One of the most controversial parts of the most recent episode of The Last Dance centered around Scottie Pippen and his incredulous decision to quit on the Chicago Bulls during the 1994 NBA Playoffs.
As detailed in the documentary, Pippen simply refused to enter the game in the dying seconds of Game 3 of the '94 playoffs against the New York Knicks. The 6-foot-8 forward was apparently unhappy with how then-head coach Phil Jackson designed the final play for Toni Kukoc, which resulted in Pippen having a huge tantrum at a crucial juncture in the ballgame.
The Bulls ended up winning that game, but the focal point of the discussion was undeniably on Pippen's astounding defiance.
In The Last Dance, Jackson shared what Michael Jordan told him in the aftermath of that game. This was the season of Jordan's hiatus, but the Bulls legend still kept the communication lines open with his team.
“I get a call from Michael,” Jackson narrated. “‘I don’t know if Scottie is ever going to live this down.’”
Obviously, Jordan himself could not believe what had just went down, and he made his feelings known to his coach. In Jordan's mind, it was a horrible split-second decision made by Pippen that was surely going to lead to considerable consequences.
Jordan added that to this very day, it is something that remains to be a lingering issue for Scottie Pippen.
“It’s always going to come back to haunt him at some point in some conversation,” the Bulls icon added. “Pip knows better than that.”
Chicago lost that series against the Knicks in seven games, putting an end to their rather brief postseason run that campaign.
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