assumed based on what has happened.

[HomoSapien]

I really dislike reading about this Pippen stuff, because frankly, it's heartbreaking. I was 12 when the Bulls won their last championship. I know it's foolish, but the kid in me likes holding on to the belief that these guys loved each other, would die on the court for one another, that they're so secure in their success that their egos as retired players is non-existent. We're the best team of all-time, we know it, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Pippen is burning down bridges left and right and sadly it wouldn't surprise me if we never see this group together in person ever again. Really hard to imagine Phil Jackson being in the same room as Pippen. Jordan ended his friendship with Barkley for criticizing the Hornets. Think he'll forgive Pippen? The Toni Kukoc night felt rotten. Not a single one of his teammates was there. Like, really? Randy Brown was at Joakim Noah night like a day before! The whole thing is just sad.

As others have pointed out, Pippen looks like he's struggling. It's clear that the divorce, his son's death, hurt feelings from The Last Dance (I still maintain that it mostly painted him as a sympathetic character -- the disabled family, living in poverty, being so underpaid, etc.) just pushed him over the edge. Sam Smith did an interview after the comments Scottie made about Phil Jackson saying that Pip's always been this way -- that he had a habit of saying terrible things and not realizing that they were bad or a big deal. He also said that more than any athlete, people seem to overlook and forgive his mistakes.

Pippen's a great player. One of my All-Time favorites. There were certainly times I liked him more than MJ. In retrospect, Pippen's behavior has made me appreciate Jordan more. Everyone seems to agree that he was a dick, but given how Pippen is, maybe he had to be.

[DuckIII]

No wonder Larsa divorced him. Dude isn't stable at all...

She, on the other hand, is the personification of dignity and class.

[fleet]

No wonder Larsa divorced him. Dude isn't stable at all...

She, on the other hand, is the personification of dignity and class.

You have to go to reality TV wives shows to find women of that stature.

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

[Muzbar]

I really dislike reading about this Pippen stuff, because frankly, it's heartbreaking. I was 12 when the Bulls won their last championship. I know it's foolish, but the kid in me likes holding on to the belief that these guys loved each other, would die on the court for one another, that they're so secure in their success that their egos as retired players is non-existent. We're the best team of all-time, we know it, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Pippen is burning down bridges left and right and sadly it wouldn't surprise me if we never see this group together in person ever again. Really hard to imagine Phil Jackson being in the same room as Pippen. Jordan ended his friendship with Barkley for criticizing the Hornets. Think he'll forgive Pippen? The Toni Kukoc night felt rotten. Not a single one of his teammates was there. Like, really? Randy Brown was at Joakim Noah night like a day before! The whole thing is just sad.

As others have pointed out, Pippen looks like he's struggling. It's clear that the divorce, his son's death, hurt feelings from The Last Dance (I still maintain that it mostly painted him as a sympathetic character -- the disabled family, living in poverty, being so underpaid, etc.) just pushed him over the edge. Sam Smith did an interview after the comments Scottie made about Phil Jackson saying that Pip's always been this way -- that he had a habit of saying terrible things and not realizing that they were bad or a big deal. He also said that more than any athlete, people seem to overlook and forgive his mistakes.

Pippen's a great player. One of my All-Time favorites. There were certainly times I liked him more than MJ. In retrospect, Pippen's behavior has made me appreciate Jordan more. Everyone seems to agree that he was a dick, but given how Pippen is, maybe he had to be.

I watched the last dance and I'm really not sure what Pippen has a problem with.. was it the comment Jordan made about Pip being selfish for taking the surgery? That's really all I can think of that was overly negative.

[HomoSapien]

Holy crap, did you all read Scottie's interview with The New York Times. It's so cringey and contradictory. Some highlights:

In response to Jordan calling Pippen “selfish” in the documentary for delaying a foot surgery and asking to be traded, Pippen writes, “You want to know what selfish is? Selfish is retiring right before the start of training camp when it is too late for the organization to sign free agents,” a reference to Jordan’s unexpected first retirement after his father’s death.

