The fallout between Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen is still ongoing. Universally recognized as the most dominant duo in NBA history, watching the deterioration of their brotherhood has been deflating.
According to an insider, the two will probably never be friends again. New York Knicks legend Charles Oakley can’t see a scenario where the two iconic teammates will find common ground.
Ever since the airing of ESPN’s 30 For 30 documentary “The Last Dance,” Pippen has stayed vocal about his time on the championship Bulls teams.
Charles Oakley with your 2022 MJ-Scottie friendship update. Spoiler: it’s not good.pic.twitter.com/OKM5UXdlpS
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 26, 2022
Further Unguarded
Pippen’s autobiography, “Unguarded,” keeps it honest about his thoughts on his forever basketball partner Michael Jordan.
Scottie has been vocal about his perceived lack of credit for the Bulls championship dynasty of six NBA championships. Pippen feels that Jordan, who he claims had “editorial control of the final project,” used the documentary as a personal propaganda piece.
Pippen also likened the documentary to a paean to Jordan meant to be compared against LeBron James’ current NBA reign.
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Bull-ish Oak
Now Chicago Bulls nemesis Charles Oakley, who actually played in Chicago from 1985-88, sheds some light on the famous relationship that seems strained beyond compare.
According to Oakley, the relationship wasn’t ideal from the start.
“No, I think it’s over,” Oakley said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” this week. “Yeah, I think it’s over. It wasn’t great from the get-go.”
Known as the NBA’s historic bad boy, Charles Oakley joined Bill Simmons to talk about the Pat Riley Knicks, old vs. new, and Michael Jordan vs. Scottie was also on the topic menu.
An Insider’s View
Oakley played in Chicago from 1985-88, and there is even a video of Oakley flexing on Pippen in a locker room. He hazes a younger Pippen in the video, but the level of slap-happy disrespect is to the then-rookie Pippen.
According to Oak, the “Last Dance” documentary left such a bad impression on Pippen that he felt he was diminished in the scope of the Bulls’ dynastic wins.
Pippen Speaks
“They glorified Michael Jordan while not giving nearly enough praise to me and my proud teammates,” Pippen said in his book.
“My years in Chicago, beginning as a rookie in the fall of 1987, were the most rewarding of my career: twelve men coming together as one, fulfilling the dreams we had as kids in playgrounds across the land when all we needed was a ball, a basket, and our imagination to be a member of the Bulls during the 1990s was to be part of something magical. For our times and for all time.
“Except Michael was determined to prove to the current generation of fans that he was larger-than-life during his day — and still larger than LeBron James, the player many consider his equal, if not superior.”
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What Would MJ Do?
However, Jordan has been silent on the issue, and Oakley thinks it will stay that way.
“He’s just gonna keep doing what he’s doing. Play golf, fish, relax and smoke cigars.”
Will Jordan and Pippen ever have an Antonio Brown level kumbaya moment? According to OG Oak, not likely.
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