SCOTTIE PIPPEN THINKS HE’D BE A REALLY GOOD PLAYER IN TODAY’S NBA; HE’S NOT WRONG
As soon as I heard that Scottie Pippen made some more comments about today’s modern NBA, I instantly got annoyed. And when those comments were contextualized with how well he’d do in today’s game, my annoyance spiked. But I haven’t been a Pippen fan since some late game drama with Toni Kukoc during the season when Jordan was playing baseball. So I’m negatively biased. But I also try to be fair. And when I understood more about what Pippen said this week, my annoyance disappeared. Why? Because he’s not necessarily wrong this time. And he’s not speaking with Batman’s Robin’s frayed ego. At all.
PIPPEN THINKS HE’D BE AMONG THE BEST PLAYERS TODAY, AND HE’S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT
Pippen’s comments are from a recent interview with El Pais, where he answered questions about how he’d fare in today’s game. His response was, “I’d do very well. The game has changed, sure — it’s more up and down now — but my style fit that kind of play even in the ’80s and ’90s. I don’t think it would be a big challenge.” Would he be the best player in today’s game? “Yes, I think so. There’s no reason to think otherwise. If I worked as hard as I did back then, I believe I’d easily be among the best.” As many issues as I have with latter playing Pippen and retired Pippen, he’s not necessarily wrong.
Related:
IF SCOTTIE PIPPEN WAS A POINT GUARD IN TODAY’S GAME, HE’D BE A MATCHUP NIGHTMARE ON BOTH ENDS
Do I think he’s better than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, or Luka Doncic? At first glance, no. But in today’s game Scottie Pippen could or would be a point guard, who’d be able to pick his own shots thru an entire game while wreaking havoc on defense. I can easily see Scottie Pippen averaging 25 points, 8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 2 steals a game in the modern NBA. Would that make him the best player today? No. But it easily includes him in the top 25, if not top 10.
And let’s be honest. If you could pick your starting point guard, who would you choose between Pippen and Doncic? Before seeing slim and more mobile Doncic 2.0, I pick Pippen.
