The relationship between Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen has taken a serious hit in recent years, especially after His Airness released the 10-part documentary "The Last Dance" in 2020, chronicling the Chicago Bulls ' final season of their 1990s dynasty.
While many of his former teammates expected the series to celebrate them, they were left disappointed that the five-time MVP chose to shine the spotlight almost exclusively on his own greatness.
For Pippen, this stung. For years, he had embraced the role of Robin to Jordan's Batman, fully aware of his supporting part, even though most fans agree he could have been the best player on nearly any other team of that era.
The tension was further complicated by Pippen's ex-wife Larsa Pippen's brief relationship with Jordan's son Marcus, which, while never publicly addressed by the former dynamic duo, likely deepened the rift between two of the greatest Bulls players in history.
Things aren't likely to improve anytime soon, especially after the ad Scottie filmed for the return of Mr. Pibb, a competitor to Dr. Pepper. In the commercial, Pippen takes shots at the soda brand, but the message feels layered as those jabs seem just as clearly directed at Michael.
"Let's set the record straight about Pib. When you think about Pib, you think of what? Second best? When something has been considered second-best for so long, we just blindly accept it as gospel," Pippen said .
"A decade-long plot built on marketing, social media, and multi-part documentaries. Yeah I said it. Pip is a GOAT, don't correct me."
In the ad, the 60-year-old declares himself as the GOAT, and a background voice jokingly corrects him with "Pibb is the GOAT," to which Pippen responds that he should not be corrected.
It's also easy to read between the lines that the "second-best" motive refers to Jordan as the Bulls' undisputed leader during their six championships in the 1990s. At the same time, the "multi-part documentary" shot is a clear reference to "The Last Dance".
It's just the latest in a string of pointed remarks coming from Pippen toward Mike since the Netflix documentary aired. This shift hasn't sat well with fans who grew up idolizing this iconic generation and fell in love with basketball because of everything these two accomplished together on the Bulls and Team USA.
However, the ad needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as Pippen once admitted he manipulates the media regarding his negative comments about Jordan.
"I am such a professional at answering questions and dealing with the media," Pippen said . "I drive 'em down the road that I want them to go down. It's all about me and Michael and how they can drain more out of me and get more drip so they can have something to headline tomorrow," Pippen added.
It's nearly impossible to fully understand where things stand between the 1992 Olympic gold medal teammates after years of mostly negative commentary, especially given Jordan's decision not to engage publicly.
That silence, more than anything, leaves the door open to interpretation, hinting that the truth behind it all may be far more layered than it appears.
What is certain is that Pippen's comments will reverberate across the NBA media landscape and spark a fresh wave of reactions from fans debating whether Jordan would have achieved what he did without Pippen by his side.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
