Tremendous players, with a tremendous level of success and status, usually have iconic jerseys. When it comes to the NBA, who is more iconic than the 1990 Bulls dynasty?
What is the 3rd most iconic basketball jersey of all time? SLAM Magazine’s “Top 75 Greatest Jerseys of All Time” list has the Scottie Pippen 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls away jersey as the 3rd most iconic jersey of all time. This jersey has a classic red base, with black lettering and white, black, and red trim on collar and armpits. Mitchell and Ness, a jersey reproduction manufacturer, reveals that this jersey is their 3rd best-selling jersey of all time.
Why is Scottie Pippen iconic?
Scottie Pippen was drafted in 1987 and joined Michael Jordan and the Bulls in building the dynasty that dominated the 90s. After the team broke up at the end of the 1998 season, Pippen had stints with the Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers before ending his career with the Bulls. His career accolades include 6 NBA titles, 8 All-Defensive NBA First Team awards, 7 All-NBA Teams awards, and 2 Olympic gold medals. His career statistics include 16.1 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game, 2 steals per game, and 0.8 blocks per game.
Pippen was a defensive stalwart and had exceptional athleticism that proved to be effective on the offensive end as well. Pippen was known as the ultimate teammate, as he often made his impact on the game through rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He was also able to be an effective primary offensive option when needed. Mostly, Pippen will be remembered as the “Robin” to Michael Jordan’s “Batman” in leading the Chicago Bulls to multiple titles and global recognition; Jordan himself has said that Pippen was instrumental to his and the team’s success.
Why is the 1997-1998 Scottie Pippen Chicago Bulls away jersey iconic?
The 1997-1998 season for Scottie Pippen was a rollercoaster. Due to an injury and a rift with the front office regarding contracts and trade demands, Scottie Pippen missed a major portion of the regular season and played only 44 games. However, led by Jordan and a returned Pippen, the Bulls finished 62-20 and went on to win the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.
Pippen showed his worth that season; in his absence, the Bulls had a rough start but surged when he returned. He had 19.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 5.8 assists per game in the regular season. Although a back injury nagged him, especially during the Finals, he recorded 16.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 5.2 assists per game, as well as 2.1 steals per game and 1 block per game en route to his 6th NBA title.
Why is the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls away jersey iconic?
The 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls away jersey has a red base with black “Bulls” lettering across the middle. The collar and armpit trim is red, white, and black. The top left area of the chest also features a black “NBA Finals” logo patch to commemorate their Finals appearance in that season.
The 1997-1998 season was rocky for the Bulls from the start. The front office had rifts with major figures such as Jordan, Pippen, and coach Phil Jackson, which led many in and out of the organization to believe that the team was going to break up. Pippen’s absence led to a rough start for the Bulls, but they soon bounced back with Pippen’s return and fantastic play from Jordan to win their 6th NBA title. Soon after, Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets, Phil Jackson left the team, and Jordan announced his retirement, effectively ending the dynasty. The 1997-1998 season is therefore remembered as “The Last Dance”, and is highly likely the reason that the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls away jersey is incredibly iconic.
What other players wore the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls away jersey?
The 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls roster is filled with many high profile superstars as well as other players who are well-remembered due to their affiliation with the dynasty. Players who wore the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls away jersey include Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Ron Harper, Bill Wennington, Toni Kukoč, Luc Longley, and Scott Burrell.
Are there other iconic Scottie Pippen jerseys?
Along with his away jersey, the home and alternate 1997-1998 Scottie Pippen Chicago Bulls jerseys are also quite iconic. The alternate jersey has a black base and red “Bulls” lettering, and is ranked #14 on SLAM Magazine’s “75 Greatest Jerseys of All Time” list. The home jersey has a white base and red “Bulls” lettering and is ranked #22 on the list.
Are there other iconic Chicago Bulls jerseys?
According to SLAM Magazine’s list, there are several other iconic Chicago Bulls jerseys. The list includes the Dennis Rodman version (#9) and the Michael Jordan version (#36) of the 1997-1998 away jerseys. The alternate and home versions of the 1997-1998 Bulls jerseys are also iconic: the alternate Rodman ranks at #20 and the alternate Jordan ranks at #49 while the home Jordan ranks at #67.
Other iconic Chicago Bulls jersey designs include the Michael Jordan 1984-1985 away jersey, ranked at 61. This design features a red base with black cursive “Chicago” lettering and the numbers situated on the lower half of the jersey. This design is iconic as it is what Jordan wore in his rookie season. Another iconic design is the 1995-1996 jersey, featuring a black base with red “Bulls” lettering and red vertical pinstripes. Both the Rodman (#19) and Jordan (#50) versions are iconic.
While it’s difficult to argue against the fact that Scottie Pippen has lived in Michael Jordan’s shadow his whole career, SLAM Magazine’s jersey list is one place that Pippen has the edge. The 1997-1998 season showed why Pippen was so important to the Bulls dynasty, and that after the “Last Dance”, the Bulls were never really able to replicate the success. It’s one reason why, despite his rocky exit, Pippen’s 1997-1998 season Chicago Bulls jersey has its place as the 3rd most iconic jersey of all time.