Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Report: Scottie Pippen 'So Angry' at Michael Jordan over 'Last Dance' Portrayal

Adam Wells

Scottie Pippen reportedly is the latest of Michael Jordan's former teammates who is unhappy with how he was portrayed in The Last Dance

Per David Kaplan of ESPN 1000 in Chicago (h/t Daniel Greenberg of Wrigley Sports), Pippen is "so angry" and "beyond livid" at Jordan over how he came across on the documentary. 

Kaplan explained that Pippen's unhappiness stems from Jordan calling him "selfish" and that he "didn't realize what he was getting himself into" with the documentary (starting at 23:00 mark). 

"[Pippen] felt like up until the last few minutes of Game 6 against the Jazz [in the 1998 NBA Finals], it was just 'bash Scottie, bash Scottie, bash Scottie,'" Kaplan said.

This comes after Horace Grant went on the record to express his displeasure with the documentary. 

On Tuesday's Kap and Co. on ESPN 1000 (h/t ESPN's Nick Friedell), Grant took exception to Jordan's claim that he was a primary source for Sam Smith's book The Jordan Rules:

"Lie, lie, lie. ... If MJ had a grudge with me, let's settle this like men. Let's talk about it. Or we can settle it another way. But yet and still, he goes out and puts this lie out that I was the source behind [the book]. Sam and I have always been great friends. We're still great friends. But the sanctity of that locker room, I would never put anything personal out there. The mere fact that Sam Smith was an investigative reporter. That he had to have two sources, two, to write a book, I guess. Why would MJ just point me out?"

Grant added that if you say something about Jordan, "he's going to try to destroy your character."

The documentary did highlight some memorable negative moments in Pippen's career. There was a segment in which Jordan seemed to question his teammate for the infamous migraine game against the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals.

"I can't argue the point he had a migraine," Jordan said. "It's one of those things that's so unfortunate."

Another moment in episode two saw Jordan call Pippen "selfish" for putting off ankle surgery until the start of the 1997-98 season. That was around the same time that Pippen demanded a trade from the Bulls because he was unhappy with his contract. 

Jordan was also complimentary of Pippen's talent early in the documentary: "Whenever they speak Michael Jordan, they should speak Scottie Pippen. Everybody says I won all these championships. But I didn't win without Scottie Pippen. That's why I consider him my greatest teammate of all-time."

Pippen ultimately finished out that final season with the Bulls before moving to the Houston Rockets as part of a sign-and-trade deal in January 1999.  

   

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