Scottie Pippen revealed his regrets about disregarding Michael Jordan’s advice on playing alongside Charles Barkley in the Houston Rockets. This came about after the 90s Chicago Bulls’ reign ended in 1998, leading to Pippen being traded to the Rockets. The Rockets, with their star-packed team of Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Pippen, surprisingly, fell short of success. As reasons were sought, the key issue surfaced: Barkley and Pippen’s collaboration was rather acrimonious, which potentially affected their performance. Pippen felt Barkley lacked the commitment to clinch victories. This was something Jordan had warned Pippen about and in a reflective moment, he wished he had taken heed. Despite their evident talent, the Rockets had an unimpressive 31-19 score in the 1998-99 season and were eliminated early in the playoffs.
Not fitting into the team’s dynamics, Pippen requested for a trade in 1999 and was relocated to the Trail Blazers. Barkley maintained that Pippen, who was upset with his tenure at Houston, owed him an apology, but Pippen vehemently disagreed. In the 1986-87 NBA season, legendary Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson locked horns in a fascinating MVP race. Despite netting an incredible average of 37.1 points per game, Jordan lost out to Johnson.
The selection process, which led to many contentious debates, prompted Jordan to introspectively question, “What are the credentials for the MVP?” While the Lakers star averaged 23.9 points, significantly lesser than Jordan’s staggering exploit, his 12.2 assists per game trumped Jordan’s 4.6. Differences also emerged around team records; Johnson led the Lakers to an impressive 65-17 record compared to the Bulls’ 40-42. This divergence likely swayed votes to the Lakers’ stalwart.
Jordan, the runner-up, garnered 449 points, suggesting his prowess was recognized. However, he considered his 100+ blocks and steals – indicative of his impact beyond scoring – underappreciated. Over time, Michael Jordan netted five MVP trophies, the award was eventually named after him. As such, Magic Johnson’s victory on that occasion represented a thrilling yet respectful rivalry in NBA history.
