"It was more about Michael trying to uplift himself and to be glorified" - When Scottie Pippen shared his feelings on The Last Dance originally appeared on Basketball Network .
The narrative of "The Last Dance" documentary was centered on Michael Jordan . However, not everyone was pleased with the series, including Scottie Pippen , the Chicago Bulls ' six-time NBA champion and one of MJ's closest collaborators during the dynasty years.
To the seven-time NBA All-Star, the series felt more like a one-man celebration than a balanced recollection of one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
Drafted fifth overall in 1987, Pippen quickly became a linchpin in the Bulls' transformation from a playoff contender to an untouchable dynasty. His versatility on both ends of the court made him No. 23's perfect counterpart.
Together, they secured six NBA championships. Yet, as the documentary unfolded, the forward found himself being put in a narrative he vehemently contested.
"I don't think it was that accurate in terms of really defining what was accomplished in one of the greatest eras of basketball," Pippen said of The Last Dance. "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. I think it also backfired to some degree in that people got a chance to see what kind of personality Michael had," he added.
In his memoir, "Unguarded," the former Bulls star expressed his belief that the documentary glorified his former Chicago partner while downplaying the team's collective effort. Former teammate Horace Grant also criticized the series for overlooking other players' contributions.
The widespread perception was that the Bulls' story was being told through a narrow lens, placing "His Airness" firmly at the center and relegating everyone else to the periphery.
One of the most contentious inclusions in the documentary was the 1994 incident during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks . Pip, then leading the team in MJ's absence, refused to re-enter Game 3 after coach Phil Jackson designed a last-second play for Toni Kukoc instead of him.
The moment was undeniably a blemish on the forward's otherwise stellar career. Still, its inclusion felt out of place to him. After all, the series was ostensibly focused on the 1997-98 season — the team's final championship run — not events from years prior.
The Arkansas native argued that the 1994 incident only served to undermine his contributions. At the time, he had stepped into the role of team leader and guided the Bulls to a 55-win season, proving their resilience without Mike. Yet, the documentary resurrected that single moment of defiance.
Also, a major criticism was that the five-time MVP wielded editorial control over the documentary. The production heavily relied on archival footage owned by MJ, giving him significant sway over the final product.
Perhaps the most cutting blow came from Jordan's own words in the series. He referred to Pippen as "selfish" for delaying surgery before the 1997-98 season, a decision the forward made in response to a longstanding contract dispute.
Ultimately, it left others feeling like their legacies had been diminished for one man's own to shine.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on May 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
