Warning $4.1 billion team to ‘give up’, Michael Jordan once stood up for former teammate-turned-enemy

While he had many rivals on the court, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan wasn’t without his true friends and teammates. There was a time when his Airness and his teammates dominated the basketball court every game. While they continue to support him, Jordan also makes sure that he supports his fellow soldiers from time to time.

During and after his time in the NBA, Jordan always had an up-and-down relationship with one particular person. Despite this, he stepped up at critical moments.

Michael Jordan shows support for Scottie Pippen after 1996 Finals

In 1993, Michael Jordan officially retired from the NBA after losing his father. He spent three years out of the league before returning to the Bulls.

In his absence, the Bulls are looking to make adjustments to their then-current roster. 1994 MVP Scottie Pippen was one of the players selected for a potential trade. The Bulls front office decided to trade the player with the Seattle SuperSonics for Shawn Kemp. Ultimately, the deal fell through.

When Jordan returned to the team in 1996, he gave other players great encouragement. This encouragement helped them carve a clear path to the NBA Finals and emerge victorious. During the postgame press conference, Jordan took a moment to shout out to Pippen, who was sitting next to him. After hearing rumors about an impending trade, Jordan issued an ultimatum.

“He’s not going anywhere. He’s one of the reasons I came back. If he left, I would leave again.” Jordan said at a press conference. “As much as I admire Shawn Kemp’s ability, I’m glad they didn’t make this trade.”

Jordan’s words of encouragement to Pippen only served to prove the bond between the two Bulls players. Together, the two won three more championships for the team. This dream would not have been possible without both players being there to coach their comrades.

Scottie Pippen didn’t like the way he was portrayed in “The Last Dance.”

Michael Jordan retired from the NBA in 2003. Scottie Pippen followed suit, bidding farewell to the league after one year. Although the two remained close friends in their post-retirement days, their friendship slowly began to sour.

Back in 2020, Jordan shared his basketball experiences in the Netflix documentary “The Last Dance.” The highly anticipated film follows Jordan’s journey to fame and stardom while highlighting his former teammates and rivals. Although Pippen himself was interviewed for the documentary, he didn’t find the portrayal of himself and his teammates appealing.He explains his dissatisfaction in his 2021 memoir “Unattended”.

“They eulogized Michael Jordan but didn’t give enough credit to me and my proud teammates,” Pippen wrote in his book. “Michael should bear a large part of the blame.”

If that wasn’t enough, one can also add the fact that Scottie Pippen’s ex-wife Larsa is now dating Jordan’s second eldest son Marcus. Although the 58-year-old has not publicly said the same thing, we can speculate that he is not entirely happy with his former teammate.

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