Scottie Pippen says he confronted Michael Jordan about unflattering portrayals in 'The Last Dance'
- Scottie Pippen was not pleased with his portrayal in the docuseries "The Last Dance" about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
- Pippen said the documentary was not accurate and used to "uplift" Jordan and said he told Jordan he didn't like it.
- Jordan's involvement in the filmmaking raised some concerns about the series' accuracy, but the series was widely praised.
While the ESPN docuseries "The Last Dance" about the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls glorified Jordan's career, others felt it was harsher toward his teammates.
Legendary Bulls forward and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen was among those who felt his depiction in "The Last Dance" was unflattering.
While speaking to The Guardian's Andrew Anthony, Pippen admitted he told Jordan, who helped produce the series, that he didn't appreciate his depiction.
"I told him I wasn't too pleased with it," Pippen said. "He accepted it. He said, 'Hey, you're right.'"
Pippen said he felt the series was more about "uplifting" Jordan rather than showing the triumphs of some of the best teams in NBA history.
"I don't think it was that accurate in terms of really defining what was accomplished in one of the greatest eras of basketball, but also by two of the greatest players - and one could even put that aside and say the greatest team of all time. I didn't think those things stood out in the documentary. I thought it was more about Michael trying to uplift himself and to be glorified."
Pippen had previously denied reports that he was upset about the series, saying: "Why would I be offended by anything that happened 30 years ago? ... It didn't bother me at all."
While Pippen received plenty of praise in the series, it did also highlight his contractual battles with the Bulls, back injuries that limited him later in his career, a migraine in a pivotal playoff game, and the infamous moment when he refused to play the final seconds of a game because the Bulls did not plan to give him the ball on the final shot.
Former Bulls teammate Dennis Rodman was among those who stood up for Pippen after the series.
"Scottie was so underrated - and so underpaid," Rodman told ESPN in May. "He should be holding his head up higher than Michael Jordan in this documentary. I think a lot of people are now realizing what he went through. The kid was a hero, in a lot of ways, during those great Bulls runs."
Jordan's involvement in the filmmaking raised some concerns about the validity of the series, though it still was critically acclaimed and one of the most-watched series of 2020.
- Read more:
- The biggest winners and losers from 'The Last Dance,' ESPN's docuseries on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls
- 31 things we learned about Michael Jordan and the 1998 Chicago Bulls in "The Last Dance"
- How Michael Jordan and LeBron James approached leadership differently to chase the same goals
- The 21 highest-paid players in NBA history