"Full-circle moments are rare" - Scottie Pippen highlights ‘ironic’ moment watching son Scotty Pippen Jr. against Lakers

Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen reflected on watching his son, Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., take on the LA Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. According to the six-time NBA champion, he experienced a "full-circle moment" during the contest, relating to his first championship.

On Sunday, Memphis fell 116-110 to LA, coming up short after rallying from a 23-point third-quarter deficit. Pippen Jr. received limited playing time with his father in attendance, tallying two points, two rebounds and one block on 1-for-4 shooting (25.0%) across nine minutes.

Nevertheless, per Pippen, he was taken aback by a midgame moment when the game ball bounced his way, giving him a chance to hold it. A day later, he noted on X/Twitter that the occurrence brought to mind his Bulls' inaugural 1991 five-game NBA Finals victory over the Lakers.

Chicago secured its culminating 108-101 Game 5 win on the road, with Pippen, the contest's leading scorer (32 points), taking home the game ball as a memento.

"Full-circle moments are rare," Pippen wrote. "Last night, I sat courtside watching my son play against the Lakers — a team I know all too well.

"33 years ago, on their home court, the Bulls beat the Lakers in Game 5 to win our first championship. That night, I held onto the game ball. It meant everything — the dream I worked my whole life for. I never let that ball go."

Pippen added that holding another game ball at a Lakers game as a father was a surreal experience.

"Ironically, in the middle of last night's game, the new game ball rolled right to me. I picked it up, held it for a moment, and had a moment," Pippen said. "Full circle. 33 years later, the game ball still finds me, but this time, I was there as a father. I passed it back to the referees."

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Scottie Pippen trolled officials while watching his son Scotty Pippen Jr. face Lakers

While Scottie Pippen ultimately returned Sunday's game ball, he first had some fun at the referees' expense.

Upon obtaining the ball, he hid it behind his back, to the apparent bewilderment of official Scott Twardoski. Pippen looked on in laughter as Twardoski searched for the ball before official Danielle Scott spotted him holding it and retrieved it.

Thus, the Hall of Famer appeared to enjoy himself despite his son's Grizzlies suffering a defeat.

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