advertisement

Pippen: Jordan still 'greatest player'

Scottie Pippen says he knows Michael Jordan is “the greatest player that ever played the game.”

His comments this spring indicating LeBron James may have surpassed Jordan were meant as a simple compliment to the Miami Heat star, he says.

“The comments that I made were basically giving LeBron some props as a player — not to dismantle any player like Michael,” Pippen told reporters Friday at the Bulls/Sox Training Academy in Lisle. “We all know that he's the greatest player that ever played the game.”

Pippen said he's spoken with Jordan since his late-May comments that “LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game,” and the statements didn't cause any conflict between the Batman and Robin of the Bulls' repeat three-peats.

“I talk to Michael all the time,” Pippen said. “There was no problem between me and Michael.”

“I felt like I was drawing more of a conclusion from the stats more than the accolades,” he said.

Pippen, who spent the week coaching young basketball players at the academy, also shared his thoughts on Bulls draft pick Jimmy Butler, spoke about the importance of having fun with basketball and said he may return for more coaching appearances at the suburban sports training center.

“It's an opportunity now that I'm back in Chicago to really get involved in the community and continue to try to help the Bulls here to build this academy for us basketball-wise,” Pippen said.

The retired Bulls forward said campers saw him as a role model, although many were too young to have seen Pippen play during his 17-year career.

“I try to show them a little bit of everything — a little about life and what they can take from the game of basketball,” he said. “Defense was my expertise, but basketball is a game of a whole (with) a lot of different pieces to it.”

With the Bulls' second pick in the 2011 draft, they chose 6-foot-8 Butler from Marquette — another defensive specialist, but not a shooting guard as many say the team desperately needs.

“I think the Bulls got what they wanted ... Butler was our guy,” Pippen said. “The team evaluated him; they saw his workout; they were very high on him going into the draft before any player was picked.”

During the five-day camp, Pippen worked with 130 young basketball players ages 6 to 17, assisting in drills and speaking with athletes one-on-one and in groups, said Larry Stewart, general manager of basketball at the Bulls/Sox Academy.

In a gym decorated with replicas of the Bulls' six NBA championship banners and other banners depicting Bulls greats in action, Pippen thanked the campers for listening throughout the week and said skills that help in hoops, like working hard, also will help in tough life situations.

“Whether or not you use those skills on the basketball court, they will be lifelong skills,” Pippen said.

  Former Bulls forward Scottie Pippen offers some tips to Tony Burnette and Keith Jones, both of Chicago, Friday at the Bulls/Sox Training Academy in Lisle where the retired Bulls forward worked with young athletes this week. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Former Bulls forward Scottie Pippen watches kids play Friday at the Bulls/Sox Training Academy in Lisle. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
  Former Bulls forward Scottie Pippen made it clear Friday he thinks Michael Jordan is “the greatest player that ever played the game.” Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com