Scottie Pippen Says Michael Jordan Wouldn't Have Made The 1996 Finals Without Him

Chicago Bulls' legend Scottie Pippen wasn't done yet. After making bold statements with his former teammate Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and his former coach Phil Jackson, He still has something to tell.

The six-time NBA champion claimed Phil Jackson was racist for favoring his teammate Toni Kukoc over him to take the last shot in a playoff game and exposing Kobe Bryant after he stopped being the Los Angeles Lakers head coach. He also said that he and Jordan don't have an off-court relationship.

In a recent edition of The Dan Patrick Show, Pippen this time claimed that Jordan wouldn't have made it to the 1996 NBA Finals without him. He is referring to his point of career if he was traded to Seattle.

Pippen was on his way to Seattle with a done deal between the Bulls and the Supersonics.


The proposed trade ahead of the 1994 draft? Scottie Pippen and the 21st overall pick to Seattle for Shawn Kemp, Ricky Pierce and the 11th overall pick. This was one year after Michael Jordan's retirement in 1993.

The deal was done until Sonics' owner Barry Ackerly nixed the deal.


"I would have had some pretty good teammates, especially if we were still landing Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. It is a team we played in the Finals. So, that sort of fit.»

The do it all forward wasn't convinced that MJ could have made the 1996 NBA Finals when Dan Patrick asked him if Jordan played against a trio of Pippen, Kemp and Payton.

«I don't know if he (Jordan) would have made it that far. If you know what I mean. I'm just saying.»

Will Jordan play again after retirement in 1993 if Pippen was traded to Seattle? Can the Bulls still win another three-peat without Pippen?