Scottie Pippen: LeBron James may be greatest player ever
STAFF REPORT May 27, 2011 11:55AM
Seven-time NBA All Star Scottie Pippen watches play between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter of Game 6 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series, Thursday, May 12, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Updated: May 27, 2011 3:12PM
It’s probably best Scottie Pippen waited until after Michael Jordan’s infamous Hall of Fame speech to drop this bombshell.
Appearing on ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning” on Friday, Pippen was asked to compare LeBron James and his former Bulls sidekick:
“Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to ever play in the game. But I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he’s so potent offensively that not only can he score at will, but he keeps everybody involved.
“You have to be on your P’s and Q’s on defense because no guy on the basketball court is not a threat to score when LeBron James is out there. But not only that, he’s also doing it on the defensive end.”
Pippen backed off his original comments on Twitter, posting: “Don’t get me wrong, MJ was and is the greatest. But LeBron could by all means get to his level someday.”
Pippen’s comments instantly caused a stir in the social media world as thousands weighed in, most in defense of Jordan.
Feeling the backlash, Pippen tweeted: “For all of you that don’t know, I played the game you keep watching and cheering.”
Can’t wait to hear what MJ thinks.
