<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[imgl]http://www.dailyherald.com/dow_photos/6/spr_Bullspippentalks_MW[f].jpg[/imgl]Most of the great duos in NBA history didn?t come with an obvious pecking order. Take Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Was either considered No. 1 or No. 2 on the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1960s? What about Karl Malone and John Stockton? Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Kevin McHale and Robert Parish were probably a collective No. 2 behind Larry Bird on the Boston Celtics, which isn?t quite the same. Scottie Pippen, on the other hand, spent 11 seasons playing second fiddle to Michael Jordan during one of the most glorious runs any American sports team has experienced. Pippen thrived by doing everything besides serving as go-to guy. He was an elite defender, an unselfish passer, a respected teammate. ?I sort of look at myself as a great player who played alongside the greatest player who ever played the game,? he said. The two great contrasts of his career work together to help define Pippen. He?s often remembered for refusing to take the court for the final 1.8 seconds of a tie playoff game against the New York Knicks in 1994 because coach Phil Jackson asked him to throw the inbounds pass to Toni Kukoc. Yet even with such a glaring transgression in his closet, former Bulls consistently praise Pippen for being an ideal teammate. There were plenty of forgettable moments along the way ? the migraine headache in Detroit, repeated feuds with former general manager Jerry Krause, a torrent of insults directed toward Charles Barkley that forced a 1999 trade from Houston to Portland. Ultimately, though, Pippen can lay claim to being the NBA?s greatest role player of all time. Pippen?s contributions to the Bulls? six championships weren?t always glamorous, but they were certainly vital. Pippen?s No. 33 will be raised to the rafters tonight at the United Center during halftime of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Horace Grant are among Pippen?s former teammates expected to attend, along with Jackson, now coach of the Lakers. ?I keep trying to say I will be strong,? Pippen said when asked if he expects to get emotional during the ceremony. ?It is going to be fine. It will probably be one of the happiest nights of my life. Hopefully, it will be the most celebrated night at the United Center.? Pippen is the fourth player to be honored by the Bulls, joining Jordan (No. 23), Jerry Sloan (4) and Bob Love (10). Jackson and Krause also have banners hanging at the United Center. These days, Pippen is no stranger to the United Center. He has attended nearly every game this season with his wife, Larsa, seated on the baseline near the Bulls bench. His return to the Bulls two years ago ? following four seasons in Portland and one in Houston ? was less than triumphant. He played in only 23 games because of a chronically sore knee and officially retired last October. He nearly went out with a victorious moment, though. The second-to-last game Pippen played was at Portland on Jan. 31, 2004. He put on a show in his former home, finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 35 minutes. Alas, with a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, coach Scott Skiles ignored Pippen and designed a play for Antonio Davis to shoot a foul-line jumper. It missed, the Bulls lost in overtime and Pippen made his brief, final NBA appearance two days later in Seattle. His official retirement came a year ago, but now it?s time to celebrate. Earlier this week, Pippen reflected on his career during a news conference. Here are some excerpts: ?On his humble beginnings, progressing from a football manager at Central Arkansas to a top-10 NBA draft pick in 1987: ?I think that was probably the best thing that happened to me. I was able to slide in under the radar, not really have a lot of pressure. Even after being drafted here, I had the opportunity to play alongside Michael Jordan, and subsequently, it gave me a couple years to develop and to build my confidence.? ?On playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan: ?Well, I am sure that I did (want to get away from it sometimes). Looking back, it may have been something that I used for negotiating power. Every player wants to see what it is like to do it on his own. I enjoyed doing it the way that my career went. If I had a chance to change it, I would not do it.?</div> Source
Well Scottie wasn't a role player, he was a star also. Anyone remember him leading the Bulls to a 50 win season after MJs first retirement. I agree though he was the 2nd definitive option behind MJ.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Johnnybrasco:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe could have learned alot from scottie.</div> What does that comment have to do with this thread?
If you considered him a role player, then yes he was the greatest, but he was also an All-Star/Top level player, so if a player like that can be considered a role player, then yes, definately.
When you play along side Mike your a role player. And yea he understood that and didnt try to do too much he defended and played great ALL-Star level yes. Best Roleplayer ever Id Vote yes cuz I saw Scottie at Toys'Rus and I am a big fan. Didnt he win MVP the first time Jordan retired??
