“It was the most enjoyable time of my NBA career” – Scottie Pippen on why Michael Jordan’s retirement was a blessing originally appeared on Basketball Network.
For years, Scottie Pippen played in the shadow of Michael Jordan’s incandescent glow, defined not by his own light but by proximity to a legend.Yet in 1993, when Jordan stunned the basketball world with his abrupt retirement, the unexpected void gave birth to a new look Chicago Bulls.
Gone was the apex predator that had ruled for nine years.
In the wake of Jordan’s departure, few expected Chicago to remain relevant, let alone compete at the top of the Eastern Conference. But Pippen, long perceived as the lieutenant, didn’t just keep the ship afloat, he transformed it.
Pippen’s best year
The 1993–94 season became a referendum on his talent, his leadership and most crucially, his independence. He thrived without Jordan in a makeshift leadership role.
“It was the most enjoyable time of my NBA career,” Pippen said. “I enjoyed playing with Michael, don’t get me wrong, and winning is the ultimate goal, but it was an opportunity for me to really have a team of my own and to be able to kind of see where I would put myself in the league among all the superstars. And I felt we had a great season.”
Jordan’s first retirement in October 1993 left a six-time All-Star in Pippen with a franchise suddenly his to steer. He responded by producing his finest all-around season, averaging 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game.
Those numbers were elite, and he finished third in MVP voting that season behind Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. He was named to the All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Defensive First Team.
The Bulls, whom many wrote off after their dynastic run was seemingly halted, went 55–27 without Jordan. They finished third in the East, just two wins shy of their championship tally the previous year.
It was an emphatic statement that Pippen wasn’t merely a complementary piece, but a foundational star in his own right. And it wasn’t just about numbers.
That season, the superstar forward was a playmaker, defensive anchor and a calming force. As the offense ran through him, the younger players rallied around him, and the media narrative began to shift from “Jordan’s sidekick” to “legitimate franchise cornerstone.”
Without a towering personality next to him, Pippen’s voice resonated louder in the locker room and his decisions became the backbone of every game plan.Controversy, confrontation and growth
Perhaps what made that season feel so liberating for him was the trust. Head coach Phil Jackson handed him the reins and Pippen didn’t flinch. But he soon discovered that being in the spotlight had downsides as the season wasn’t turbulence-free.
The infamous playoff incident against the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, stands out as a defining low point. With 1.8 seconds left in a tied game, Jackson drew up a final play for Toni Kukoc instead of Pippen, who refused to check back in. The Croatian forward hit the game-winner, but the moment cast a shadow on Pippen’s leadership that season.
Still, it was one blemish on an otherwise standout campaign. Over time, the incident became part of a more complex narrative, not just about ego, but about a player so often deferential, finally being handed the keys and wanting full control. That tension is what made the season so human, so compelling and ultimately so transformative.
When Jordan returned in March 1995, the hierarchy naturally reset. Pippen resumed his role as co-star, but he returned more seasoned and more assured.
