Every dynasty needs more than one star, and the 1990s Chicago Bulls had the perfect partner for Michael Jordan in Scottie Pippen. A college walk-on who became one of the most complete forwards ever, he won six NBA titles, two Olympic golds and a Hall of Fame place.
He could defend all five positions and run the offence like a point guard. Here is his story. Browse our Chicago Bulls collection to wear a piece of that history.
Scottie Pippen Fact File
| Full name | Scotty Maurice Pippen Sr. |
|---|---|
| Date of birth (age) | 25 September 1965 (61) |
| Place of birth | Hamburg, Arkansas, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Position | Small forward |
| Nationality | American |
| Current team/status | Retired (last NBA season 2003–04 with Chicago) |
| Shirt number | 33 (8 for Team USA) |
| Nickname | Scottie (his birth certificate reads "Scotty") |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Points | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–1998 | Chicago Bulls | 833 | 14,987 | 18.0 | 6.8 | 5.3 |
| 1999 | Houston Rockets | 50 | 726 | 14.5 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| 1999–2003 | Portland Trail Blazers | 272 | 3,091 | 11.4 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 2003–2004 | Chicago Bulls | 23 | 136 | 5.9 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| Career | NBA total | 1,178 | 18,940 | 16.1 | 6.4 | 5.2 |
Figures are NBA regular season only; PPG, RPG and APG are per-game averages for each spell. He also recorded 2,307 career steals.
Early Years: From Walk-On to Top-Five Pick
Pippen grew up in Hamburg, Arkansas, the youngest of 12 children. He arrived at the University of Central Arkansas, an NAIA school, as a walk-on and grew into a long, smooth forward who caught the eye of NBA scouts.
In the 1987 NBA Draft the Seattle SuperSonics took him fifth overall, and the Bulls promptly traded for his rights. Central Arkansas later retired his No. 33.
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Breakthrough: The First Three-Peat
Pippen earned his first All-Star call in 1990. In the 1991 Finals his defence on Magic Johnson helped the Bulls beat the Lakers for their first title. Back-to-back titles followed in 1992 and 1993.
In 1992 he won Olympic gold with the original Dream Team in Barcelona. He added a second gold in Atlanta in 1996.
Relive it with our Scottie Pippen 33 Jersey Frame Men's T-Shirt.
Peak Years: Leading the Way and Three More Rings
With Jordan away after 1993, Pippen took centre stage. He was named MVP of the 1994 All-Star Game, made the All-NBA First Team three seasons running from 1994 to 1996, and in 1994–95 led the league in steals with 232, nearly three a game.
With Jordan back, the Bulls went 72–10 in 1995–96 and launched a second three-peat, winning titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Pippen made the All-Defensive First Team eight years in a row from 1992 to 1999.
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Later Career and Legacy
After the 1998 title Pippen joined the Houston Rockets, then spent four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, then came home to Chicago for one final season in 2003–04 before retiring with 18,940 points.
The Bulls retired his No. 33 in December 2005, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame twice over, as an individual and as a member of the Dream Team. In 2021 he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Honours
Team
- NBA champion: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
- Olympic gold medal: 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta
Individual
- NBA All-Star: 7 times (1990, 1992–1997)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1994
- All-NBA First Team: 1994, 1995, 1996
- All-NBA Second Team: 1992, 1997; Third Team: 1993, 1998
- NBA All-Defensive First Team: 8 times (1992–1999); Second Team: 1991, 2000
- NBA steals leader: 1994–95
Legacy
- Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: 2010 (individual and 1992 Dream Team)
- NBA 50 Greatest Players (1996) and NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
- No. 33 retired by the Chicago Bulls and the University of Central Arkansas
Away From the Game
Pippen launched his own bourbon, DIGITS, in Chicago in 2021, and the same year published his memoir, Unguarded. Basketball runs in the family too: his son Scotty Pippen Jr. plays in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies.
FAQs
How old is Scottie Pippen?
Born on 25 September 1965, he is 61.
Where was Scottie Pippen born?
He was born in Hamburg, Arkansas, in the United States.
How tall is Scottie Pippen?
Pippen is listed at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m).
What teams did Scottie Pippen play for?
He played for the Chicago Bulls (1987–1998 and 2003–2004), the Houston Rockets (1999) and the Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003).
How many championships did Scottie Pippen win?
Six NBA titles with the Bulls, plus two Olympic gold medals.
What was Scottie Pippen's best individual season?
Many fans pick 1993–94, when he averaged 22.0 points, was All-Star Game MVP and made the All-NBA First Team.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Michael Jordan Career Story: Six Rings, 23 and the Bulls Dynasty and Magic Johnson Career Story: Five Rings and Showtime Lakers.
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