You take Michael off that team, and Scottie moves down to fifth” – Larry Bird revealed his honest take on Scottie Pippen
As a southern Indiana native, Larry Bird always rooted for the Pacers. But when it became clear that the Chicago Bulls were better than Indiana in the 90s, Larry Legend gave Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen the props.
However, when it comes right down to it, Bird blatantly said it was MJ that made Pippen a great player.
“I believe he (Michael Jordan) had the second best player in the league right next to him in Scottie Pippen. You take Michael off that team, and Scottie moves down to fifth. But when Michael was out there with him, they were the best two in the league,” Celtics legend wrote in his book “Bird Watching.”
Pippen was great with MJ and only good without”
According to Bird, while it is true that Jordan and Pippen as a duo were unstoppable, it’s a completely different story when you take one guy out of the picture.