Scottie Pippen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Scottie Pippen

Pippen in 2022
Personal information
Born	(1965-09-25) September 25, 1965 (age 59) Hamburg, Arkansas, U.S.
High school	Hamburg (Hamburg, Arkansas)
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
College	Central Arkansas (1983–1987)
NBA Draft	1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Pro career	1987–2004, 2008
Career history
1987–1998	Chicago Bulls
1999	Houston Rockets
1999–2003	Portland Trail Blazers
2003–2004	Chicago Bulls
2008	Torpan Pojat
2008	Sundsvall Dragons
Career highlights and awards
6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998) 7× NBA All-Star (1990, 1992–1997) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1994) 3× All-NBA First Team (1994–1996) 2× All-NBA Second Team (1992, 1997) 2× All-NBA Third Team (1993, 1998) 8× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1992–1999) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1991, 2000) NBA steals leader (1995) NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th) No. 33 retired by Chicago Bulls USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1996) 2× Consensus NAIA All-American (1986, 1987) No. 33 retired by Central Arkansas Bears
Career NBA statistics
Points	18,940 (16.1 ppg)
Rebounds	7,494 (6.4 rpg)
Assists	6,135 (5.2 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona Team competition Gold 1996 Atlanta Team competition FIBA Americas Championship Gold 1992 Portland Men's basketball

Scottie Pippen (born September 25, 1965) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He played 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Many people think Pippen is one of the best small forwards ever. He helped the Bulls become a championship team. He also made the NBA popular around the world in the 1990s.

Pippen was chosen for the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times in a row. He was also on the All-NBA First Team three times. He was an NBA All-Star seven times. In 1994, he was the NBA All-Star Game MVP. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. His jersey number 33 was retired by the Chicago Bulls. Only three other players have this honor.

Pippen was a key player on the 1992 and 1996 Chicago Bulls Championship teams. These teams are considered two of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame says Pippen could play like a point guard, power forward, and shooting guard. He played 12 seasons with the Bulls. He also played for the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. He made it to the playoffs 16 times in a row. In 2021, Pippen was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. This honored him as one of the league's greatest players.

Pippen is one of only two NBA players to win an NBA title and an Olympic gold medal in the same year twice. He did this in 1992 and 1996. He was part of the famous 1992 U.S. Olympic "Dream Team". This team won games by a huge average of 44 points. He was also important for the 1996 Olympic team. He wore number 8 for both Olympic teams.

Pippen is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice. Once for his own career and once as a member of the "Dream Team." Both inductions happened on August 13, 2010. The Bulls retired his number 33 on December 8, 2005. The University of Central Arkansas also retired his number 33 on January 21, 2010.

He was married to television personality Larsa Pippen. He is the father of basketball player Scotty Pippen Jr..

Early Life and College Journey

Pippen was born in Hamburg, Arkansas. His parents were Ethel and Preston Pippen. His father worked at a paper mill. Scottie had 11 older brothers and sisters. His parents were tall, and all their children were tall too. Scottie was the tallest. His parents could not afford to send his other siblings to college.

Pippen's older brother became paralyzed after a high school injury. Six years later, his father had a stroke. This made it hard for him to walk and talk. Pippen played point guard at Hamburg High School. He led his team to the state playoffs. He also earned honors as a senior. But he did not get any college scholarships.

Pippen started his college career at the University of Central Arkansas. The school's coach, Don Dyer, found him as a walk-on player. Pippen did not get much attention from the media. This was because Central Arkansas played in the NAIA. The media usually focused on bigger college leagues.

Pippen was only 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall when he finished high school. But he grew a lot while at Central Arkansas. He reached 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall. As a senior, he averaged 23.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He also shot almost 60 percent from the field. These great stats earned him NAIA All-American honors in 1986 and 1987. He became a top player in his conference. This caught the eye of NBA scouts.

Becoming an NBA Star

Joining the Chicago Bulls (1987–1990)

The Chicago Bulls wanted Pippen before the 1987 NBA draft. They made a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics. Pippen was picked fifth overall. He went to the Bulls in exchange for the eighth pick and other choices. Pippen joined Horace Grant as a young forward for Chicago. Both players started their rookie seasons coming off the bench. Pippen played his first NBA game on November 7, 1987. The Bulls won against the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 10 points and had four assists.

