Scottie Pippen didn’t have too many fans on social media Sunday night.
ESPN aired episodes 7 and 8 of “The Last Dance” — the Michael Jordan documentary — on Sunday night. The episode featured a moment for Scottie Pippen that had Twitter talking.
In the 1993-94 Eastern Conference finals, the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks were tied with 1.8 seconds left. Bulls coach Phil Jackson drew up a play that called for Toni Kukoc to take the last shot. Pippen, one of the premier players of the league that season, decided to sit out the moment and not return to the game.
“I felt like it was an insult coming from Phil,” Pippen said. “I was the most dangerous guy on our team. So why are you asking me to take the ball out?”
When asked if he was in or out, Pippen said, “I’m out.”
Pippen said he wouldn’t necessarily change his decision.
“It’s one of those incidents that I wish had never happened,” he said. “But if I had a chance to do it all over again, I probably wouldn’t change it.”
Social media reacted to Pippen’s decision with humor.
scottie when that shot from kukoc went in pic.twitter.com/E5AapPQIl8
— Astead (@AsteadWesley) May 11, 2020
NBA Twitter would've been heat that night Scottie refused to go in
— Dom2K🎄🎅🎁 (@Dom_2k) May 11, 2020
“Toni you’re taking the last shot.”
— Joe Sheisty Stan Account (@DTrue310) May 11, 2020
Scottie: #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/jhggFQiOuN
Phil Jackson:Scottie you going in or what?
— Eti (@its_8zaz) May 11, 2020
Scottie: pic.twitter.com/wUYaNyle8x
Scottie Pippen getting a lot of credit this doc, getting some long overdue praise and respect. Why he decides to double down on his one heel moment killed me.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) May 11, 2020
TBF I could definitely see Mike doing the same thing in Scottie's shoes. It's just that Phil wouldn't have even considered not getting MJ the ball.
— Thomas SinCara (@beenthrifty) May 11, 2020
But all ended well for Pippen. He took down Patrick Ewing with a vicious slam dunk.
Scottie Pippen talking about his epic dunk on Ewing & trash-talking Spike Lee pic.twitter.com/hWiXcApzBM
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 11, 2020