Scottie Pippen: 'I did not say I'd take Lebron' over Michael Jordan
In a radio appearance on Friday, Scottie Pippen denied that comments he made in 2011 indicated he would put LeBron James ahead of Pippen's former teammate Michael Jordan, CSNChicago.com reported on Friday afternoon.
In May 2011, Pippen drew comparisons between James and Jordan.
"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to play the game. But I may go so far as to say Lebron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will, but he keeps everybody involved," Pippen said.
"Not only will LeBron dominate from the offensive end as well, but he's also doing it on the defensive end, which really makes him the complete package."
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Pippen followed up later that day, saying in a series of tweets that Jordan "was the greatest," and that James was the best of his contemporaries, and had the potential to reach Jordan's level.
On Friday, however, Pippen pushed back against the inference that he was saying LeBron was better than Jordan.
"Did I ever say I'd take LeBron over Mike?" Pippen asked on Friday morning.
"No I did not say I'd take LeBron over Mike. The reality is you need to go back and figure out what I said."
Pippen's comments came before the James' Cavaliers took the floor for their second game of the season against the Chicago Bulls.
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Cleveland hosted the New York Knicks for its season-opening game on Thursday night. James missed 10 shots and lost eight turnovers in the Cavaliers 95-90 loss.
Following the game in Chicago, Cleveland embarks on a three-game road trip, facing the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, the Utah Jazz on Wednesday and the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 7, before returning home to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 10.
- Christopher Woody