Pippen learned a lot from his teammate, Michael Jordan. They often played one-on-one to improve their skills. Pippen became the starting small forward in the 1988 NBA Playoffs. He helped the Bulls reach the conference semifinals. This was the first time in over ten years. Pippen became one of the best young forwards by 1990. He scored 16.5 points per game and grabbed 6.7 rebounds. He also finished third in the league in steals. These achievements earned him his first NBA All-Star selection in 1990.

The Bulls reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 1989 and 1990. But they lost to the Detroit Pistons both times. In the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals, Pippen had a severe migraine headache in Game Seven. This affected his play. He made only one of ten shots. The Bulls lost the game.

Winning Championships (1991–1993)

In the 1990–91 NBA season, Pippen became the Bulls' main defender. He also became a strong scorer in Phil Jackson's triangle offense. He continued to improve his shooting. He got his first triple-double on November 23. He had 13 points, 12 assists, and 13 rebounds against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Bulls finished the season with a 61–21 record. They were first in their division and conference. Pippen was second on the team in points and steals. He led the team in blocks and assists. He was also fifth in the NBA in steals. For his great play, Pippen was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.

The Bulls then swept the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. They went on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals. Pippen played strong defense against Lakers star Magic Johnson. Pippen helped the Bulls win their first "three-peat." This means they won three championships in a row. They won again in 1992 and 1993.

Leading the Team Without Jordan (1993–1995)

Michael Jordan retired before the 1993–94 season. Pippen stepped up as the team's leader. That year, he won the All-Star Game MVP award. He led the Bulls in scoring, assists, and blocks. He was also second in the NBA in steals per game. He averaged 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.9 steals. He shot 49.1% from the field. He also shot a career-best 32% from the 3-point line. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first of three times. He finished third in the MVP voting. The Bulls won 55 games, only two fewer than the year before.

One famous moment happened in the 1994 playoffs. In a game against the New York Knicks, the score was tied with 1.8 seconds left. Coach Phil Jackson drew up a play for Toni Kukoč. Pippen was supposed to throw the ball in. Pippen was upset that he wasn't taking the last shot. He refused to go back into the game. Kukoč made the winning shot. But there wasn't much celebration.

Pippen as a member of the Chicago Bulls in 1995

In Game 6 of that series, Pippen made a memorable play. He drove to the basket and dunked over Patrick Ewing. He was fouled but still made the shot. He then talked to Ewing and Spike Lee on the sidelines. This earned him a technical foul. The Bulls won that game. But they lost the series in Game 7.

Trade rumors about Pippen started in 1994. But these rumors stopped when Michael Jordan returned to the Bulls. Pippen led the Bulls in every main stat category that season. This included points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Only a few players in NBA history have done this.

More Championships (1996–1998)

With Michael Jordan back and Dennis Rodman joining the team, the Bulls had an amazing season in 1995–96. They set an NBA record with 72 wins and only 10 losses. They went on to win their fourth championship against the Seattle SuperSonics. Later that year, Pippen made history. He became the first player to win an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year twice. He played for Team USA at the Atlanta Olympics.

The Bulls started the 1996–97 NBA season with a 17–1 record. They were 42–6 by the All-Star break. Both Pippen and Jordan were named among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. This was part of the league's 50th season celebration. Pippen scored a career-high 47 points against the Denver Nuggets on February 18. He also won "Player of The Week" for the fifth and final time. Even with key players injured, Chicago finished with a league-best 69–13 record. Pippen earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors for the seventh time. He also made the All-NBA Second Team.

Chicago Bulls Championship banners hang in the rafters of the United Center.

In the 1997 NBA Finals, Pippen helped the Bulls beat the Utah Jazz. In Game 1, he famously distracted Jazz star Karl Malone before free throws. Malone missed both shots. Jordan then hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer. In Game 5, Jordan played while sick. He still led the Bulls to a win. Jordan collapsed into Pippen's arms afterward. This became a famous image. In Game 6, Pippen made a great defensive play. He stole an inbound pass and helped the Bulls win their fifth championship.

The 1997–98 season was thought to be the last for Pippen, Jordan, and Coach Jackson in Chicago. Pippen had surgery that delayed his return to the team. There were also rumors that the Bulls' general manager wanted to trade Pippen. Despite these issues, Pippen rejoined the team. He helped Jordan and the Bulls win their second "three-peat." They beat the Jazz again in the 1998 NBA Finals.

