PIPPEN IS A SUPERSTAR Versatile. Hard-working. Talented. Dedicated. Courageous. All words that describe Scottie Pippen of the (Houston Rockets)Chicago Bulls. Game after game, the seven-time NBA All-Star steps on the court knowing that he is one of the greatest players of all time, and he comes to play some seriously winning basketball. Though he plays in the shadow of His Airness, Pippen, in his own right, is the most talented player in the history of the game. "Scottie is better than most people realize, but what Michael does overshadows him," said Lenny Wilkens, coach of the 1996 Olympic Dream Team. Pippen doesn't mind being Robin to Michael's Batman or Dr. Watson to Jordan's Sherlock Holmes. The two form an unbeatable tandem. Jordan respects Pippen immensely and often credits him for the team's success. After all, the Bulls didn't start winning consistently until Pippen, the fifth overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, came on the scene. Pippen is a 6-7 forward who can steal, pass, run and score. He's among the league's top three-point shooters. He's also a defensive machine who pulls down rebounds like a bulked-up power forward -- all while managing to score about 20 points in 37 minutes per game. "I'd say I bring a new dimension to the NBA game because I can pretty much play all the positions, from point guard to center ... I'm an unselfish player who doesn't care about personal statistics," Pippen told Inside Sports last February. His coach, Phil Jackson, agrees: "When Scottie gets in a groove, it's just wonderful to watch. I've always been amazed at Scottie's resiliency and his stamina. Here is a guy that never appears to be tired and always seems to have the ability to bounce back." Pippen showed that ability to bounce back during last year's NBA Finals. Though hampered by a severely sprained ankle, Pippen still scored 27 points and collected nine rebounds in Game 1 to help the Bulls to a 1-0 lead in the series. That kind of play and that type of desire are the reasons why his fingers are adorned with five championship rings. His ranking among the best offensive and defensive basketball players earned Pippen a treasured spot on the league's "50 Greatest Players in NBA History" list last season. Not bad for a late basketball bloomer. Pippen didn't play team basketball in high school and was the team manager -- not a player -- of the Central Arkansas University squad during the early part of his college career. By the time he graduated, the two-time Dream Team player was scoring 23 ppg -- and catching the notice of NBA teams. Pippen was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1987, but was traded to the Bulls on draft day. "I've always loved to play ... basketball is a joyful experience for me," said Pippen. "I'm an outstanding basketball player who loves to play and loves to win."