I found this Instagram post interesting:
Is it simply a manipulation of statistics, or does Scottie Pippen not get the credit he is due?
It resonates to when Stephen Curry led the league in three-point shooting. The second best three-point shooter in the league was Klay Thompson, often seen as a sidekick and not the true threat from beyond the arc that he had become.
Sidekick may not be the appropriate term, but how do you describe a “second best”
player on a team when the best player is generational?
With all of the similar accolades, it could appear to someone not from the 90s that Michael Jordon and Scottie Pippen were on equal standing. Perhaps this Land of Basketball page can help illuminate.
While to posts point out the similarities, Land of Basketball adds the differences.
The Instagram says that both were steals leader, but Jordan was steals leader three times to Pippen’s sole season. Jordan was also the ROTY, DPOY, a five-time MVP, six time Finals MVP, and a ten-time league season scoring leader.
The post also mentioned that both were All-Stars seven times in the 90s. Jordan had an additional four appearances while Pippen did not.
While both had similar career stats in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, Jordan scored nearly twice as many points as Pippen.
To be clear, Pippen was a great player, there’s no doubt about that. But Jordan was the superior talent. In fact, having someone like Jordan on the floor most likely gave Pippen more offensive opportunity.
The more appropriate argument could be shaped by asking – how might Pippen’s career been different if he were the best player on a smaller market team? Could he have increased his stats while bypassing the title runs?
Consider that Pippen was drafted fifth in 1987. Other than David Robinson and Reggie Miller (and Šarūnas Marčiulionis), no one else form that draft class had a Hall of Fame career. A redrafting of that year lands him in Phoenix or maybe New Jersey, with a different set of circumstances and a different career path entirely.
While the Instagram post presents a Batman and Batman scenario, there is still a defined hierarchy. That doesn’t diminish what Pippin did during his storied career, but it doesn’t put him in contention with Michael Jordan either.
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