Pippen, Rodman and Davout: What the "other guys" teach us about success and meaning

Michael Jordan was and is the most iconic basketball player of all time. From 1991-1998 his Chicago Bulls won six out of eight NBA championships. Twice the Bulls won three championships back-to-back-to-back in 91’, 92’ and 93’ and 96’, 97’ and 98’, creating an era of basketball dominance unequaled since. His name, his shoes and his brand have traveled all over the globe. His classic mid-air silhouette is instantly recognizable whether you are in Seattle or Shanghai, Chicago or Chile, New York or New Brunswick.

But basketball is a team sport. Four other players took the court alongside Michael Jordan as the Chicago Bulls fought their way through the regular season, Western Conference playoffs and NBA Finals year after year. Among those players Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman stood out as his most consistent and valuable teammates. He depended on them in very different ways. Scottie Pippen was more like Jordan in both temperament and ability. Scottie Pippen was one of the most athletic players to ever touch a basketball. On offense he was a dynamic jack-of-all trades. He could score, playmake, pass, shoot and rebound. Yet it was his defense that he was known for. Quite often Pippen was tasked by coach Phil Jackson with guarding the other team’s best player. His 6’ 8” frame coupled with his freakish athleticism and toughness left his opponents no clear weaknesses to exploit. 

It would be simple enough to say that Scottie Pippen was a well-rounded versatile basketball player, but that doesn’t do justice to how great he was. In 1994 Scottie Pippen became the second player in NBA history to lead his team in every major statistical category—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks over the course of a season. Since 1994 only four other players have ever accomplished this feat: Kevin Garnett, Lebron James, Giannis Antetokoumpo and Nikola Jokic- truly elite company. For the NBA’s 75th Anniversary in 2021 a panel of reporters, current and former players, coaches, general managers, and team executives selected the 75 greatest players in league history. Of all the players in the league’ storied past Scottie Pippen was placed at number 32. Very few people have ever played basketball better than Scottie Pippen.

Perhaps just as integral to the Bulls’ success during their second threepeat was power forward Dennis Rodman. Rodman possessed one of the most unique skill sets of any professional basketball player in the history of the game. Offensively he was no Scottie Pippen or Michael Jordan. He was never a great shooter or playmaker. But where Dennis Rodman shined was on the boards. There is a strong case that can and has been made that Dennis Rodman was the greatest rebounder in the history of the NBA. During his three championship seasons with the Bulls, Rodman averaged over 15 rebounds a game. Considering that over the course of an average NBA game of that era each team possessed the ball some 94 times, Rodman’s rebounds generated tremendous value for the team. After the 1996 Finals in which Dennis Rodman had two games with a record-tying 11 offensive rebounds, Seattle Supersonics coach George Karl credited Rodman as the defining factor in the Bulls victory, "As you evaluate the series, Dennis Rodman won two basketball games. We controlled Dennis Rodman for four games. But Game 2 and tonight, he was the reason they were successful." Like his rebounding, Rodman’s defensive abilities were also the stuff of legend. Over the course of his career Rodman would be selected to 8 All-Defensive NBA teams and be named NBA defensive player of the year twice. 

Without Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman by his side Michael Jordan would not have won six rings. That statement is not meant to be a slight against Jordan’s own talent and abilities. Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time and there is only one other player who there is even an argument for placing above him. Simultaneously we must acknowledge that Michael Jordan's success was also contingent on others and especially Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. From an even broader perspective you could point to other role players on the Bulls roster like Steve Kerr or Toni Kukoc who hit crucial shots in big games or the Bulls’ coach, Phil Jackson, who kept a diverse team of contrasting personalities on task and argue that they were also indispensable in their own unique ways.

But of course, the average person, even the average American, is largely unaware of the contributions of these “other guys”. Unless you are an avid basketball fan or happened to watch The Last Dance on a whim, the extent of your knowledge surrounding the Bull’s dynasty is mostly limited to the singular figure of Michael Jordan. And truth be told this is how most success stories are perceived.