Although Scottie Pippen played in Michael Jordan’s shadow for most of his career, no one can deny his individual accolades, statistics, tenacity and versatility. The Chicago Bulls organization will make sure Pippen will forever be recognized by giving him a bronze statue of his own inside the United Center. This statue, which will be complete by the end of the 2010-2011 NBA season, will join MJ’s statue which stands outside of the United Center.<\/p>\n
As we all know, MJ’s statue sports the Air Jordan IX, a sneaker Jordan never played in due to his first retirement. However, what will artist Omri and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany (sculptors of MJ’s statue) place on Pippen’s feet? Our Snkrs Day staff compiled a list of 21 significant sneakers Scottie wore over his 17-year career. Which sneaker should represent Scottie’s productive career on his statue?<\/p>\n
Also, check out the accolades\/stats he compiled for each one of these sneakers below.<\/p>\n
Case<\/strong>: Although Scottie Pippen came into the league during the 1987-88 season, his glimpses of greatness began in 1989. He took over the starting small forward position for the Bulls and posted his first triple double.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Pippen wore the Nike Air Flight Lite while helping the Chicago Bulls capture their first of six titles. He will always be remembered for applying full-court pressure to Magic Johnson during this postseason.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Pippen undoubtedly added to his long list of accolades while wearing the Nike Air Flight Lite II. He captured his first of two gold medals for the Olympic team and helped the Chicago Bulls win their second straight title.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Although Chris Webber and his Fab 5 teammates will be forever attached to this sneaker, Pippen also did wonders in the Nike Air Flight Huarache. Fans surprisingly made Scottie Pippen the second-leading vote-getter for the All-Star game in which he wore these.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Pippen wore the Nike Air Maestro during his first season without MJ. He went on to post career highs in almost every statistical category.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Scottie wore the Nike Air Dynamic Flight during the 1993 playoffs. He helped the Bulls win their third straight title and posted playoff highs against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: While wearing the Nike Air Maestro II, Scottie Pippen emerged as one of the best players in the league during MJ’s first retirement period. He went on to win the 1994 NBA All-Star MVP honors and posted career highs in points per game, steals and rebounds.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: The Nike Air Swift will always be remembered for one thing: he absolutely posterized Patrick Ewing Chewing in Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Case<\/strong>: Pippen continued to show that he could survive without Michael Jordan despite number 45 coming back the last 17 games of the season. While wearing the Nike Air Up, he led the Bulls in five categories including steals, points, assist, rebounds and free-throw percentage.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Pippen also laced up the Air Jordan 10 during the 1994-95 season thanks to the return of His Airness to the basketball court. Jordan played Robin for the time being as Scottie placed first in steals, 12th in scoring, 23rd in rebounding, 23rd in assists, and 28th in blocked shots.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Although Pippen wore the Nike Air Way Up during the 1995-1996 season, his stats went down. Why? MJ was back to his old ways. Still, Pippen led the Bulls in assist and scored a season-high 40 points against the Indiana Pacers.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Pippen also wore the Nike Air Max Uptempo during this season. He scored 30 or more points seven times throughout the season and led the Bulls in assist, steals and three-pointers made during the playoffs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: While wearing the Nike Air More Uptempo, Scottie Pippen became the only player in history to win an NBA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year twice.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Scottie Pippen was voted to his sixth straight All-NBA Defensive Team while wearing the Nike Air Flight Maestro III. He also matched a record by knocking down seven three-pointers in Game 1 of the Finals against Utah.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case:<\/strong> En route to yet another championship with the Bulls, Pippen wore the Air Max Uptempo III, as well as his first signature shoe. This would be the last sneaker he’d rock on the court that didn’t bear his name. Teammate Dennis Rodman also wore these, as the Bulls went on to win their fifth title.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Scottie Pippen helped the Bulls to a fifth NBA Championship in the Nike Air Pippen I. Pippen started all 82 games and scored in double figures in 78 of them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Scottie Pippen was selected to the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list while wearing the Nike Air Pippen I. He also helped lead the Chicago Bulls to their second three-peat in this sneaker.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Scottie Pippen’s only year with the Houston Rockets proved to be a disaster as team chemistry was non-existent; however, his individual stats did anything but decrease. He led the Rockets in three-point field goals made and logged two triple-doubles during the shortened, lockout season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Pippen accomplished a number of feats in his fourth signature sneaker, the Nike Air Pippen IV. He played in his 1,000th career regular season game, recorded his 2000th career steal and scored his 17,000th point in a Christmas day victory.<\/p>\n Case<\/strong>: Scottie wore the Nike Air Pippen V in his last year with the Portland Trail Blazers. He dished out his 6,000th career assist in a game against Cleveland and also passed Elgin Baylor for eighth place on the NBA?s all-time playoff scoring list. Can you say versatility? Case<\/strong>: This season was somewhat of a ‘Welcome Home’ for Pippen as he returned to the Chicago Bulls. Although his season was cut short due to injury, the Chicago fans were ecstatic to see him return.<\/p>\n What sneaker should Scottie’s statue sport? Participate in our voting poll below!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Flight Lite<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Flight Lite II<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Flight Huarache<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Maestro<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Dynamic Flight<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Maestro II<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Swift<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\nNike Air Up<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nAir Jordan 10<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Way Up<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Max Uptempo<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air More Uptempo<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Flight Maestro III<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Max Uptempo III<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Pippen I<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Pippen II<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Pippen III<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Pippen IV<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNike Air Pippen V<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\nNike Zoom Flight 2K3<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n