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Gary Payton II seriously doubts Jordan could win six championships without Pippen and Rodman
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- Gary Payton II seriously doubts Jordan could win six championships without Pippen and Rodman
Gary Payton II wasn't even born yet when the Chicago Bulls won their first NBA championship. However, having won the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2022, GP2 gained the credibility to comment on past champions.
During an appearance on UFC legend Rampage Jackson's podcast, "Young Glove" shared his thoughts on the '90s Bulls dynasty. While most people his age were enamored by Michael Jordan back then, Payton II argued that the Bulls were successful because Jordan had all the help he needed, primarily from Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman .
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For Payton II, fans could give Mike the credit all they want for leading the Bulls to six NBA title runs. However, GP2 is convinced that it wouldn't have been the case if it hadn't been for Scottie and Dennis.
"I think he's probably one of the best rebounders besides Wilt Chamberlain," Payton II said on the Jaxxon Podcast, referencing Rodman. "He was just grabbing 25 a night, so it was just different. He can see the ball where it gonna hit, it was just different."
"For sure, it was Scottie. Everybody played their role, like Steve [Kerr] played his role," he pointed out. "I believe without Scottie and Dennis, like I don't think he [Jordan] would have been able to get six of them."
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Payton II knows how to win championships
Some may think that Payton II was just throwing some sour grapes because his dad lost to Jordan and the Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals. It's an intriguing point, but apparently, what "Young Glove" was trying to emphasize with his take was just how important yet overlooked role players are sometimes.
Payton II didn't need to look any further. He knew firsthand what it takes to win an NBA championship, having won one with the Golden State Warriors , and understands exactly what it was like to be a role player on a championship team.
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"Real knows real," Gary II said of role players. "If you're actually a basketball person, you know what those type of guys bring to your team, and what they bring and contribute to championship teams."
Gary Sr. said almost the same thing about the Bulls
Speaking of firsthand experience, Payton II's dad, Gary Sr., also had a lot to say about Jordan and the Bulls. Like his son, The Glove also once stressed that the Bulls' role players deserve their flowers for helping Jordan become unbeatable in the Finals.
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According to Payton Sr., the Finals duel between the Seattle Supersonics and the Chicago Bulls was a perfect example. For GP, it wasn't MJ who beat them in that series . Instead, it was Dennis Rodman and Toni Kukoc.
"We had got tired though, man, we had did two Game 7s in that playoff run. And then I had hurt myself during that time. I tore my calf muscle. It wasn't that. But I thought we didn't play to win; we played to survive. And against that team, we couldn't do that because they had guys from every position that played well. But the two that beat us and hurt us the most, to me, were Rodman and Kukoc. I think they were the two players that beat us in that series," said Payton.
For sure, the Payton father and son's remarks will raise a few eyebrows. However, it must also be taken into account that even Jordan himself acknowledged the help he received from his teammates, and truth be told, it was the fans and media who created the narrative that Mike exclusively carried the '90s Bulls.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
