Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen both skipped the Chicago Bulls’ inaugural Ring of Honor ceremony amid a feud between the franchise legends and the former’s son Marcus and the latter’s ex-wife Larsa an ongoing love affair.
Both six-time NBA champions notified the team in advance but did not publicly state the reasons for their absences. Jordan recorded a video about it and played it for guests at the gala in Chicago.
“I’m sorry I can’t be here tonight,” Jordan said in the video, which was shared on the team’s social media accounts. “Believe me, I’m very grateful and very honored.”
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, retired Bulls power forward Dennis Rodman also missed the event, and his absence was actually a surprise.
Bulls president Jerry Reinsdorf would admittedly like to see more attendees, but doesn’t seem too concerned.
Before Larsa’s romance with Marcus began, Pippen (right) and Jordan (left) had been feuding for years
Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen pose for a photo at BravoCon 2023 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas
Former Bulls star Dennis Rodman mysteriously absent from Chicago event
“I actually don’t know how much effort went into (getting Jordan and Pippen to attend the event),” Bulls president Jerry Reinsdorf told the Sun-Times. “Obviously, it would be better if everyone was here , but we know not everyone can be here. I believe Michael recorded something.
Golden State Warriors head coach and former Bulls sharpshooter Steve Kerr did attend the event
Those in attendance included former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, current Warriors coach and former Chicago guard Steve Kerr, and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Toni Kukoc.
In the years after retirement, Jordan and Pippen had a good relationship.
In his 2010 Hall of Fame induction speech, Pippen described Jordan in loving words: “Jordan, you touched a lot of lives, but none like mine.” Thank you for being the best teammate you can be. ; “I will always cherish this experience and I will always cherish our relationship.”
Likewise, Jordan credited Pippen for their six championships in Chicago during his induction speech a year ago.
“In all the videos, you never see me; you see Scottie Pippen,” Jordan said. “Every championship I win.”
Jordan and Pippen watch the Charlotte Bobcats take on the Bulls in Chicago in 2011
Toni Kukoc and his wife Renata (left) and Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf (right)
Bill Wennington (second from left) and family attend the Chicago Bulls’ inaugural Ring of Honor Gala
Their collaboration is legendary.
Jordan was one of the NBA’s preeminent stars when Pippen was acquired by the Bulls in a 1987 draft-day trade. The problem is, despite Jordan’s obvious talent, he hasn’t won much at the professional level.
Enter Pippen, a 6-foot-1 guard who blossomed into a dynamic 6-foot-8 forward at little-known Central Arkansas.
Pippen’s arrival in Chicago, coupled with Phil Jackson’s promotion to Bulls head coach in 1989, served as the catalyst for transforming a poor franchise into six NBA championships.
Jordan and Pippen (left) discuss strategy for Game 4 of the 1993 Finals against the Phoenix Suns
Larsa Pippen (left) and Marcus Jordan (right) appear in Miami, Florida on May 7, 2023
Not only did they win six championships together, but they also remained fiercely loyal.
In fact, in 2018, Pippen told ESPN that Jordan was “the greatest player to ever put on his shoes and compete in the game.”
He even gave up comparing Jordan to James: “I’m always asked to compare him to LeBron, and I try to make the most of it. But really, the comparison shouldn’t be made.
Lately, however, Pippen’s praise for Jordan has morphed into something completely different.
Pippen’s problems began with ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary series, which aired in 2020 to critical acclaim.
The problem, from Pippen’s perspective, was that Jordan seemed to be considered the main contributor to the Bulls’ success in the 1990s, while his teammates were viewed as secondary players.
“They praised Michael Jordan but didn’t give enough credit to me and my proud teammates,” Pippen, 58, wrote in his 2021 memoir “Unguarded.” “Michael deserves a lot of responsibility. part of the responsibility.” The producers gave him editorial control over the final product. Otherwise the file cannot be released. “He’s the lead and the director.”
(From left) Rodman, Jordan, Pippen and Kukoc rest on the bench during a 1996 MSG game
As a result, Pippen claimed, the documentary felt inauthentic.
“I think that’s not that accurate in terms of really defining one of basketball’s greatest eras and what two of its greatest players accomplished — one could even put that aside and say the greatest team It’s time,” Pippen told The Guardian in December 2020.
“I don’t think those things stand out in the documentary. I think it’s more of Michael trying to elevate himself and get glory. I think it’s also counterproductive in a way because people get a chance to see Michael’s character.”
But Pippen may have had a separate issue with “The Last Dance,” stemming from his criticism of Jordan in the documentary.
Specifically, Jordan took issue with Pippen’s reluctance to undergo necessary ankle surgery before the 1997-1998 season.
Scottie Pippen poses with Michael Jordan at Hall of Fame induction ceremony
While he did eventually undergo surgery, he waited until most of the offseason had passed to do so, and as a result, played until January.
According to Jordan, Scottie’s reluctance to undergo surgery was due to a contract dispute with Bulls general manager Jerry Krause.
“Scotty was wrong in this case,” Jordan said. “He could have had the surgery right after the season and be ready for the season.
“What Scottie was trying to do was try to force management to change his contract. Jerry wasn’t going to do that. So now I knew at the start of the season that Scottie wasn’t going to be here.”
As a result, the Bulls got off to a slightly disappointing 24-11 start that season, although they still won their sixth championship together.
Complicating matters further is the romantic relationship between Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa, 49, and Jordan’s 32-year-old son Marcus.
In 2022, after the couple was spotted out in public, a source told Us Weekly, “Marcus and Larsa are dating and have been spending more and more time together in recent weeks.” They were trying to keep a low profile because of the rift between Scotty and Michael.”
Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan attend the inaugural ‘We The Best Foundation Classic’
Pippen and Larsa were married for nearly 20 years, had four children, and divorced in 2021.
Larsa opened up about their relationship on an episode of The Real Housewives of Miami, saying the couple had sex four times a night for 23 years.
“I’ve been married for 23 years and I’ve always had sex four times a night,” she said. “So three times a week is nothing… I have sex four times a night, every night. I’ve never had a day off in 23 years.”
When other cast members said Marcus had “big shoes to fill,” Larsa insisted he had nothing to worry about.
“Well, he wears a size 15 shoe, so I think he’s OK,” she said.
Things are clearly progressing for Larsa and Marcus.
In February, Larsa called him her “forever lover” on Instagram.
Marcus Jordan hinted that his dad might be his best man if he marries girlfriend Larsa Pippen — though the relationship appears to have resulted in his dad’s friend, Larsa’s ex-husband Scottie of discord.
Speaking about his famous father on the Pablo Torre Discovery Podcast with Larsa, Marcus said: “I was the best man at his wedding and I was the best man at my brother’s wedding, so obviously, we’re going to keep this tradition.
“I don’t think we have a specific date. We’re still discussing locations and party sizes and all that stuff, so it’s not very concrete yet.
“The Jordans are very private people, so if it were up to me, I think we would have multiple weddings, a private wedding for our family and friends, and then maybe a more public wedding, But I guess time will pass,” told. ‘
Earlier this year, when Michael was photographed leaving a restaurant in Europe, paparazzi asked him if he approved of his son’s relationship.
He shook his head and just said, “No.”
This was so embarrassing to Larsa that she made her comments on the Separation Anxiety podcast she co-hosts with Marcus.
‘Oh my God, I’m traumatized. “I felt like it was everywhere and I was a little embarrassed,” she said.
Like Jordan’s feud with rival Isiah Thomas during his playing days, or his recent friction with old friend Charles Barkley, the Hall of Famer avoids talking about it publicly.