As open as Pippen is in the book, he seemed far less willing to engage with the material in an interview. The conversation over a video conference became terse, and Pippen canceled a photo shoot afterward.

Do you worry that your book will create a permanent split between you two (Jordan)?

To answer your question, no.

You write that Isiah Thomas reached out after the documentary aired and wanted to declare a truce with you. You said that you were unwilling to speak to him. Why is that?

Well, I played in the league for 18 years and there was never a relationship there. I’ve been out of the league for 15 years, so why now? It’s not like we’re crossing each other’s paths anymore.

Your interview with Dan Patrick in the spring made a lot of headlines. You said it was racist for Phil Jackson not to draw up the play for you in the famous 1.8 second game. You walked that back in the book. After you made those comments, did you hear from former teammates about it? What were you hearing from people and what made you walk that back in the book?

What made me walk it back?

Yeah.

I didn’t walk it back. I just didn’t have it in the book. I said it was probably not right for me to say that about Phil being racist at this stage. It’s water under the bridge now. But at that point in time, based on where I was as a player, the year that I was having, I thought it was a bad move on his part.

When was the last time you spoke to Phil Jackson?

I can’t recall.

Just to clarify, because I just want to make sure I don’t put words in your mouth. You don’t think that Phil was racist in designating Toni Kukoc to take that last shot?

Did I say it? What are you asking?

OK, in your book, and I’m quoting you here — —

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Have you heard me say that I said that?

Well, yeah, I watched the interview.

OK, so I said it. Now what are you asking me?

In your book you write: “I was so hurt when he picked Toni over me that I needed to come up with an explanation for why I was rejected. For why, after everything I had given to the Chicago Bulls, I wasn’t allowed to have my moment. So I told myself at the time that Phil’s decision must have been racially motivated, and I allowed myself to believe that lie for nearly 30 years. Only when I saw my words in print did it dawn on me how wrong I was.” So you call it a lie. So I just want to clarify exactly what it is. Do you or do you not believe that Phil was being racist when he drew up that play?

I feel like it was a moment where he did me wrong. How about that? How about I answer your question that way.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/sports/basketball/scottie-pippen-unguarded-book-michael-jordan.html

[Michael Jackson]

Well to be honest, I think that interview has sold me on getting his book. Sometimes I can't turn away from a car crash even when I know I should. I also think that is Pippen's angle, be crazy so people notice. I'm in, morally I shouldn't be but I am in now lol.

[HomoSapien]

Just read the GQ interview. Sorry if snippets were already posted:

The text was from Michael. He didn’t reach out very often.

What’s up dude? I’m getting word that you’re upset with me. Love to talk about it if you have time.

My schedule was packed that evening and I knew the conversation would take a while.

I hit him back an hour and a half later:

Let’s talk tomorrow.

Michael wasn’t the only former teammate to reach out that week. Two days later, I received a text from John Paxson, the starting point guard from our first two championships, who later became the Bulls’ general manager and then vice president of basketball operations. I heard from Paxson less often than from Michael.

Hey, Pip…its Pax.

Michael Reinsdorf [Jerry’s son, who runs the franchise] gave me your number. Just want you to know I respected everything about you as a teammate. **** narratives can be told but I rely on my real experiences. Watched you grow from a rook…to a pro. Dont let others, including the media, define you. You are successful and valued and I have always felt lucky to be your teammate.

Was receiving texts from Michael and Paxson only two days apart a coincidence? I think not.

Both were aware of how angry I was about the doc. They were checking in to make sure I wouldn’t cause any trouble: to the Bulls, who still paid Paxson as an adviser; or to Michael’s legacy, always a major concern.

Paxson and I hadn’t gotten along in years.

On May 22, 2020, the day after Paxson sent his text, the two of us spoke for a few minutes over the phone. He got right to the point:

“Pip, I hated how things turned out when you came back to Chicago. This organization has always treated you poorly, and I want you to know that I think it’s not right.”

I was glad to hear Paxson admit a wrong I had known forever. Which didn’t mean I was willing to forgive him. If that, indeed, was what he was looking for. It was too late for that.

