Scottie Pippen purposely avoided the team’s annual media festivities at the Berto Center on Monday night so as to not steal any thunder from the new-look 2004-05 Bulls.
But even as Andres Nocioni talked about his rookie expectations for the first time, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng shared passes and laughs and Eddy Curry showed off his 281-pound frame, Pippen couldn’t help but cast a long shadow.
Not only will Pippen’s low-key retirement announcement on Tuesday fast track the forward to the Hall of Fame, it also serves as another reminder the dynasty days continue to fade further into the past.
Those days serve as the model that coach Scott Skiles and general manager John Paxson hope the current Bulls–who feature 13 new faces among 19 players–will learn to match.
Double practice sessions begin on Tuesday, and management’s message in Monday’s team meeting proved as simple and concise as the “Bulls Pride” title on the team handbook that was issued: Play hard and you’ll play.
“We feel like we have guys with skill,” Skiles said. “If we’ll go out and commit to playing hard, we’ll have a successful season.”
While cognizant that typical rookie ups and downs await, management is convinced that Deng, Gordon and Nocioni will excel in playing hard.
Nocioni played professionally in Spain, but must make a transition to the NBA that involves a language barrier and leaving a pregnant wife in his native Argentina. The forward understands English well but used a translator for his first news conference, while sporting Paxson’s old No. 5.
“I’m a real strong defensive player and have to be tough on that end,” Nocioni said. “I’m a rebounder and will work my butt off. The offensive side will take care of itself eventually.
“I’m very confident in my abilities and think I can do well at this level. But this is a completely different world. It’s a little overwhelming.”
Management will hire outside help to expedite Nocioni’s language transition, but pointed to the fact he came straight to the gym after a long, overnight flight from Argentina last week as evidence he has the makeup to succeed. The gold medal Nocioni wore from Argentina’s victory in the Athens Olympics served as further proof.
“Andres is a fierce competitor,” Paxson said. “If you watched the Olympics, he plays with passion and a lot of emotion. He doesn’t back down from anyone. He’s a physical player. And we’ve needed physical toughness on our team to go with mental toughness.”
Nocioni, 24, averaged 10.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in eight Olympic games while ceding much of the national team’s scoring load to teammate Manu Ginobili of the Spurs. In Spain last season, he averaged 13.9 points and 6.6 rebounds for Tau Ceramica.
“A national team is a very different situation than my actual team,” Nocioni said. “You’re going to play a role on a [national] team.
“I think Manu is the best player in Argentina. I think I can get to his level eventually.”
Nocioni will still get an opportunity to learn from Pippen, whom he has cited as an influence in the past. Though no front-office job has been promised Pippen, he is expected to hang around during training camp to assist players–if they’ll listen.
“I just didn’t feel our veteran guys last year bought into what Scottie was all about and what he was trying to teach them,” Paxson said. “That doesn’t say negative things about Scottie. It says negative things about other guys.”
That’s the culture Paxson and Skiles say they are trying to change.
It’s why Nocioni, Deng, Gordon and veteran newcomers Eric Piatkowski, Othella Harrington and Gary Trent are in. It’s also why Eddie Robinson–who was present Monday but isn’t expected to be in the rotation–and Chris Jefferies are out. The Bulls waived Jefferies on Monday, although Jefferies wasn’t told and showed up for his team physical.
“I believe in a tough, demanding, physical training camp,” Skiles said. “That’s what we’re going to have. We have players who play that way. The 15 who play the hardest will represent our team.”
After Tuesday’s retirement announcement, Pippen will no longer represent this Bulls team. But his prominent role on six world championship teams ensures that Pippen always will represent the Bulls.
A banner in the United Center rafters and the eventual retiring of No. 33 will do so as well.
“All you have to do is look back to that year that Michael retired the day before training camp in 1993,” Paxson said. “Scottie led that team to 55 wins. He was the consummate team player.
“Scottie has been hammered for some of the things he did as a player. But ask guys who played with him and they’ll tell you he was their favorite teammate. He committed to the team.”
Paxson and Skiles are demanding that Nocioni, Deng, Gordon and the new-look Bulls do the same.
