There is no target date for Scottie Pippen’s return from his foot injury–whether it’s with the Bulls or another team.
But Pippen, who last month said he’d never play another game with the Bulls, now sounds resigned to the fact that when he resumes playing, it will be with the Bulls.
“If I have to come back and play here, that may be what it has to be,” Pippen said after taking part in Friday’s light workout at the Berto Center. “Right now I’m just trying to get myself ready to where I can get back on the court and play again.”
The workout was Pippen’s first in nearly a month. His rehabilitation was slowed after he experienced minor residual pain in his left foot four weeks ago.
Pippen said his foot feels better but that he is two weeks or so away from taking part in a full practice. Pippen began light workouts with the team in late November, well ahead of schedule. His original prognosis for a return was sometime in January, although Pippen had indicated he would try to be in uniform Christmas Day.
That didn’t happen, and Bulls coach Phil Jackson said there’s “no official word” about Pippen’s return.
“He just had a good time (Friday),” Jackson said. “He’s having fun. He’s just biding his time to pick a time that’s right, healthwise.”
And in all likelihood Pippen will return to the Bulls. The chances of General Manager Jerry Krause honoring Pippen’s trade demand remain slim, even though the Bulls are playing well without him.
Pippen has been sitting on the Bulls’ bench at home games and he acknowledged he’s getting antsy to play.
“Scottie knows that we’re doing our best without him,” Jackson said. “He knows that he’ll help the team. . . . I think he knows it’s going to take some time for him, when he does come back, to adjust fully into playing a role he’s always had on this team.”
So Pippen will remain a Bull?
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Pippen said.