“John,” I said, “that is all fine and dandy, but you worked in the front office for the Bulls for almost twenty years. You had a chance to change that and you didn’t.”

He began to cry. Not knowing how to respond, I waited for him to stop. Why he was crying, I couldn’t be sure, and honestly, I didn’t care.

https://www.gq.com/story/scottie-pippen-unguarded-book-excerpt

[GoBlue72391]

I really dislike reading about this Pippen stuff, because frankly, it's heartbreaking. I was 12 when the Bulls won their last championship. I know it's foolish, but the kid in me likes holding on to the belief that these guys loved each other, would die on the court for one another, that they're so secure in their success that their egos as retired players is non-existent. We're the best team of all-time, we know it, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Pippen is burning down bridges left and right and sadly it wouldn't surprise me if we never see this group together in person ever again. Really hard to imagine Phil Jackson being in the same room as Pippen. Jordan ended his friendship with Barkley for criticizing the Hornets. Think he'll forgive Pippen? The Toni Kukoc night felt rotten. Not a single one of his teammates was there. Like, really? Randy Brown was at Joakim Noah night like a day before! The whole thing is just sad.

As others have pointed out, Pippen looks like he's struggling. It's clear that the divorce, his son's death, hurt feelings from The Last Dance (I still maintain that it mostly painted him as a sympathetic character -- the disabled family, living in poverty, being so underpaid, etc.) just pushed him over the edge. Sam Smith did an interview after the comments Scottie made about Phil Jackson saying that Pip's always been this way -- that he had a habit of saying terrible things and not realizing that they were bad or a big deal. He also said that more than any athlete, people seem to overlook and forgive his mistakes.

Pippen's a great player. One of my All-Time favorites. There were certainly times I liked him more than MJ. In retrospect, Pippen's behavior has made me appreciate Jordan more. Everyone seems to agree that he was a dick, but given how Pippen is, maybe he had to be.

I watched the last dance and I'm really not sure what Pippen has a problem with.. was it the comment Jordan made about Pip being selfish for taking the surgery? That's really all I can think of that was overly negative.

Pip would have been unhappy with The Last Dance regardless of how he was portrayed. He seems like the type of guy who is just impossible to please and finds things to be slighted about even when there's nothing there. A perpetual chip on his shoulder.

[GoBlue72391]

Holy crap, did you all read Scottie's interview with The New York Times. It's so cringey and contradictory. Some highlights:

In response to Jordan calling Pippen “selfish” in the documentary for delaying a foot surgery and asking to be traded, Pippen writes, “You want to know what selfish is? Selfish is retiring right before the start of training camp when it is too late for the organization to sign free agents,” a reference to Jordan’s unexpected first retirement after his father’s death.

As open as Pippen is in the book, he seemed far less willing to engage with the material in an interview. The conversation over a video conference became terse, and Pippen canceled a photo shoot afterward.

Do you worry that your book will create a permanent split between you two (Jordan)?

To answer your question, no.

You write that Isiah Thomas reached out after the documentary aired and wanted to declare a truce with you. You said that you were unwilling to speak to him. Why is that?

Well, I played in the league for 18 years and there was never a relationship there. I’ve been out of the league for 15 years, so why now? It’s not like we’re crossing each other’s paths anymore.

Your interview with Dan Patrick in the spring made a lot of headlines. You said it was racist for Phil Jackson not to draw up the play for you in the famous 1.8 second game. You walked that back in the book. After you made those comments, did you hear from former teammates about it? What were you hearing from people and what made you walk that back in the book?

What made me walk it back?

Yeah.

I didn’t walk it back. I just didn’t have it in the book. I said it was probably not right for me to say that about Phil being racist at this stage. It’s water under the bridge now. But at that point in time, based on where I was as a player, the year that I was having, I thought it was a bad move on his part.

When was the last time you spoke to Phil Jackson?

I can’t recall.

Just to clarify, because I just want to make sure I don’t put words in your mouth. You don’t think that Phil was racist in designating Toni Kukoc to take that last shot?

