Picture the United Center in ’96: Jordan’s midair dunk and Pippen sliding into the corner—a telepathic duo crushing every defense. Jordan and Pippen played like a basketball symphony in motion. MJ, the ultimate assassin, scoring at will. Pippen, the do-it-all Swiss Army knife, is pushing the pace like a second point guard. Together, they won six championships—going 6–0 in the Finals without ever needing a Game 7. That chemistry ruled on the court—what if it had extended off it?
When The Last Dance premiered in 2020, it reignited Bulls nostalgia—and reopened old scars, especially for Pippen. While fans were glued to the behind-the-scenes drama, not everyone on that roster felt equally celebrated. Pippen, in particular, didn’t hold back. In his memoir Unguarded, he slammed the doc, saying it put MJ on a pedestal and barely acknowledged him. For many, it opened up a deeper conversation: was the story of the Bulls really as one-sided as it looked on screen?
Craig Hodges added fuel to the fire when he said what few have dared to: “I think he [Scottie] was better than MJ.” He wasn’t talking about legacy or icon status—this was about pure, on-court ability. Hodges explained it like this: “Think about how many guys you play with—so much was given to them that led to their confidence. If I’ve got all these people behind me, supporting me, I’m gonna go out and play a different way. But if I’m still trying to prove myself, it’s different.” To Hodges, that was the key difference. Jordan walked into the league with hype and support; Pippen, on the other hand, had to fight for recognition—from Central Arkansas, no less. “Scottie came in having to prove himself… where MJ was already proven to some degree. It was just a matter of how good he was going to become.”
And for Pippen, that uphill battle didn’t stop on the court. That seven‑year, $19 million deal became one of the NBA’s most infamous underpays. As his game and stature grew, the pay didn’t match. Hodges could see the weight of that frustration. “I think he felt that MJ could’ve done more from a business side to help him, you know what I’m saying?” he said. “Think about how many professional athletes today—and of yesteryear—gave a piece of themselves contractually in order to keep their boy here. I think Scottie wanted a little bit of that to happen.”
According to Hodges, there was always a big brother–little brother dynamic between Pip and MJ—Scottie was the protégé, always trying to match the standard MJ set. But that balance began to shift when Pippen was named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996. That moment, Hodges suggested, marked a turning point in Pippen’s “confidence.” It wasn’t just about supporting Jordan anymore—and with that newfound stature, the dynamic between the two started to change. “I could see that,” Hodges said, reflecting on their relationship. “I could see them never sitting down, just the two of them.” The idea that two of the greatest teammates in NBA history never shared a private dinner speaks volumes about the emotional distance that may have lingered behind the banners and trophies.
There was more to twist the knife a little deeper into the Bulls’ lore. Isiah Thomas, Jordan’s longtime rival, caught wind of Hodges’ comments and reposted the clip on Instagram, adding his own nod: “All love for Craig.” That subtle endorsement? It said more than enough. What once seemed like an unbreakable bond now stands under a shadow of unresolved beef.
The Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen saga
The tension between Pippen and Jordan became more apparent after the release of The Last Dance in 2020. In his memoir Unguarded, Pippen accused Jordan of using the documentary to portray himself as “larger-than-life” for today’s fans. He argued that it was more about solidifying Jordan’s legacy as the greatest of all time, especially in comparison to LeBron James. Pippen felt that the documentary focused on “Michael’s story” rather than the true essence of the 1997-98 Bulls season.
He pointed out that while coach Phil Jackson intended for the season to be a collective farewell to the dynasty, the documentary turned into a one-man show, with Jordan’s version of events taking precedence. “Michael deserved a large portion of the blame,” Pippen stated. “He was the leading man and the director,” emphasizing that the team’s collective contributions were sidelined.
Despite Pippen’s critiques, Jordan has expressed genuine nostalgia for their partnership. In an August 2021 interview on ABC’s Australian Story, Jordan reflected that he and Pippen were “always competing and pushing each other,” calling those moments “genuine” and admitting he felt “sad” when their era ended
DEERFIELD, IL – OCTOBER 5: Chicago Bulls basketball stars Michael Jordan (R) and Scottie Pippen (L) laugh at a question about their newly aquired teammate, Dennis Rodman, before their first team meeting 05 October in Deerfield, Ill. Jordan said Rodman’s performance on the court was more important to him than his personality off the court. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read BRIAN BAHR/AFP via Getty Images)
But now, Pippen’s taking matters into his own hands. He’s teamed up with Hidden Empire Films to produce a new documentary about the 1990-1991 Chicago Bulls season—a time that was crucial in launching the dynasty. Pippen’s vision is a clear one: he wants to tell the full story, not just Jordan’s. “I think it’s going to be more about the whole run of that season,” he said, emphasizing that it’s about their collective journey to that first championship.
Set for release in 2025, this new project promises to offer a fresh, more inclusive take on the Bulls’ rise to dominance, giving Pippen—and the rest of the team—the recognition they deserve. This time, it’s about the whole squad, not just the legend of Jordan.
With Pippen now taking the reins on his own documentary, the true story of the ’90s Bulls dynasty is poised to be told in a more inclusive light, and maybe that will fully substantiate what Craig Hodges was trying to say.
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