In a casual Tuesday ceremony at the Berto Center, the 39-year-old Scottie Pippen retired from the Bulls with six NBA titles, seven All-Star Game appearances, 10 straight selections to the All-Defensive team, two Olympic gold medals and inclusion as one of the league’s all-time 50 greatest players.
So how would Pippen like to be remembered?
“As a great teammate and one who cared about each and every one of his teammates,” Pippen said. “I wanted to win. And I gave it my all. Any of my teammates or members of my coaching staff–anyone who had any association with me–would remember me like that.”
He’s right.
Jerry Reinsdorf Bulls chairman
“Scottie is one of the greatest Bulls of all time,” Reinsdorf said in a statement. “His contributions to this franchise during his tenure here have been innumerable. As an organization, we thank him for everything. To fully recognize what he has meant to this organization, we plan to have a day in his honor and retire his No. 33.”
John Paxson Bulls GM and teammate
“He could guard so many people. I remember during the first championship [in 1991], he picked up Magic [Johnson] in Game 2 and just pounded Magic up and down the court. That helped give us the confidence to win the title.”
Johnny Bach Bulls assistant coach
“I’m glad he’s stepping back. I know how anguished he was last year in trying to play and trying to provide leadership at practice. It wasn’t that it reached an audience that didn’t listen. It’s a generation that hasn’t listened. But Chicago always will love him. Everyone he played against admires what he did. He brought a joy to the game that fit in with Michael.”
Bill Wennington
Bulls broadcaster and teammate
“He’s my favorite team player. He knows how to play the game. He’s not selfish. And he’s always been accountable for what he does on the court.”
Pete Myers
Bulls assistant coach and teammate
“My college roommate was his cousin, and I always tried to get him to transfer to Little Rock [from Central Arkansas]. Being in the top 50 ever is a credit to him because he constantly worked at his game to get better. Chicago got a chance to see him grow.”
Scott Skiles
Bulls coach
“He’s an obvious Hall of Famer. I wish he were still on the team. The limited time that he played last year, he took practices to another level.”
Maurice Cheeks
Portland coach
“I don’t think anyone fully appreciated the level that Scottie played at and the dedication he had in playing the game. I know I didn’t until I coached him. The NBA will miss the type of player he was, a credit to the game.”
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Our top 5 memories of Scottie
June 11, 1997:
NBA Finals vs. Utah
This 90-88 victory over the Jazz perhaps best cemented Pippen’s role as the ultimate sidekick, his Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman. Pippen supported an ill Jordan with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Most important? Pippen ended up with the ball after a wild scramble in a tie game and drove to the basket, drawing a double team and kicking it to Jordan for a wide-open three-pointer. That’s what sidekicks do.
May 13, 1994:
Eastern semifinals vs. New York
Pippen forever will be remembered for sitting out the final 1.8 seconds of this 104-102 victory over the Knicks after he got upset when coach Phil Jackson designed the final play for Toni Kukoc.
May 31, 1998:
Eastern finals vs. Indiana
Forget the 6-for-18 shooting. Forget five missed three-pointers. Focus on the masterful defensive job he did on all comers in an 88-83 victory. In a Game 7 against a determined and upstart Pacers team, Pippen answered every defensive challenge Jackson asked of him, picking up point guard Mark Jackson full-court, guarding Reggie Miller on the perimeter and banging with Derrick McKey in the post.
June 3, 1990:
Eastern finals vs. Detroit
The most famous migraine in Chicago sports history. In their third try to oust the hated “Bad Boy” Pistons, Pippen scored two points on 1-for-10 shooting as he battled blurred vision and searing headache pain. The Bulls lost Game 7 by a score of 93-74.
March 5, 1993:
Regular season vs. San Antonio
Pippen had 39 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in this overtime loss at the Stadium, one of 19 triple-doubles he posted as a Bull.
–Tribune
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Edited by Chris Malcolm (ccmalcolm@tribune.com) and Chris Courtney (cdcourtney@tribune.com)
