Trolls Mount on Scottie Pippen After 33-Year-Old Memory Gets Caught In AI Controversy

Scottie Pippen‘s IG post has brought a wave of comments. The Chicago Bulls’ historic run in the ’90s is well documented and, needless to say, there are plenty of pictures of the stars from that time. Several more continue to be dug up now and then. So, it shouldn’t be strange if the 6x NBA champion posts a rare, never-before-seen picture while he reminisces about his first Finals victory with the Bulls, right? That’s not the case, though. Many netizens seem to have an issue with the picture, with some even claiming that it is not real!

How could it not be real? Pippen was a part of it. The 6x NBA champion was holding onto the Game 5 ball when the final buzzer sounded as the Bulls defeated the Lakers in the 1991 Finals. He has been holding onto that ball for 33 years now. It’s a special memory and close to his heart, so much so that he keeps it close to him, even while he’s sleeping.

The post was captioned, “The @Game5Ball, the one I held high in those final seconds, came home with me that night. On this flight back, I held it close, knowing its weight wasn’t just leather—it was legacy. For 33 years, it’s been a beacon of the greatest sports dynasty ever and the moment that redefined the game.” He announced, “Today, it enters Web3, creating the #1 sports brand of the future. Be part of the legacy.”

Even in the picture, we see Pippen with his eyes closed in a flight, listening to music while the ball rests in his lap. Just a few months ago, he made the decision to put this ball on the blockchain. It wasn’t a very surprising move considering how the 59-year-old has been very much focused on cryptocurrency these days. This was just another of his several posts used to promote Ball 5.

But one thing ticked the fans off, which is their suspicion that it isn’t really Pippen in the picture. While some were confused, others were more certain that this was an AI-generated picture.

Fans call out Scottie Pippen for using an AI picture

The picture was too clear and perfect to be an old one, especially 33 years old. And this likely raised suspicion among fans. One of them seemed upset, pointing out that there were real pictures that could have been used instead. This fan wrote, “Scottie you have the real pictures cmon man.”

Moreover, Pippen in the picture looked quite different from how Pippen appeared in the ’90s. But that’s not all. Pippen had another plan to celebrate the tokenization of Ball 5. And that is a new documentary focusing on the Bulls’ 1991 championship run. As Pippen explains, this was the beginning of the Chicago Bulls Dynasty while signaling the end of the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers‘ dominance. So, it has a special meaning to him and the fans.

“Shame to put ai to promote authentik greatness… I’m a real Scottie fan, I can remember that moment you are talking about but that ”pic” ain’t sh*t 2 me…” a fan wrote. The Lakers lost 108-101 to the Bulls that night. 

This ball holds immense significance not only for Pippen but also for his fandom. So, it’s understandable why fans were quick to point out the differences they noticed. “Thats A.I and not the answer,” another fan wrote, giving a nod to Allen Iverson’s AI nickname. Moreover, it’s not a surprise that Ball 5 broke records so quickly.

The Bulls legend claimed that the ball surpassed MLB player Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 ball, which was previously considered the most valuable. But many were unable to recognize Pippen in the photo. One of them wrote, “That ain’t Scottie 😂 that looks like an actor playing Scottie or ai,” he added.

The auction house, Goldin, which oversaw the sale of Ohtani’s ball, confirmed that the ball was sold for $4,392,000, so it’s possible that Ball 5 could fetch an even higher amount. And if Pippen is right, the ball has gotten a bit more special now. Along with that, the picture was confirmed to be AI by another follower who wrote, “Yeah that’s a.i.”

There are several more pictures on Pippen’s IG, which were called out by his followers to be AI-generated. Maybe it’s time that the Chicago Bulls legend puts in more effort and takes out some more authentic pictures from his treasure.