Scottie Pippen takes dig at Micahel Jordan and LeBron James GOAT status: "I don't think it exists in team sports"

While Scottie Pippen may have won six NBA championships with Michael Jordan, he doesn't think that the debate surrounding the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) is relevant. In the past, Pippen has given several different answers when discussing the NBA's GOAT. In November, Pippen seemingly dubbed Julius Erving as the GOAT, while in the past he's dubbed both LeBron and MJ as the GOAT.

This time, while discussing the topic with Patrick Bet David on the "PBD Podcast," Pippen said he doesn't believe there is such a thing as a GOAT in team sports.

"I don't think it exists in team sports," Pippen said Friday. "When you ask who's better, LeBron or Michael, you can't ask me who's the GOAT between LeBron and Michael. Neither one of them are GOATs they both won differently, you can't put them at the pinnacle."

Pippen argued the case for Magic Johnson, claiming he is closer to the Greatest of All Time than any other player because of his ability to lead and the fact that he changed the game by taking over as starting center for the Lakers as a rookie when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured in the NBA Finals.

Looking at past instances where Scottie Pippen was asked who the NBA's GOAT is

In May 2023 while appearing on former teammate Stacey King's Gimme The Hot Sauce podcast, Scottie Pippen was asked about the GOAT discussion.

“And there's no comparison to [LeBron]," Pippen said. "None. So does that make him the greatest player to ever play the game? I'll leave that up for debate because I don't believe there's a great player because our game's a team game, and one player can't do it.”

Then, in early 2024, during an appearance on The Today Show, Pippen was asked about the GOAT once more. This time, he decided to name Michael Jordan.

Then, late last year, Pippen again decided to switch up his answer when it came to the GOAT, keeping fans on their toes by seemingly dismissing both LeBron James and Michael Jordan while citing Julius Erving as a player who stands alone at the pinnacle of the sport.

In his book, Unguarded, Pippen wrote:

"There has been no one in the sport like 'Dr. J' ever since. Sorry, MJ (Michael Jordan). Sorry, Magic (Johnson). Sorry, LeBron (James)."

However, Pippen is more of a believer that basketball is a team sport and GOAT topic is sort of irrelevant.