What the post-90s generation learned by watching The Last Dance

Scottie Pippen’s contract dispute

Uproar ensued on NBA Twitter when episode two of The Last Dance recounted Scottie Pippen’s heinous contract and the turmoil it generated within the Bulls locker room. Chicago’s beloved secondary star was pinned down to a seven-year, $18 million deal that he tried to re-negotiate on several occasions.

After the Bulls’ brain trust refused to budge, Pippen responded by putting off foot surgery during the summer of 1997, which forced him to miss a chunk of the upcoming campaign. You could argue all day about the selfishness behind the seven-time All-Star’s decision to postpone the operation, but what can’t be refuted is that the extent to which he was overpaid was criminal.

As the doc noted, Pippen’s salary was a measly $2.25 million in 1996-97. That made him the NBA’s 128th best-paid player and the fifth-highest paid on the Bulls roster. For context, he averaged 20.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game that year, which earned him second-team All-NBA honors and an All-Star nod. Chicago, meanwhile, cruised to its fifth championship. As the aforementioned statistics articulate, Pippen played a prominent role in the team notching that feat.

The Last Dance providing comprehensive insight on Pippen’s felonious contract squabble surely blew the minds of countless post-90s generation basketball fans.