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By: Keith Dobkowski, NBA News Writer
The hall of fame debate can be brought up in any bar in any part
of our country and create a heated debate over a player’s
bronzing.
In baseball this very site debated the worthiness of Derek Jeter,
Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa. Though Jeter’s numbers were
by far the most inferior, Jeter has become a modern day Mr.
October shining greatest with the world’s spotlight on him. And
we declined to bronze either Sosa or Palmeiro. Sosa has
benefited from cheating (steroids and cork) and Palmeiro was
never a top five player at his position.
And now, with Scottie Pippen’s retirement, the conversation
turns to basketball. Is Pippen a hall of fame player? Or is he the
luckiest baller on earth to have played second fiddle to Michael
Jordan?
There is no arguing about Pippen’s defensive ability. He was
named to eight straight All-NBA defensive first teams and that is
an accomplishment that can’t be diminished by the partnership
with Jordan. It is only a shot blocker, aka Dikembi Mutumbo,
which can increase a player’s defensive stats by giving him the
freedom to take chances.
Pippen was also part of six championship teams as well as the
72-victory team. The combination of championships and
defensive prowess may be enough to get Pippen into the hall.
However Pippen’s career numbers are anything but stellar and
the numbers were inflated due to two words: Michael Jordan.
Jordan averaged over 30 points for his career. Jordan also
averaged more double teams than any other player on the
Bulls.
Jordan ability to score made racking up assists that much easier
for Pippen. Pippen’s career average for assists was 5.2 per
game. Many of those assists were earned the easy way,
passing to Jordan.
The same holds true for scoring. Pippen, never known as a
shooter or scorer, averaged 16.1 points per game for his career.
With Jordan constantly being doubled teamed, Pippen benefited
from more open looks, yet only scored a modest 16 points per
game.
Because Pippen’s numbers do not match that of a hall of fame
player the best measure is to consider Pippen in line with other
small and point forwards during his playing career.
As Pippen’s career came to an end the closest match is Ron
Artest of Indiana. Artest averaged 18 points per game last year,
over 5 rebounds and nearly 4 assists. Artest put up very similar
numbers and is easily in the same defensive ball-hawk category
as Pippen. However, no one could possibly argue that Artest is
on his way to a Hall of Fame career. And Artest did not have the
benefit of Jordan.
Grant Hill before the foot injury was clearly on his way to the
Hall. Hill played the point forward in a very similar manner to
Pippen alleviating the need for a true point guard. Yet Hill
managed to average 21 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per
game. Had Hill not lost his last three seasons, he would clearly
be the benchmark for the point forward position.
Yet the greatest match for Pippen is James Worthy. Worthy won
three championships. Was named to the top-fifty players’ list, as
was Pippen. Was a seven-time all-star as was Pippen. And just
like Pippen, Worthy played second fiddle to Magic Johnson.
Worthy’s career stats are very similar to Pippen and therefore do
shed the greatest light on Pippen’s Hall of Fame credentials.
Worthy averaged one more point, two less assists and one less
rebound per game.
Worthy benefited from one of the greatest players and greatest
ball distributors in NBA history. Magic made those around him
better. So much better in fact, that Worthy made the Hall.
Worthy would have been a star without Magic. He was a
number one pick and a dominant scorer. But Worthy clearly
would not have won three championships without Magic.
Pippen teamed with Jordan for six championships and while it is
arguable that Pippen would not have won one without Jordan,
Pippen will await Jordan in the Hall of Fame.
Writer’s Note: I started this article with the idea of proving that
Pippen does not belong in the Hall of Fame. My initial reaction gave
me two reasons to believe that Pippen should be kept out of the
Hall. First was that Pippen benefited so much from Michael Jordan
that Pippen’s less than stellar stats were still greatly inflated. And
second was the key moment of Pippen’s career when he refused to
re-enter a playoff game against the Knicks in 1994. That one
selfish act by Pippen had overshadowed my thoughts on his
career.
Yet by the end of this article I find myself truly believing that Pippen
was a Hall of Fame player. There are three simple reasons:
1. Eight straight All-NBA Defensive First Teams
2. Six Championships
3. And James Worthy - I argued for Worthy’s induction
several years ago and believed that he should be
bronzed regardless of the inflated numbers (points and
championships) created by playing with Magic Johnson.
The same should hold true for Pippen.
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