"Michael just killed Scottie, beat the hell out of him" - Jerry Krause said matching up with Jordan was the best thing that ever happened to Pippen
There's hardly anyone in the world who doesn't place the legendary duo of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen at the very top of the hierarchy when it comes to the greatest one-two punches ever. And why wouldn't they? The Chicago Bulls tandem won everything there was to win, and their skill sets complemented each other perfectly.
Mike was an all-around superstar, capable of taking over the games with his scoring prowess in an instant, while Pip, although a more than solid offensive contributor, made a name for himself as one of the best defenders of all time.
The best thing that ever happened to Scottie
However, while Michael started firing right out of the gates from the moment he was drafted, Scottie took some time to find his footing and acclimate to the NBA's rhythm and physicality. The person who helped him the most during this transition was none other than "His Airness."
In fact, Jerry Krause, the general manager of that iconic Bulls dynasty, went so far as to say that Pippen's frequent clashes with MJ during practice over the years shaped him into the player many consider him to be today—a strong, relentless, and versatile forward capable of locking down the best offensive players.
"One of the smartest things Doug Collins did was match them up," the man who pulled the strings for the franchise shared with the New York Times.
"And I mean Michael just killed Scottie, beat the hell out of him. But it was the best thing that could have happened to Scottie, winding up with Michael in Chicago. He had to get stronger. He had to learn to compete," he added.
Jordan went hard on everyone, including Pippen
Michael was the third pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, and from the moment he stepped into the Bulls practice facility, he made sure to let everybody know he was the alpha dog and that everyone would follow his training intensity. "Black Jesus" demanded the highest level of commitment and didn't spare even his teammates when it was necessary.
Pippen, when he came into the league in 1987 as the fifth pick in a prearranged draft-day deal that Krause executed, didn't have the same magnitude as Mike, and that was perfectly okay. By that season, Jordan had already established himself as a bona fide superstar, and 1988 marked the first year "Black Cat" claimed one of his five MVP titles.
Chicago's head coach at the time, Doug Collins, understood the kind of impact MJ could have on the Arkansas native, so he often placed them on opposing teams during practices. And since Mike spared no one, his beatdowns prepared Pippen for bullies and overly physical opponents like the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons and later the New York Knicks.
Although he will forever be considered the Robin to Jordan's Batman, Scottie carved out a great career that players can only dream of, and he owes much of it to the man many consider the GOAT.
