Bulls legend Scottie Pippen accused his ex-coach Phil Jackson of being a racist in an interview. Among other things, he described Jackson’s decision to give Toni Kukoc the last throw in a playoff game in 1994 as a “racist move”. In addition, the 55-year-old attacked his ex-teammate Michael Jordan.
Pippen made corresponding statements in an interview with GQthat appeared a few days ago and in which he also attacked Kevin Durant. The Hall of Famer has now been addressed on the “Dan Patrick Show”. By accusing Jackson of taking a “racist move,” he referred to Jackson himself as a racist, said Patrick. “I have no problem with that,” replied Pippen. When asked if he believed Jackson was a racist, Pippen replied: “Oh yes!”
The move mentioned occurred in the 1994 playoff series against the New York Knicks. Pippen refused to go onto the field with only 1.8 seconds left on the clock, as Jackson had planned the last throw for Toni Kukoc in the drawn play. The Croat then sank the game winner.
Michael Jordan hung up his sneakers for the first time the year before. Pippen had the feeling that the Bulls were now “Scottie Pippens Team”, according to the six-time champion. “A year without Michael Jordan and I don’t get the last litter? I do all the dirty work – so why should Toni, who was a rookie at the time, get the last litter? I meant that by racist.”
In response to Patrick’s objection that this does not necessarily mean that Jackson was a racist, Pippen countered: “That is your point of view, I have mine. I saw him in training and in the dressing room. You only look at the situation from that perspective Distance.”
Pippen: Jordan’s resignation “a selfish decision”
Pippen also condemned that Jackson had sharply criticized Kobe Bryant in a book after the end of his first engagement as Lakers coach in 2004. In 2005 Jackson then returned to LA on the sidelines. “Who would do something like that?” Asked Pippen. “I think he tried to expose Kobe.”
Pippen also criticized Jordan’s resignation in 1993 after the Bulls had won three titles in a row. “It was a selfish decision,” said the seven-time all-star. “But that’s just how Michael Jordan was. He always believed that he could do everything on his own.”
MJ cited the death of his father in the summer of 1993 as the reason for his resignation, and later he celebrated his acclaimed comeback in the Bulls jersey. In Chicago, Pippen and Jordan won three more championships from 1996 to 1998.
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