The 50 greatest players in NBA history, ranked by win shares
By Cal Durrett
Greatest NBA Player #42: Scottie Pippen-125.08
Bulls legend Scottie Pippen ranks as one of the most unique players in NBA history given his versatile skillset. Unlike many of the players on this list, Pippen wasn’t a prolific scorer. In fact, he averaged over 20 points in a season just three times in his 17-year career. Instead, he found other ways to impact the game, including rebounding, playmaking, and, of course, defense.
Given his reputation as one of the best perimeter defenders ever, many would be surprised to learn that he never actually won a Defensive Player of the Year award. It is possible that he split the votes with the likes of Jordan and Dennis Rodman, though the 1990s featured several elite shot-blockers whose contributions were more evident.
Still, Pippen could lock down any perimeter player and even turn defense into offense with his signature steals and breakaway dunks. Pippen’s do-it-all versatility made him the perfect fit next to Michael Jordan, who could do it all too.
With Pippen, the Bulls won nearly 65 games a season over their six championship runs, making it the most dominant stretch by any team in NBA history aside from the Bill Russell Boston Celtics. That, combined with his scoring, passing, defense, and rebounding, makes him the 42nd-best player of all time according to win shares, though he is far lower than he ought to be.