Muggsy Bogues Reveals Scottie Pippen Team-Up Proved NBA GMs Wrong, Changing Their Draft Fate

The shortest player in the league history, yet played 14 seasons — Muggsy Bogues was no ordinary NBA athlete. However, it’s not as if this NBA journey came easy to the 5’3″ player, as he may never have been able to make his NBA debut had he not overcome his perceived height disadvantage. The former NBA star has disclosed how his team-up with Scottie Pippen helped with this. Appearing on the Knuckleheads Podcast, Bogues revealed his height was a concerning factor for NBA General Managers, Coaches, and Scouts.

Emphasizing that NBA is a different world as compared to college, Muggs revisited the time he got invited to the NBA Combine in Chicago. “Me and Scottie Pippen happened to be on the same team… We got invited to Chicago. And from that moment, you know, we put on such a show. And he was happening to be on my team…” he said on the podcast. Muggsy further recalled being picked 12th and Pip being picked 5th in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft. Though the two never played on a team together thereafter, Bogues the first game, did help the guard through.

The league was so void of people his height during his college, the guard only ever idolized Dwayne Woods who was 5’5 and failed to relate to anyone else. Bogues even had to fight through to fetch a place on his college basketball team. But once he did, he rode the way into the NBA.

Muggs played 4 seasons of college basketball with Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Although he did not boast a significant scoring proficiency, his high assists per game reflected his game-making skills. In fact, in his final year with Wake Forest, Bogues even came close to averaging a double-double through the season. Apart from this, before Washington Bullets (now Wizards) drafted him into the league, Muggs played one season in USBL as well, where he claimed 1987 Rookie of the Year award.

So it seems, Bogues’ performance alongside Scottie Pippen at combine was more of a final stamp of approval. And he did not let this opportunity go wasted as he emerged to be a proficient playmaker in the NBA. Playing 9 seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, he averaged 8.8 assists per game. However, the offense stayed a challenge for the 5’3” player. But could this have been a different scenario in modern day basketball?

Muggsy Bogues in present day NBA

There is no denying the NBA was more physical prior to the 00s era, while the scenario has changed as of now. In fact, it’s often alleged that with softer rules which favor offense, defense has taken a hit. Now, what could this mean for a player like Bogues who struggled with offense in his era?

Muggs had faced this question himself in an ‘Ask me Anything’ round on Reddit. “I feel if you ask any player that would say they could play in any era… Appreciate what I was able to do during my time in the league. I do think if I played in 2022 I would do well– the fast game play would fall right into my wheel house,” he had replied. Had this been true, he would’ve been one of the best well-rounded players considering his superior play making skills.

Additionally, the 5’3″ player, with his 44 inch vertical, was surprisingly efficient at defense as well. Through his entire career, he recorded 1369 steals, and 39 blocks. The number of blocks may not be as impressive, but the fact that one of them came against 7ft tall Patrick Ewing, definitely is. So, although there’s no concrete way to analyze Muggsy Bogues in modern NBA, he stays an exceptional player of his era.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.