Later Career and Retirement

Houston Rockets (1999)

After eleven seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets in January 1999. He joined Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley. Pippen's salary was much higher than before. However, the team had some chemistry problems, especially with Barkley. Pippen had two triple-doubles that season. His scoring was lower, but he still had great rebounds and assists. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team for the eighth time. The Rockets made the playoffs but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the season, Pippen wanted to be traded. He said he wanted to play for his former coach Phil Jackson, who was now with the Los Angeles Lakers. Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on October 2, 1999.

Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003)

Pippen became the starting small forward for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1999–2000 NBA season. He played with new stars like Rasheed Wallace and Steve Smith. He continued to show his strong defensive skills. On January 3, he was honored with a video tribute when the Trail Blazers played the Bulls. Pippen said it was very emotional for him.

The Trail Blazers had a 59–23 record that season. Pippen started all 82 games. He averaged 12.5 points, 5 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game. In the playoffs, Portland beat the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz. They reached the Western Conference Finals. There, they faced the Los Angeles Lakers, coached by Phil Jackson. The series went to a deciding Game 7. The Trail Blazers had a big lead in the fourth quarter. But the Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, came back and won. Pippen struggled in that game. The Lakers went on to win the NBA Finals.

Pippen played two more seasons in Portland. The Trail Blazers made the playoffs both years. But they were eliminated in the first round each time. On February 3, 2003, at 37 years old, Pippen helped the Trail Blazers win against the Orlando Magic. He scored 25 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and had 7 assists.

Returning to Chicago (2003–2004)

After the 2002–03 season, Pippen signed with the Chicago Bulls again. This is where he started his NBA career and won six championships. The Bulls wanted him to guide their young team. But Pippen faced many injuries that season. He only played 23 games. He averaged 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

He played his last NBA game on February 2, 2004, against the Seattle SuperSonics. The Bulls did not make the playoffs that year. This was the first time in Pippen's career that his team missed the playoffs. He had been in the playoffs for 16 straight years. Pippen announced his retirement on October 5, 2004.

The Chicago Bulls retired Pippen's jersey number 33 on December 9, 2005. The team played against the Los Angeles Lakers that night. Pippen was reunited with Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and Horace Grant during the ceremony. His number 33 joined other retired Bulls numbers.

In 2007, Pippen tried to make an NBA comeback. He wanted to play for a team that could win a championship. He hoped to get his seventh championship ring. He worked out in Florida. Dwyane Wade, a star player for the Miami Heat, liked the idea of Pippen returning.

Playing in Scandinavia (2008)

Pippen playing in Finland in 2008

In January 2008, Pippen made a short comeback to professional basketball. He was 42 years old. He played two games in Scandinavia. He played for Torpan Pojat (ToPo) in Finland and Sundsvall in Sweden. In his first game, he scored 12 points in a win. In his third game, he had 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Sundsvall Dragons paid Pippen $66,000 for his appearance.

National Team Career

On September 21, 1991, Pippen was named to the United States men's Olympic basketball team. This team would play in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

In 1992, Pippen played on the first "Dream Team" at the Olympics. The U.S. won the gold medal. Pippen and teammate Michael Jordan were the first players to win an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year. He also played on the 1996 Olympic team, known as 'Dream Team III'.

Life After Playing Basketball

Pippen returned to the Bulls on July 15, 2010. He became a team ambassador. In 2012, he was named a senior advisor to the Bulls' president.

In April 2020, Pippen said he was no longer a public relations ambassador for the Bulls. He said they could not agree on how much he would be paid. He also wanted to keep making TV appearances. He joked, "I like to associate myself with winning."

Player Skills and Legacy

Pippen was famous for his amazing defensive skills. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team for ten years in a row. He led the league in steals in 1994–95. Coach Jackson called him a "one-man wrecking crew." Pippen could guard almost any player on the court. He is one of only three players in NBA history to have 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season. He also has the second-most career steals in the playoffs.

On offense, Pippen used his athleticism to get past defenders. He would drive to the basket for easy shots. Early in his career, he wasn't a great jump shooter. But he improved his shooting over time. He became better at scoring from far away.

