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NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect

By Hans Themistode

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson speaks during the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson speaks during the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /
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Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen (Photo by PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images) /

NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect: 3. Scottie Pippen 1993-94

The 1993-94 season gave the rest of the league a well-needed reprieve. Michael Jordan spent the better part of a decade terrorizing opposing teams. The Chicago Bulls turned into the picture-perfect franchise and dynasty. On the heels of winning his third straight NBA title, Jordan grew somewhat bored with dominating. That, and the passing of his father, pushed him out of the league and into the game of baseball. But while Jordan attempted to knock baseballs out of the park, the rest of the NBA viewed his departure as the perfect opportunity.

Ready, willing and able to take full advantage, was Hakeem Olajuwon. The Houston Rockets big man seemingly picked up where Jordan left off, averaging 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks en route to the league MVP award.

Was he worthy? Without question. But even more deserving of the award was Scottie Pippen. The numbers all around were terrific. Pippen touched every part of the stat sheet that year, he scored 22 points a night, grabbed 8.7 boards, dished out 5.6 assists, stole the ball 2.9 times a night and did everything efficiently with a 49.1 field goal percentage.

You could argue that Olajuwon was the rightful winner. You could even make the case for David Robinson and his 29.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 20 win shares but Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the best player the game of basketball has ever seen. Without him in the fold, the Bulls didn’t miss a beat, winning 55 games and remaining firmly entrenched in the title mix. That in itself, says a lot about a player who spent the bulk of his career in the shadows of arguably the greatest player of all time.