“See MJ, we take care of you,” Michael Jordan’s ‘stat inflation’ has new revelation from Scottie Pippen’s book

Pippen alleges that the Bulls' scorekeepers would inflate Jordan's stats crediting him for plays he didn't make.

“See MJ, we take care of you,” Michael Jordan’s ‘stat inflation’ has new revelation from Scottie Pippen’s book

Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan

Scottie Pippen made a shocking claim in his book “Unguarded” about Michael Jordan’s stats during their time with the Chicago Bulls. Pippen alleged that the Bulls’ scorekeepers would inflate Jordan’s stats, crediting him for plays he didn’t make. This practice, according to Pippen, was a result of Jordan’s influence and ability to manipulate those around him.

Pippen provided a specific example of how this would play out on the court. He described a scenario where he would deflect the ball to Michael Jordan, but instead of being credited with the steal, Jordan would receive the credit on the stat sheet. Scottie Pippen felt powerless to change this narrative, suggesting that Jordan’s influence extended beyond the court.

Michael was better at getting people to do whatever he wanted. I saw it over and over, from the first training camp in 1987 to the last victory rally in 1998. Here’s how it worked: Say I deflected the ball and tapped it over to him. I should get credit with the steal, right? Nope. More often than not, the steal went into his column on the stat sheet, and I could do nothing about it.
Scottie Pippen wrote in his book, Unguarded

Pippen’s claims have sparked controversy and debate among basketball fans and analysts. While some have dismissed Pippen’s allegations as sour grapes, others have pointed out that Jordan’s stats do appear inflated, particularly when compared to his performance in big games. 

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One night a scorekeeper came into the locker room… to hand the stat sheets to Phil Jackson… I couldn’t believe the look the guy gave Michael: ‘See MJ, we take care of you.’
Scottie Pippen wrote

The controversy has reignited the long-standing feud between Pippen and Jordan, with many taking sides in the dispute. If Pippen’s claims are true, it would suggest a systemic issue with the way stats are kept and reported. 

Shawn Kemp says Scottie Pippen would still have been a great player without Michael Jordan

Shawn Kemp, a former NBA star, has come to the defense of Scottie Pippen, arguing that he would still have been a great player even without Michael Jordan. Kemp, who played with Pippen on the Portland Trail Blazers, believes that Pippen’s skills and athleticism would have shone through regardless of who his teammate was. 

I played with Pippen in Portland. I'll just say this. Sometimes, people don't give Pippen his props. But Scottie Pippen was gonna be a good ball player without Michael Jordan. He would have been a quality ball player without Michael Jordan.
Shawn Kemp said on the All the Smoke podcast

While Kemp acknowledged that Jordan may have elevated Pippen’s game, he believes that Pippen’s talent and versatility would have still made him a quality player. Kemp’s praise for Pippen is rooted in their time together in Portland, where Pippen’s numbers may have been down, but he still showed flashes of brilliance.

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Kemp noted that Pippen’s ability to play the passing lanes, pass, score, and rebound made him a unique talent. While Pippen may not have been a great shooter, his overall game was still impressive, and Kemp believes he would have thrived even without Jordan.

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