Despite Fulfilling His Father’s Wishes, Billionaire Michael Jordan Was Once Called “Selfish” by His Own Teammate Scottie Pippen

Who would Michael Jordan be if he had chosen to not play basketball? Would he have still established himself as the GOAT in whichever field he chose instead? Those are a few of the unanswered questions that probably must have struck fans at some point in time. Anybody who knows Michael Jordan also knows of his obsession with golf. While he is not a pro in it, he is pretty good for someone who had just taken it up as a hobby. Moreover being a competitive person, anyone who played golf with MJ had to give their best shot. However, golf wasn’t the only sport apart from basketball that captivated MJ’s interest.

MJ had announced retirement from the court in 1993 after the Bulls had won their third consecutive championship. At the time, he stated that he had no more interest in playing basketball and his father’s untimely death had somewhat influenced him make the decision. After his retirement in ’93, Jordan went on to play baseball in the minor league, for the Birmingham Barons in 1994. Jordan’s father James Jordan Sr. was a huge fan of baseball and wanted his son to play in the MLB.

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While rumors started swirling surrounding his sudden retirement and change of sport, MJ didn’t disclose everything in detail until The Last Dance was shot. Despite the true reason of MJ’s retirement, Jordan’s Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen felt that the former’s decision to retire was “selfish”.

Scottie Pippen called Michael Jordan selfish for leaving the Bulls

In an episode of The Last Dance, Michael Jordan recalled the last conversation he had with his father. The Chicago Bulls legend revealed that he and his father were discussing about baseball. Jordan said that the conversation he had with his father was what influenced him to retire from basketball. Whereas, the death of his father only pushed him to make the decision.

“We were debating, me and him, we were debating about me playing baseball. ‘Dad, I want to go play baseball. I?m thinking about retiring. I wanna go play baseball.? All the things that he was saying??, ?Do it. Do it.? Because he had got me started in baseball,” said Jordan.

While Jordan had just started to hold his foot in the sport, a baseball strike in 1995 caused Jordan’s return to the Bulls the same year. He went on to win three more consecutive championships. Years later, in 2021, MJ’s fellow Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen expressed his disagreement with Jordan’s decision to retire in 1993. Pippen felt that Jordan was being selfish but he indicated that he wasn’t surprised.

“Yeah, it was a big decision but it’s a selfish decision. But it was kind of who Michael Jordan was and that was a guy that kind of believed that he can do anything on his own,” said Pippen during an interview with Dan Patrick.

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Do you agree with Scottie Pippen or do you feel Michael Jordan’s decision to retire was justified? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!