Imagine scoring your career-high in the arena where your father’s retired jersey hangs from the rafters. It could not get any more poetic. Well, Scotty Pippen Jr. has done exactly that, just in a different jersey. Just a season ago, he was on a two-way contract. Now that is a statement. While the son of the great Scottie Pippen put on a show on Saturday night, his mother, who is often seen at his games, was not present in Chicago. Nevertheless, she made sure to give her son his flowers after the game.

Larsa Pippen congratulated him by putting up a story on Instagram, with the overlaid text “Congrats my love @spippenjr.” The 6-foot-1 guard dropped a career-high 30 points and 10 assists to beat the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Unfortunately, the RHOM star missed out on her son’s career night.

This offseason, the Memphis Grizzlies made a strong statement about their belief in the 24-year-old guard by upgrading his two-way contract to a multi-year deal. While Pippen Jr. may not have garnered the attention some might expect for the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, he’s quietly been putting in the work. Pippen Jr. has steadily developed his game, playing with a quiet confidence that is starting to show at a high level. He might not be the loudest name in Memphis yet, but give him time – he’s slowly making a name for himself.

And after he dropped his career high in the arena his father helped build, it must feel extra special. After the game, Pippen Jr. expressed his feelings. “Yeah, definitely a special place to play, you know. I see my dad’s name up here. I’ve dreamed of this moment, it’s a dream come true to finally be able to play here,” said Pippen Jr. Looks like it is onwards and upwards here on now from Pippen Jr.

Only Ja Morant stands in the path of Scotty Pippen Jr.

Scotty Pippen Jr. has emerged as a surprise contender for Most Improved Player, putting up impressive stats like 10 assists and 13-of-16 shooting in the Grizzlies’ 142-131 victory over the Bulls. His performance included 3 threes at 50% efficiency, showing his scoring ability. Pippen, who played 21 games for Memphis last season after a G League stint with the South Bay Lakers, has quietly worked his way into the rotation. He even considered playing overseas before his NBA shot arrived, but his patience is clearly paying off.

“Opportunity is huge for a lot of us,” Pippen said on Saturday. “I’m just trying to take advantage of it.” And take advantage he has. After Ja Morant’s injury, Pippen stepped into the starting role, and just two days later, he recorded his first triple-double with 11 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in a win over the Wizards. Interestingly, the Pippens now stand as the first father-son duo to both notch triple-doubles in NBA history.

Since his promotion to the starting lineup, Pippen has averaged over 13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and a steal per game. This has been vital in keeping Memphis competitive, especially with Morant sidelined. The Grizzlies are 10-7, sitting comfortably above the Play-In line in the packed Western Conference.

Though Pippen may lose his starting spot when Morant returns, his role as a key reserve is locked in. His chemistry with Morant has already been promising, and his rise mirrors other late bloomers like Seth Curry or Gary Payton II. Pippen’s time has finally come, and he’s not letting it slip away.