The fact that he stuck around for 5+ years after he left the Bulls really brought his career averages down. During his last 8 years in Chicago, he was always at 18+ PPG, 5+ APG, 6+ RPG. And that's not even mentioning the defense he played.
That's more like 19, 7 and 6 during the title years. 19 ppg on 48% and 34% from behind the arc isn't bad at all, considering you are playing next to a dude putting up 30+ a night. Those numbers also don't highlight that you are basically a SF running PG since your team doesn't have one, or that you are arguably the best wing defender in basketball, getting 2 spg and almost 1 block a night. Not to mention when you lose arguably the best player on earth and still take your team to the semis while leading them in almost ever statistical category. Pippen is an a$$ but HOF he definitely was. He is arguably the best SF of the 90's.
Pippen is a HOFer, but had also proven that he couldn't win nothing without Jordan. It's the same thing with Kobe now. Until he wins a championship with the current Lakers squad, he'll always be known as a player who can't win without Shaq. But he's a HOFer even if he retires today.
In the years he won the rings, duh. Don't act dumb. Of course they went down in the latter years of his career.
People have ran with the popular opinion that he was riding Jordan's coattail even though it is clearly not true.
Pippen is a first ballot HOFer. The numbers don't do him justice. One of the most versatile offensive players, and perhaps the greatest defensive wing, in the history of the league.
If James Worthy and Kevin Mchale are HOFs, then Scottie Pippen will be one also. Being a multiple All-Star while playing second fiddle on multiple championship teams will get you HOF recognition.
What did MJ win without him exactly? A playoff round? Nope..... Well he did win one gold medal without Scottie. Oh, and that NCAA title that Worthy and Perkins led him to, even though folks want to give MJ all the credit due to one jumper.
I've had this debate too many times. My argument is that Chicago won all those championships mainly because of Michael Jordan. Sure Pippen was an important complementary player to Jordan, but his role could be replaced by another player of HOFer caliber (noticed I do acknowledge that Pippen is a HOFer). If you took Jordan away from that Chicago team and replaced him with Kobe for example, I don't know if they could win all those championships. When Pippen got to Houston he was still in his prime and yet he could do nothing here with (declining) Dream and Barkley.
Yes, they did win all of them mainly because of MJ. However, I don't think you could replace Pippen with too many players without changing the entire complexion of those teams, which were built on defense. What other player could play lock-down D every night, while initiating offense and being a reliable 2nd scorer? Your list will be very short IMO. Additionally, you could replace MJ with certain players and have been just as successful. For example, you don't think Hakeem could have won titles on those teams? He can score and close games. Give him a defensive SF that can run point like Scottie, Grant or Rodman, a Kukoc, any of their bigs to give him some blow time and all of those shooters!!! Again, folks seem to forget just how good the Bulls were. They damn near got to the ECF without MJ.
Without Jordan, he was third in MVP voting in 93/94. http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1994.html#mvp
He's right in the argument for best perimeter defensive player ever, and he had some point-guard skills and prime-time scoring ability on offense. He could play any position on the floor except center, and he once led his team in every statistical category for an entire season. Of course he should be in the HoF. Sour grapes from Rockets fans who only care about his time here doesn't change that.
