Michael Jordan believed Scottie Pippen was ‘underpaid’ while playing with the Bulls. ‘I Wish There Was Some Legal Way I Could Give Him Some Of The Money He Deserves As A Player.’
Michael Jordan, an NBA star, believes Scottie Pippen was underpaid while playing for the Chicago Bulls. Pippen earned his biggest salary with the Bulls in 1992-93, which was $3.4 million. Before the 1995–96 NBA season, Jordan informed Bulls writer Cheryl Raye-Stout that Pippen was underpaid. Jordan, who made millions in endorsements off the court, told Stout that he hoped he could lawfully assist Pippen financially.
“I wish there was some way legally that I could give him some of the money that he totally deserves as a player,” Jordan told the crowd. “He’s completely underpaid.” I was underpaid for years, but I dealt with it, and I believe he will do the same. At the end of three years, I hope they give him a just and fair deal.”
In July 1991, Pippen agreed to a seven-year, $18 million contract with the Bulls. He could have made a lot more money in Chicago if he had played his cards well, but the little forward couldn’t afford to turn down $18 million since he needed to support his family. After Pippen outperformed his contract and became a superstar, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Jerry Krause had the option to renegotiate the deal.
However, they never did, which harmed Pippen’s friendship with both men, particularly Krause. When Pippen discovered that Krause attempted to trade him prior to the 1997-98 NBA season, he began to chastise the general manager on the bus in front of the squad. Pippen also had surgery on his injured ankle during the 1997-98 season rather than the prior summer, as a way of getting back at Krause.
In November 1997, Pippen openly demanded a trade from the Bulls, declaring that he would not be released off the disabled list unless the franchise dealt him. The NBA legend was furious because Krause refused to compensate him. Pippen also knew the club would split up after the season since Phil Jackson was not returning and Jordan was a free agent.
The Bulls did not trade Pippen, who revealed in Episode 2 of the docuseries “The Last Dance” that he expected this to happen. Pippen made his 1997-98 season debut on January 10, 1998, against the Golden State Warriors. Despite the turbulence going on behind the scenes, Jordan, Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were back on the court, and the Bulls were once again poised to win a championship.
The Bulls won 62 games in 1997-98, defeating the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals to win their sixth championship.Jordan won his sixth Finals MVP award, averaging 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across the six-game series.
After Jackson and Jordan retired in the summer of 1998, the Bulls transferred Pippen to the Houston Rockets. Pippen played through a serious back injury in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Jazz. As part of the sign-and-trade agreement, Pippen signed a five-year, $67.2 million contract, finally collecting the money he deserved.