Scottie Pippen is a Basketball Hall of Famer and won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He has recently shared his thoughts on how his 1990s playing style would mesh with the current NBA scene. In various interviews with Spanish media, Pippen expressed faith in his own skills while questioning if today’s European stars like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic could have made it in the more physical 1980s and 1990s.
What Scottie Pippen exactly said about Luka Doncic and Doncic Jokic
During a chat with the Spanish media outlet Marca on September 25, 2025, Pippen raised doubts about whether Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic could have thrived in the 1980s and 1990s. He pointed out that the full-court pressing defense typical of that time could pose a significant challenge for today’s players.Save and reuse custom prompts to steer output, then build on them to refine your drafts faster, “I don’t know if they could dominate. In the 80s and 90s, we used to press all over the field. Could Jokic bring the ball up against such pressure? I don’t know. Sure, he can see the court and pass very well. But I don’t know if he would be comfortable bringing the ball up from the back with that pressure.”Pippen pointed out that Jokic’s job as a ball-handler and passer could be affected by the physical pressure from previous defenses, even though he recognized Jokic’s great court vision and passing abilities. He pointed out how that pressure might throw Jokic off his game, despite his skills. In essence, Pippen was saying that while Jokic is talented, the intensity of past defenses could still impact him.Pippen had his doubts about Luka Doncic being able to replicate that success. He mentioned, “I don’t know. Their style of play got them (Dallas Mavericks) to the finals. But I’m not sure if that style will get them there again. It was a one-off feat, but when they got to the finals, they didn’t have much.”.He added, “Basketball is a team sport. I don’t care what great individual you go and get. That doesn’t win a championship. It has to be a great team.” Pippen pointed out that having a deep team is more valuable than just individual talent, suggesting that Doncic’s way of playing could face challenges for lasting success without a solid support system, drawing comparisons to the team-centric demands of his own time.In the Marca interview, these quotes were part of a larger conversation, where Pippen pointed out that today’s rules give players more offensive freedom, which could really help guys like Jokic and Doncic in ways that weren’t possible back in his day.
Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen confident he could be among the best if he played today
In a separate interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais, published on October 4, 2025, Pippen shifted focus to his own hypothetical performance in today’s league. When asked how he would fare in the current NBA, he responded, “I’d do very well… The game has changed, sure—it’s more up and down now—but my style fit that kind of play even in the ’80s and ’90s. I don’t think it would be a big challenge.”Pippen pointed to his diverse skill set as the reason, highlighting his 6’8″ stature, defensive skills, and talent for kickstarting the offense, which he feels matches the current trend of fast-paced and versatile gameplay.Directly addressing whether he would be the best player in the league today, Pippen affirmed: “Yes, I think so… There’s no reason to think otherwise. If I worked as hard as I did back then, I believe I’d easily be among the best.”He linked his confidence to his work ethic at the peak of his career, where he racked up seven All-NBA selections, 10 All-Defensive honors, and played a key role in the Bulls’ six championships. Pippen recognized some possible drawbacks, like his career 32.6% three-point shooting, which could be challenged in today’s game that emphasizes spacing.Also Read: Michael Malone calls out Steve Kerr and Jonathan Kuminga to end the ego clash before it kills Golden State Warriors
