The relationship between Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen has gone through its highs and lows over the years. It was a roller coaster ride of love and tension, and the partnership proved to be an integral part of their careers. After the 1996 NBA Finals, Jordan expressed his determination to continue playing as long as Pippen was by his side.
The Chicago Bulls considered pairing Jordan with standout forward Shawn Kemp. However, Jordan made it clear that he would quit if Pippen was fired.
In an interview with the media, Jordan claimed that Pippen would not make any progress because he was an important reason for Jordan’s comeback. He also mentioned that he liked Kemp’s style of play but was thankful that the proposed trade didn’t happen. He said Pippen had been underestimated for a long time and that Pippen was like a little brother to him.
After that, Jordan and Pippen completed their second three-peat NBA championship together. Kemp, meanwhile, remained a contender in Seattle and later moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers after the 1996-97 season. Although his initial performance with the Cavaliers was impressive, his performance declined dramatically after returning from the lockout in the 1998-99 season. Even after trying to come back during the 2005-06 season, Kemp was never able to play in the NBA again.
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Controversy surrounding Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul’s selection of Michael Jordan
Four athletes: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Hubert Huckatz chose basketball icon Michael Jordan as their first choice. Daniil Medvedev (who also picked Cristiano Ronaldo) and Argentinian Diego Schwartzman twice picked up Lionel Messi.
Diego Schwarzman also chose Maradona as his choice. Andrei Rublev mentioned another basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. Although both of his sisters are professional golfers, Sebastian Korda chose Tiger Woods.
Most opinions on social media were in favor of Jordan, but he was harshly criticized by some fans who disagreed with his choice. These fans believe other athletes are more deserving of the “GOAT” title than USA Basketball players.
Michael Jordan was undoubtedly a game changer in the world of basketball and international sports. He collaborated with Nike in 1984 to launch the “Air Jordan” sneaker series, which was a landmark event. It was the first of its kind and resulted in an initial five-year, $2.5 million contract, a world record at the time.
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