Scottie Pippen (Part 1)

Scottie Pippen, born Scotty Maurice Pippen Sr. on September 25, 1965, is a retired American professional basketball player renowned for his illustrious 17-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Pippen achieved unparalleled success during his tenure, notably winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls alongside the legendary Michael Jordan.
Throughout his career, Pippen's versatility and defensive prowess solidified his status as one of the greatest small forwards in NBA history. He earned numerous accolades, including being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times consecutively and the All-NBA First Team three times. Additionally, Pippen was selected as an NBA All-Star seven times and received the NBA All-Star Game MVP award in 1994.


Pippen's contributions to the sport extended beyond his individual achievements. He played a pivotal role in transforming the Chicago Bulls into a dominant force during the 1990s, helping popularize the NBA on a global scale. His remarkable skills on both ends of the court earned him recognition as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History during the 1996–97 season.
In addition to his NBA success, Pippen represented the United States in international competition, winning Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996. He was a key member of the legendary "Dream Team," which dominated the 1992 Olympics and showcased some of the greatest basketball talent ever assembled.
Pippen's impact on the game of basketball earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice – once for his individual career and once as a member of the iconic "Dream Team." Furthermore, his contributions were honored by the retirement of his jersey number 33 by both the Chicago Bulls and the University of Central Arkansas.
Off the court, Pippen's personal life has also garnered attention, including his former marriage to television personality Larsa Pippen and his fatherhood to basketball player Scotty Pippen Jr.


Scottie Pippen's early life was shaped by his humble beginnings in Hamburg, Arkansas. He was born to Ethel and Preston Pippen, who worked hard to provide for their large family of 12 children. Despite facing financial challenges, Pippen's parents instilled values of perseverance and determination in their children.
Pippen's mother, Ethel, stood at an impressive height of 6 feet (180 cm), while his father, Preston, was slightly shorter at 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm). Remarkably, all of their children inherited their parents' tall stature, with Scottie emerging as the tallest among them.
Growing up, Pippen witnessed the struggles his family faced, particularly after his father suffered a debilitating stroke that left him partially paralyzed and affected his ability to walk and speak. Despite these hardships, Pippen's parents remained resilient and dedicated to supporting their children.
Pippen attended Hamburg High School, where he showcased his basketball talents as a point guard. Despite his stellar performance on the court, he faced challenges in securing college scholarships due to his family's financial constraints. However, Pippen's determination and skill would eventually pave the way for his remarkable journey to basketball stardom.


Scottie Pippen's collegiate basketball journey began unexpectedly at the University of Central Arkansas, where he caught the attention of the school's head basketball coach, Don Dyer, as a walk-on player. Despite not receiving much media coverage due to Central Arkansas playing in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), Pippen's talent and potential did not go unnoticed.
When Pippen first arrived at Central Arkansas, he stood at a relatively modest height of 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m). However, during his time at the university, he experienced a significant growth spurt that saw him reach an impressive height of 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m). This transformation further enhanced Pippen's versatility and capabilities on the basketball court.


As a senior at Central Arkansas, Pippen put up outstanding statistics, averaging 23.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while maintaining an impressive field goal shooting percentage of nearly 60 percent. His remarkable performance earned him consensus NAIA All-American honors in both 1986 and 1987, establishing him as one of the most dominant players in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference.
Pippen's stellar college career and standout performances drew the attention of NBA scouts, who recognized his potential to excel at the professional level. Despite his unconventional path to collegiate basketball, Pippen's time at Central Arkansas laid the foundation for his future success in the NBA.

References

1.  "Scottie Pippen". National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
2. ^ Men's Tournament of the Americas – 1992 Archived November 20, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, USA Basketball. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
3. a b Smith, Sam (July 30, 1996). "You Think You Know A Guy But Then ..." Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
4. a b Fussman, Cal (December 16, 2011). "Scottie Pippen: What I've Learned". Esquire. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
5. a b c "Scottie Pippen Bio". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
6. ^ "Scottie Pippen". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
7. ^ nba.com/75
8. a b c Smith, Sam (August 4, 1996). "DREAM TEAM'S SLEEPWALK ENDS WITH GOLD MEDAL". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
9. ^ "The Original Dream Team". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
10. ^ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2010" (Press release). Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. April 5, 2010. Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
11. a b "Central Arkansas retires Scottie Pippen's jersey". NBA.com. January 21, 2010. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
12. ^ "Ethel Lee Pippen". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
13. ^ "Personal Details for Preston C Pippen". FamilySearch.org. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
14. ^ Smith, Sam (May 13, 1990). "Bulls' Pippen may miss Sunday's game". Chicago Tribune. p. C12.
15. a b Sons, Ray (June 23, 1987). "Bulls think they have a pippin of a pick in Pippen". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 96.