Pippen's retired #33 jersey (far right) hanging in the rafters of the United Center

Pippen is remembered as one of the best basketball defenders ever. He was also one of the most versatile and agile players. In 2022, The Athletic ranked him as the 32nd greatest player in NBA history. He had incredibly long arms and could jump very high. This helped him steal passes, block shots, and grab rebounds. He often led the Bulls in assists and blocks. He was also known as a selfless player. His focus on the team helped the Bulls win championships. His career total of 6,135 assists shows how much he helped his teammates.

Pippen worked very hard. His strong body allowed him to make exciting plays. He would play tough defense, steal the ball, and then run down the court for a powerful dunk. He and Jordan would even compete to see who could force more turnovers. In the 1990 Slam Dunk Contest, Pippen showed his jumping ability with a dunk from the free-throw line. He was also good at shooting three-pointers. He made almost 1,000 three-pointers in his career.

Several NBA players, including Jordan, Jason Kidd, and Karl Malone, have said Pippen would be in their all-time starting lineups.

To celebrate their first NBA Championship in 1991, the Chicago Bulls honored the 1991 Chicago Bulls Championship team. This happened on March 12, 2011. Pippen and Michael Jordan attended the celebration. They were reunited with their former teammates and coaches.

On March 17, 2011, the Chicago Bulls announced they would honor Pippen with a bronze statue. It would be placed inside the Bulls' home arena, the United Center. Pippen said he was very grateful. He said it was an amazing honor. The statue was unveiled on April 7, 2011.

Film and TV Appearances

• In 1996, Pippen was on the TV show ER.
• In 1998, he was in the documentary film Hardwood Heroes.
• In 1998, he appeared in Spike Lee's sports drama film He Got Game.
• In 2009, he was in the movie Midgets vs. Mascots.
• In 2010, he voiced an animated version of himself on The Cleveland Show.
• In 2011, he was a guest star with his then-wife, Larsa Pippen, on The Real Housewives of Miami.
• In 2013, he was featured in a documentary series by NBA TV called NB90s.
• In 2015, he appeared as himself on Fresh Off the Boat.
• In 2015, he made a cameo on Chicago Fire.
• In 2017, he appeared as himself on Lethal Weapon.
• In 2020, he appeared as himself in the ESPN documentary The Last Dance. This series was mostly about the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls season.
• In 2021, he voiced a fictional version of himself in American Dad.

Family Life

Pippen's birth name is spelled "Scotty," but he usually goes by "Scottie."

Pippen has been married twice. He married Karen McCollum in 1988. They had a son, Antron Pippen (1987 – 2021). They divorced in 1990.

Pippen had twin daughters, Taylor and Tyler Roby, with Sonya Roby. The twins were born in 1994. Tyler Roby passed away nine days after birth.

Pippen also had a daughter with Yvette De Leon in 1995.

Pippen married Larsa Pippen in 1997. She later became a star on The Real Housewives of Miami. They had four children: Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia. They divorced in late 2021. Scotty Pippen Jr. plays for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. Sophia Pippen appeared on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors. Justin Pippen is also a basketball player. He is committed to play College Basketball at Michigan.

Pippen's nephew Kavion Pippen has also played basketball.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

Career Achievements

• 21 career triple-doubles (17 in regular season, four in playoffs)
• Led the league in steals (232) and steals per game (2.94) in 1994–95.
• His 10 NBA All-Defensive honors and 8 NBA All-Defensive First Team honors are almost the NBA record.
• Six-time NBA champion
• Won Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 1992 ("Dream Team I") and 1996 ("Dream Team III").
• Chosen in 1996 as one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History".
• Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. The 1992 Olympic "Dream Team" was also inducted in 2010.
• Pippen is one of two NBA players to record 5 steals and 5 blocks in a playoff game.
• Pippen is one of three non-guards in NBA history to have a season with more than 200 steals. He did it three times.
• Selected in 2021 to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
• Holds the NBA single-month plus-minus record (272).

See also

In Spanish: Scottie Pippen para niños

• List of NBA career assists leaders
• List of NBA career minutes played leaders
• List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
• List of NBA career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff assists leaders
• List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff games played leaders
• List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff steals leaders
• List of NBA career playoff triple-double leaders
• List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career steals leaders
• List of NBA career turnovers leaders
• List of NBA players with most championships
• List of NBA single-game steals leaders
• List of NBA single-season steals per game leaders
• Slam City with Scottie Pippen, a 1994 video game