In 2009, when Michael Jordan entered the Basketball Hall of Fame, the first person he thanked was Scottie Pippen.

The two were seemingly inseparable, with Jordan presenting Pippen at his Hall of Fame induction the following year.

Despite Jordan’s reputation for being a harsh teammate, their relationship appeared solid until “The Last Dance” documentary aired during the pandemic.

“The Last Dance,” a ten-episode series, was more than a documentary; it was a glorification of Michael Jordan.

It portrayed him as the undisputed GOAT while minimizing the contributions of his teammates. Pippen, in particular, felt misrepresented.

His displeasure grew as the documentary highlighted his delayed surgery in 1998 and portrayed him as selfish for trying to renegotiate his contract.

Pippen’s grievances didn’t stop there.

In his autobiography, “Unguarded,” he accused Jordan of being selfish, especially for his baseball hiatus, and criticized the glorification of Jordan’s flu game while his own effort playing through a herniated disc in the 1998 Finals went unnoticed.

Pippen even shifted his stance on the LeBron vs. Jordan debate, claiming LeBron embodies what basketball is truly about, while Jordan “ruined basketball.”

Pippen’s media rampage extended beyond Jordan. He criticized Phil Jackson, calling him racist for favoring Toni Kukoc for a game-winning shot.

He took shots at former teammates and rivals like Charles Barkley and Isaiah Thomas.

This aggressive outspokenness seemed partly driven by Pippen’s discontent over not receiving any compensation for “The Last Dance,” unlike Jordan, who reportedly earned $10 million.

Jordan, in contrast, remained publicly silent throughout Pippen’s outbursts, a silence that spoke volumes about the finality of their broken relationship.

The ultimate blow came in 2022 when Jordan’s son, Marcus, started dating Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa, adding salt to Pippen’s wounds.

What was once a partnership celebrated for its on-court success has now become one of the saddest beefs in NBA history.

Pippen’s resentment over perceived slights and Jordan’s stoic indifference highlight a deep rift that seems beyond repair.

The fallout from “The Last Dance” has left a legacy not just of basketball excellence, but of a friendship tragically torn apart.