Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are getting a chance to make amends.
The Chicago Bulls announced on Tuesday that they are officially establishing a Ring of Honor for the franchise. The inaugural 2024 class will feature 13 members (including Jordan, Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson, and others) and is set to be honored during a home game against the Golden State Warriors (coached by ex-Bulls champion Steve Kerr) on Jan. 12.
KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports that Jordan, Pippen, and all the other honorees have been invited to the festivities, which will also include a private gala at the United Center on Jan. 11. Johnson mentions that the last high-profile appearance by both Jordan and Pippen at the United Center came back in 2009 at a ceremony honoring the late Johnny “Red” Kerr.
Jordan and Pippen are the two most iconic players in Bulls history. As co-stars in Chicago for ten total seasons, the dynamic duo led the Bulls to all six championships in their franchise’s history. But the relationship between Jordan and Pippen has been badly marred in recent years by a public feud.
The popular 2020 ESPN docuseries “The Last Dance” (which told the story of the ’90s Bulls from Jordan’s perspective) sparked bad blood between the two as Pippen was very unhappy about the way that he was portrayed. The last couple of years, Pippen has continued to go scorched-earth on Jordan, putting Jordan on blast over events that occurred in both past and present.
There is an argument to be made that the beef may be somewhat contrived since Pippen has had both an autobiography and a line of whiskey to promote recently. But it will be interesting to see if one or both of them take the Bulls up on the invitation to attend the Ring of Honor ceremonies, especially since there is another layer of awkwardness between them with Jordan’s son now dating Pippen’s ex-wife.
