One hero and three helpers! The most important helper in Jordan s career is Pippen

On May 15, in the brilliant galaxy of basketball, Michael Jordan's name was as dazzling as the North Star, and his legendary career was praised by countless people. However, as the old Chinese saying goes, "one hero and three gangs", Jordan's glory was not created by himself. There was always an indispensable partner - Scotty Pippen. This player, known as the "strongest second-in-command in history", used his omnipotence, tenacity and selflessness to pave the cornerstone of Jordan's dynasty and redefine the ultimate value of the "second-in-command in history".

**Talent and sacrifice: Pippen's growth trajectory**

At the 1987 NBA Draft, Pippen was selected by the Supersonics with the fifth pick and traded to the Bulls. At that time, he was thin and had a rough skill, and even needed a part-time school bus driver to make a living. But the Bulls took a fancy to his amazing athletic ability and defensive potential at 2.03 meters. Under Jordan's strict requirements and the polishing of the coaching staff, Pippen evolved at an astonishing speed: from a rookie who averaged 7.9 points per game in the rookie season to a super deputy who averaged 21.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game in the 1991 Finals, he completed his transformation in just four years. Behind this growth is an effort that ordinary people can't imagine - they practice 500 shots every day, study opponent videos late at night, and even volunteer to defend legendary superstars such as Magic Johnson and Carl Malone. Pippen's sacrifice is more reflected in the economic level: in 1991, he signed a seven-year, $18 million long contract with the Bulls, just to retain the championship lineup, and this contract was later ridiculed by Jordan as "the greatest charity act in history."

**The perfect puzzle of offense and defense**

Pippen's value is far from fully reflected in the data. On the offensive end, he is the "universal glue" of the Bulls' tactical system: he can not only relieve Jordan's pressure by holding the ball (when Jordan retired for the first time in 1994-95, he averaged 22 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and led the team to 55 wins), but also used accurate three-pointers to open up space (37% three-point shooting percentage in 1996-97). What's more important is his defense - he was selected for the best defensive team for 8 consecutive times, and his ability to switch defense from No. 1 to No. 4 makes the Bulls' "suffocating defense" a signature. In the 1991 Finals against the Lakers, his main defense magician Johnson made his shooting percentage plummet to 43%; in the 1997 Finals G6, he dragged his back injury to score 23 points and 9 rebounds, blocking Hornersek's final three-pointer at the last moment. As Phil Jackson said: "Without Scotty, our triangular offense is like a clock without gears."

**The psychological pillar behind Jordan**

Pippen means far more to Jordan than the tactical level. During the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Jordan fell into a public opinion storm due to gambling rumors, and it was Pippen who took the initiative to contact the media to defend him; in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, Jordan scored 38 points due to food poisoning and a high fever of 38.9 degrees, and the picture of slumping in Pippen's arms at the last moment became a classic. The tacit understanding between the two even extended to the spiritual level: before the famous "Flu Battle" in the 1997 Finals, Pippen said to Jordan in the locker room, "I will defend the defense for you." In the end, Jordan scored 38 points with illness, while Pippen contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. This trust made Jordan bluntly say: "He is the only person I am willing to hand over the last shot."

**The historical benchmark of the second leader**

Throughout the NBA history, few second leader can reach the height of Pippen. He helped the Bulls win the championship six times, and his honors of seven All-Stars, three best teams, and six rings were enough to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Comparing other legendary combinations: Jabbar and the Magician are dual cores. Kobe was O'Neal's deputy in the early days but reversed in the later period, only Pippen Gang has been in Green Leaf for more than ten years. In modern basketball, Green's support for Curry and Klay Thompson's off-ball run are both regarded as "Pippen-like contributions." 2017 Warriors coach Cole (former Bulls) admitted: "Every championship team in the league is looking for their own Pippen." The greatness of Pippen lies in his redefining the ultimate form of team basketball - not to fall behind, but to dominate the game in another way. When Jordan completed his "last dance", the camera captured Pippen's back silently cleaning up the locker room. This picture is like a metaphor of his career: not to win glory, but indispensable. In basketball philosophy, they have jointly proved a truth: the brightest crown always needs the most solid base.