Background of Scottie Pippen
BACKGROUND OF SCOTTIE PIPPEN One of the most versatile and talented players in basketball, 6-7 Scottie Pippen can pass like a point guard, rebound like a power forward, score like a shooting guard and run and jump like few others. He also ranks among the NBA's top defenders, and in 1996-97 he was honored as one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History." A key piece of the Chicago Bulls' 6 NBA championship clubs of the 1990s and a seven-time All-Star, he has been honored with three selections to the All-NBA First Team as well as appearances on the Second Team and the Third Team. He also has been a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team 8 consecutive times. Pippen came to the NBA after four years at the University of Central Arkansas, an NAIA school. He averaged only 4.3 points as a freshman and received little attention for much of his college career, despite improving quickly and steadily. Finally, after averaging 23.6 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior, Pippen found himself a hot commodity in the 1987 NBA Draft. The Seattle SuperSonics took Pippen with the fifth overall pick, then traded his rights to the Chicago Bulls for the rights to Olden Polynice and other considerations. Pippen put up modest numbers in his first season in the NBA. It was as a second-year player that Pippen began to show the variety of skills that have made him a superstar and a constant triple-double threat. In 1988-89 he logged 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He upped his numbers in each of the next three seasons, improving to 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game in 1991-92. Along the way, he played in two All-Star Games and earned two NBA championship rings. Although his stats declined slightly in 1992-93, he helped lift the club to its third straight NBA title. Following the surprise temporary retirement of Michael Jordan before the 1993-94 season, Pippen was thrust into the role of team leader. He recorded career highs of 22.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and guided the team to a surprising 55-27 record. Playing in his fourth All-Star Game, he scored 29 points in 31 minutes and was named the game's MVP. He also earned his first selection to the All-NBA First Team. He put up similar numbers in 1994-95, pouring in 21.4 points per game. Following the 1994-95 season, Pippen was named to the 1996 U.S. Dream Team which would win the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Pippen had another fine all-around season in 1995-96, helping Chicago set an NBA record with 72 victories and win its fourth championship of the 1990s. A solid scorer and defender, he led the Bulls in assists and set a career-high with 150 three-pointers. Pippen raised that to 156 three-pointers in 1996-97, when he led the team in assists and steals and finished second in scoring and rebounding in another display of his versatility as Chicago repeated as champion. PERSONAL His favorite pre-game meal is steak and potatoes Wrote a children's book, "Reach Higher," that was published in the summer of 1997 Would like to visit Africa one day Names Martin Luther King, Jr. as the person he admires most in history and Julius Erving as the former NBA player he would like to play one-on-one.