Scottie Pippen: Biography from Answers.com Mobile

Scottie Pippen

basketball player

Personal Information

Born September 25, 1965, in Hamburg, AR; son of Preston (mill worker) and Ethel Pippen; one of twelve children; children: Antron.
Education: University of Central Arkansas, 1983~87.

Career

Became starter at point guard on high school team, 1982; became college team's best player during sophomore year; drafted by Seattle SuperSonics of NBA, 1987; traded to Chicago Bulls, 1987; had back surgery to repair a herniated disk, 1988; became starter at small forward on Bulls, 1988; named to first All-Star team, 1991; placed third in Most Valuable Player balloting, 1994; led Chicago Bulls in five statistical categories, 1994~95 season; played on World Champion NBA team, 1991~93, 1996.

Life's Work

Hailed as one of the 50 greatest basketball players of all time by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1996, Scottie Pippen is one of the most versatile athletes ever to play on a basketball court. His impressive skills as a ballhandler, shooter, passer, rebounder, shot blocker, and overall defender have earned him a steady stream of accolaides since he began his professional career with the Chicago Bulls in 1987.

While Pippen most likely would have been the top star on any other team in the NBA, he has continually played in the shadow of superstar teammate Michael Jordan. Sub-par performances in playoff games also have tarnished his reputation over the years. "A finesse player with a stealthy, intelligent court presence, creative slashing ability, and deadly outside shot, Pippen nonetheless found himself battling a reputation for softness," wrote Scott Poulson-Bryant in VIBE in 1995.

Partly because he did not reach his full height until his college years, Pippen did not demonstrate exceptional basketball talent as a youth in Hamburg, Arkansas. Although he was starting as a point guard during his senior year in high school, he was only 6'1" and weighed just 150 pounds at the time. As one of 12 children and with a father confined to a wheelchair due to a stroke, Pippen needed scholarship money to attend college. However, he was largely ignored by recruiters. He participated in a tryout at South Arkansas University, but wasn't offered a scholarship. Through the efforts of his high school coach, Donald Wayne, Pippen got the chance to play at the University of Central Arkansas on a work-study arrangement in which he would also be team manager. "I wasn't that interested in playing," Pippen told Sports Illustrated in 1987. "I had gone through some hard time not playing in high school, but my coach had it in his mind that basketball was the way I would get an education."

Following graduation from high school, Pippen's height had increased to 6'3" by the fall of 1983. He grew another two inches by the start of his sophomore season, which gave him the height of a forward to go along with his skills as a guard. His all-around ability soon made him Central Arkansas's best player, and by his senior year he was a dominating presence on the court. He averaged 23.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, as well as a 59% field-goal percentage.

Despite his impressive statistics, Pippen attracted little interest from NBA teams because he had played at a small college. He finally drew the attention of NBA scouts and general managers following an impressive performance at an all-star event in Virginia. Initially signed by the Seattle SuperSonics as a number-five draft choice, Pippen was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1987 for a six-year contract worth over $5 million. At the time, the Bulls were still searching for the right balance of players as a supporting cast for Michael Jordan.

Following his rookie season, Pippen had back surgery to repair a herniated disk and missed part of the 1988-89 season. When he returned to the team, he demonstrated a versatile style of play and quickly became a starter. He finished the year with a 14.4 points-per-game average, nearly double the total of his rookie season. The season ended on a sour note for Pippen and the Chicago Bulls when they lost to the Detroit Pistons during the conference playoffs. Pippen suffered a concussion during the series which limited his effectiveness.

At the beginning of the 1989-90 season, Phil Jackson replaced Doug Collins as head coach. This coaching change benefitted Pippen greatly. Jackson used a different offensive alignment than Collins, which gave Pippen more freedom of movement and allowed him to utilize his skills as both a guard and forward. He raised his scoring average to 16.5 points per game and was named to the All-Star team for the first time. In the 1989-90 playoffs, the Bulls faced the Pistons again. Pippen suffered from migraine headaches during the series and performed badly. The Bulls lost again and Pippen received the brunt of the criticism, with many fans charging that he couldn't handle the pressure of big games.

During the 1990~91 season, Pippen was embroiled in a bitter contract dispute. It was eventually resolved with Pippen receiving a guaranteed contract for $3.5 million per year through the 1997~98 season. On the court, Pippen had a spectacular season. He scored 17.8 points per game, racked up 595 rebounds, 511 assists, and 193 steals as he helped lead the Bulls to their first world championship. Pippen's skills continued to improve during the 1991-92 season. He averaged 21.0 points per game, started in the All-Star game for the first time, was named to his first All-Defensive team, and was selected to play on the U.S. Olympic "Dream Team." Although the Bulls won their second consecutive world championship, Pippen played with a sprained ankle and injured wrist during most of the playoffs and performed poorly. Despite these injuries, his subpar playoff performance reinforced Pippen's reputation as a "choke artist" among some fans. In 1993, the Bulls won their third consecutive world championship. Pippen was finally able to shake the "choke artist" label after performing brilliantly throughout the playoffs. His performance even overshadowed that of Michael Jordan, who was under intense media scrutiny regarding allegations of his involvement in illegal gambling.

In 1993, Michael Jordan left the Bulls to pursue a second career in baseball. With Jordan's departure, Pippen became the team's star player. He responded with a terrific season, averaging 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. His play earned him a third- place finish in voting for the NBA's Most Valuable Player. In 1994, Pippen played in the All-Star game and won Most Valuable Player honors. During the 1994 playoffs, Pippen was severely criticized for his refusal to leave the bench during the closing seconds of a close game against the New York Knicks. He was upset that the Bulls coaching staff wanted teammate Toni Kukoc to attempt the final shot instead of him. Pippen resented the fact that the Bulls had signed Kukoc to a lucrative contract that would pay him a higher salary. The bitterness between Pippen and the Bulls management almost led to his trade to the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994, but the deal was never completed.

Pippen's 1995 season was overshadowed by personal scandal. He was arrested on a domestic abuse charge after his fiancee, Yvette Deleone, accused him of pushing her and grabbing her arm. Shortly after, model Sonya Roby filed a paternity suit which claimed that Pippen fathered her child. Although Pippen denied the charge, he was ordered to pay $10,000 for maternity costs. Pippen's troubles did not adversely affect his performance on the court, however. He averaged over 19 points a game during the 1995~96 season, and was named to the All-NBA First Team for the third consecutive season. He also won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. basketball team at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta.

On June 13, 1997, Pippen helped to lead the Bulls to their fifth world championship. He is in the prime of his career and remains a key member of the Chicago Bulls. His vast repertoire of offensive and defensive skills has made him one of the most electric and prolific players ever to put on an NBA uniform, guaranteeing him a future spot in the NBA Hall of Fame.

Awards

All-Defensive First Team, 1992~97; All-Star Team, 1990~97; All-NBA First Team, 1994~96; U.S. Olympic basketball team, 1992, 1996; selected as one of fifty greatest players in NBA history, 1996.