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">What does that comment have to do with this thread?</div> It shows the two opposite ways in which players have defined their careers. When scottie arrived on the Bulls team he realized there was an established veteran on that team and decided to play the number 2 role and was amazing at it. Kobe arrived on the Lakers team with a veteran player on it, but instead of recognising that that veteran is and was the focus of the team, he instead of being content with playing as the #2 option he tried to take control of that team himself and that resulted in a power struggle between him and shaq. something that never happenned between mike and pip. You can argue it was because of shaq's big ego, but Jordan;s ego was huge as well. The Lakers won 3 championships who knows how many they could have won if kobe had emmulated pippen and decided to accept the role of a complementor to an established veteran.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Johnnybrasco:</div><div class="quote_post">It shows the two opposite ways in which players have defined their careers. When scottie arrived on the Bulls team he realized there was an established veteran on that team and decided to play the number 2 role and was amazing at it. Kobe arrived on the Lakers team with a veteran player on it, but instead of recognising that that veteran is and was the focus of the team, he instead of being content with playing as the #2 option he tried to take control of that team himself and that resulted in a power struggle between him and shaq. something that never happenned between mike and pip. You can argue it was because of shaq's big ego, but Jordan;s ego was huge as well. The Lakers won 3 championships who knows how many they could have won if kobe had emmulated pippen and decided to accept the role of a complementor to an established veteran.</div> Major difference is Jordan and Shaq in this equation. Jordan worked hard in the off-season and wanted to win titles. He lead by example, so his teammates followed suit. When Shaq was committed to working hard in the off-season and keeping his conditioning at a high leve, Kobe Bryant and company had no problem deferring to Shaq. Once Shaq stopped working hard in the off-season, milked his injuries, and whined about a contract extension, Kobe Bryant didn't feel he should have to take a backseat to him anymore. So if Shaq emmulated more of Jordan than they would still be teammates contending for titles.
I disagree with the title of the thread. Pippen may not have been the best player, but any player who isn't the best on the team shouldn't automatically be considered a role player. Pippen was one of better players in the League, despite being a 2nd option. IMO, its the same as labelling either Shaq or Wade as a roleplayer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post"> Kobe Bryant didn't feel he should have to take a backseat to him anymore. </div> Shaquille O'Neal Finals MVPs: 3 Kobe Bryant Finals MVP: 0 Shaquille O'Neal Season MVP: 1 Kobe Bryant Season MVP: 0 I still don't think Kobe Bryant had the right to make the conclusion. With Shaqs departure the Lakers went from the NBA Finals to the Loterry. That says a lot.
You make it sound like Shaq is the only reason they didnt make playoffs.. The whole starting 5 left the lakers except kobe...not just Shaq yes obviously he was a BIG part of the lakers team. But have the Heat really done anything with Shaq that they didnt do before he got there? If I am not mistaken they still didnt win the Eastern Conferance and before Shaq was even in a Miami Uniform they made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs without him.
I dont really think that you could consider pippen a role player. It isn't scotties fault that he was traded to the team that had the GREATEST PLAYER EVER on its roster. pippen wasn't a role player. im not 100% sure, but correct me if im wrong, he was on the 50 greatest players list in NBA history, and nowhere in that lists title does it say role player
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting amador08:</div><div class="quote_post">You make it sound like Shaq is the only reason they didnt make playoffs.. The whole starting 5 left the lakers except kobe...not just Shaq yes obviously he was a BIG part of the lakers team. But have the Heat really done anything with Shaq that they didnt do before he got there? If I am not mistaken they still didnt win the Eastern Conferance and before Shaq was even in a Miami Uniform they made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs without him.</div> The whole starting 5 didnt leave the Lakers. The only one that left was Karl Malone. The Lakers traded away Shaq, Payton,and Fox for players in return. George stayed who was the Starter for thet 2nd half of the season. The Heat made it to the Conference Finals with Shaq, but that was only one season. Shaq has proved he doesnt need Kobe to win, but Kobe hasn't proven crap yet in his first season without Shaq. The worst a Shaq led team has ever gone was 41-41 and that was his rookie year with a team so bad to get the first pick. Kobes first chance to lead a team he got to take over one that made the Finals the previous year and still couldn't get them to the .500 mark at least.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheChosenOne23:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont really think that you could consider pippen a role player. It isn't scotties fault that he was traded to the team that had the GREATEST PLAYER EVER on its roster. pippen wasn't a role player. im not 100% sure, but correct me if im wrong, he was on the 50 greatest players list in NBA history, and nowhere in that lists title does it say role player</div> i didnt know he was traded to the bulls ps: ur stupid
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">The whole starting 5 didnt leave the Lakers. The only one that left was Karl Malone. The Lakers traded away Shaq, Payton,and Fox for players in return. George stayed who was the Starter for thet 2nd half of the season. The Heat made it to the Conference Finals with Shaq, but that was only one season. Shaq has proved he doesnt need Kobe to win, but Kobe hasn't proven crap yet in his first season without Shaq. The worst a Shaq led team has ever gone was 41-41 and that was his rookie year with a team so bad to get the first pick. Kobes first chance to lead a team he got to take over one that made the Finals the previous year and still couldn't get them to the .500 mark at least.</div> you cant say that ****, cuz shaq had an all star on his side every year except his rookie year. (penny hardaway, kobe, wade)