Did I say it? What are you asking?

OK, in your book, and I’m quoting you here — —

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Have you heard me say that I said that?

Well, yeah, I watched the interview.

OK, so I said it. Now what are you asking me?

In your book you write: “I was so hurt when he picked Toni over me that I needed to come up with an explanation for why I was rejected. For why, after everything I had given to the Chicago Bulls, I wasn’t allowed to have my moment. So I told myself at the time that Phil’s decision must have been racially motivated, and I allowed myself to believe that lie for nearly 30 years. Only when I saw my words in print did it dawn on me how wrong I was.” So you call it a lie. So I just want to clarify exactly what it is. Do you or do you not believe that Phil was being racist when he drew up that play?

I feel like it was a moment where he did me wrong. How about that? How about I answer your question that way.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/sports/basketball/scottie-pippen-unguarded-book-michael-jordan.html

I can literally feel the tension just reading those excerpts.

[bledredwine]

Scottie is the biggest example in the NBA of younger brother syndrome.

He’s credited Jordan as the reason he expanded so much on defense, Jordan having Pippen guard him in practice. Yet here he is saying MJ wouldn’t be a superstar without him XD

It’s younger brother syndrome- inferiority complex, passive aggression, playing politics with lies. It’s hard to know what to believe.

[GoBlue72391]

Just read the GQ interview. Sorry if snippets were already posted:

The text was from Michael. He didn’t reach out very often.

What’s up dude? I’m getting word that you’re upset with me. Love to talk about it if you have time.

My schedule was packed that evening and I knew the conversation would take a while.

I hit him back an hour and a half later:

Let’s talk tomorrow.

Michael wasn’t the only former teammate to reach out that week. Two days later, I received a text from John Paxson, the starting point guard from our first two championships, who later became the Bulls’ general manager and then vice president of basketball operations. I heard from Paxson less often than from Michael.

Hey, Pip…its Pax.

Michael Reinsdorf [Jerry’s son, who runs the franchise] gave me your number. Just want you to know I respected everything about you as a teammate. **** narratives can be told but I rely on my real experiences. Watched you grow from a rook…to a pro. Dont let others, including the media, define you. You are successful and valued and I have always felt lucky to be your teammate.

Was receiving texts from Michael and Paxson only two days apart a coincidence? I think not.

Both were aware of how angry I was about the doc. They were checking in to make sure I wouldn’t cause any trouble: to the Bulls, who still paid Paxson as an adviser; or to Michael’s legacy, always a major concern.

Paxson and I hadn’t gotten along in years.

On May 22, 2020, the day after Paxson sent his text, the two of us spoke for a few minutes over the phone. He got right to the point:

“Pip, I hated how things turned out when you came back to Chicago. This organization has always treated you poorly, and I want you to know that I think it’s not right.”

I was glad to hear Paxson admit a wrong I had known forever. Which didn’t mean I was willing to forgive him. If that, indeed, was what he was looking for. It was too late for that.

“John,” I said, “that is all fine and dandy, but you worked in the front office for the Bulls for almost twenty years. You had a chance to change that and you didn’t.”

He began to cry. Not knowing how to respond, I waited for him to stop. Why he was crying, I couldn’t be sure, and honestly, I didn’t care.

https://www.gq.com/story/scottie-pippen-unguarded-book-excerpt

He can't possibly think this portrays him in a positive light. Surely he doesn't believe putting this out there is going to help the public perception of him. All this is going to do is confirm people's beliefs that he's a petty and bitter person. I can barely comprehend his level of bitterness; he's the living embodiment of the word.

He comes off as a deeply unhappy person, to a point where it's probably beyond what could be considered normal unhappiness. I hope he eventually finds peace.

[r1terrell23]

Scottie is an alpha and is probably hurt he isn't viewed as the man on that team. First take mentioned today that Pippen didn't reach out to Jordan after his father passed. If that is true, he has no right to complain about not getting text messages. Scottie got his due during that era and is still viewed as an all time great. He isn't owed anything more than that. He was not Michael Jordan and in fact, not even close to him.