Ex-Bulls Coach Reveals Reason Why Scottie Pippen Would Always Defer

During an recent interview about his time with the Bulls, Doug Collins revealed why Scottie Pippen would often defer big shots at the end of games. 

After an outstanding playing career that saw him make four All-Star teams. Doug Collins became a head coach in the league, leading the Bulls from 1986-1989. 

That team, of course, included Michael Jordan who was dveloping into the league's biggest star. But it also included Scottie Pippen, who began playing for the Bulls in 1987. 

Collins said that after playing with Jordan, Pippen couldn't change his game: 

"I'll watch Scottie even today, and even before Michael came back, he'd be going down court late in a game and looking to find someone. Scottie is not the kind of player to make winning shots, game-winning plays. If I were on the floor, I'd want to play with a guy like Pippen more than Jordan, but the perception always runs ahead of the reality, and Michael was the guy always perceived as hitting that winning shot and Scottie not doing it."

The Bulls were obviously incredibly successful with Pippen and Jordan teaming up as the famed teammates would win six championships together. The small forward would also make seven All-Star games and was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. 

And while he may have deferred the final shot late in games, Pippen had an impressive career scoring average of 16.1 points per game with 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists. His game is now the model for several stars playing today.