23 years ago, His Airness was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Tonight Michael Jordan presented Scottie Pippen for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pippen opened his acceptance speech by praising Michael Jordan, his fellow six-time NBA champion from the Chicago Bulls for being “the best teammate.” “MJ, you have touched so many people’s lives, but none quite like mine,” Pippen said.
Pippen was the first player inducted during the enshrinement ceremony at Symphony Hall. With Jordan standing nearby on stage as his presenter, Pippen said he would “cherish their relationship forever.”
“Who knew that No. 23 would be here 23 years later presenting me to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame?” Pippen said.
Six-time NBA World Champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998)
Name is scattered across the NBA’s all-time leader board: 40th in total points (18,940), fourth in steals (2,307), tied for 16th in steals per game (1.96), 23rd in assists (6,135), 13th in minutes (41,069), 16th in minutes per game (34.9), 32nd in three-point field goals made (978)
Ranked first in Bulls history with 664 three-pointers and 2,031 three-point field goals attempted
Ranked second in Bulls history in: points (15,123), field goals (5,991), field goal attempts (12,444), free throws attempted (3,576), offensive rebounds (1,687), defensive rebounds (4,039), assists (4,494), steals (1,792), seasons played (12), games played (856) and minutes (30,269)
Ranked third in Bulls history with 5,726 rebounds and 774 blocked shots
Participated in postseason play in 16 of his 17 NBA seasons, making the playoffs in each of his first 16 seasons
Second in NBA history with 208 playoff appearances (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 237)
Owner of two NBA Finals records: most three-point field goals attempted in a career (117), most three-point field goals made in one game (7, tied with Kenny Smith)
Holds career playoff record for most three-point field goals attempted (660)
Member of the NBA All-Defensive Team from 1991-2000 (First Team member seven times)
Selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
Seven-time NBA All Star (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997)
1994 All-Star Game MVP
Made All-NBA seven straight years (1992-1998)
Two-time Olympic gold medal winner
Has recorded 20 career triple-doubles, including four in the playoffs
Ranked atop the all-time All-Star Game leader board in 3FGA with 22 (second), 3FG made with 7 (tied for 4th) and steals with 17 (eighth)
Career highs of 47 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists, 9 steals and 5 blocked shots
sports | Mark Loventhal August 13, 2010