Jordan entered the NBA in 1984. He did not win a championship until 1992. He also did not win a championship after the Bulls broke up. In addition, the Bulls traded Olden Polynice for Pippen. So a Pippen-less Bulls would have him replaced by Olden Polynice. In addition, Pippen made absolute peanuts during his entire stay in Chicago, the reason why he jumped at Les' cash upon granted FA. So his salary was not a detriment to Chicago signing other "star" players to surround Jordan with. So if you're assuming that Jordan would've won any title with players caliber of Olden Polynice replacing Pippen, you are smoking some serious stuff.
Remind me when Pippen had carried his team to ECF and Finals, won 2 MVP awards, and led the league in PER 3 straight seasons at the ago of 26.
You can't be serious pippen would have never led that cavs team to the finals ever. LBJ has ah skill set that pippen only dreamed of. Let's not go over board he was a 2 time MVP...
Ah, the "since it's hypothetical you can never prove me wrong haha argument". I guess I have to counter with my own hypothetical then. Hey, how about I predict this? Lebron BJ Armstrong Horance Grant Steve Kerr Bill Cartwright cannot beat Patrick Ewing Charles Oakley Charles Smith John Starks Derek Harper.
But unlike LeBron, Pippen didn't let MJ down. LeBron can't hold Pippen's jockstrap in finals. Numbers don't lie
LBJ is not Pippen, he's not MJ, he's a combination of both. The sometimes shooter label doesn't really apply to LBJ because he's the best shooter in the team. He's actually one of the best shooters in the L. People weren't calling him the "chosen one" simply because of hype, LBJ's quite simply one of the most talented and complete players to ever play. This isn't LBJ's first playoff experience as well, he's shown himself to be clutch and dominating multiple times on both the Cleveland playoff runs and the first two matchups vs Chicago and Boston. For some reason he wilted in the finals, big deal. Its still not reason enough for everyone to act like he's suddenly full of holes or whatever. Players go through highs and lows all the time. The same Dirk who won the finals MVP this year got punked by GS a few years ago, and by Dwade a year before that.
Pippen was a pretty good shooter, the sometimes shooter is a reference to their unwillingness to take open shots sometimes and how they will just pass it to someone else.
I'll take Steve Kerr, Kukoc, Rodman, Ron Harper and Luc Longley over Mario Chalmers, Bosh, Joel Anthony, Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem. How about you?
Not to be a dick or anything, but were you old enough to actually watch Jordan and Pippen play? I watched some of the Jordan Era games in the 90's but I barely remember anything because I was so small. And I know I'm a couple of years older than you.
I believe he also only started playing at age 24, so if you compare MJ to LBJ, LBJ still has until 29 to win his first ring.