Scottie Pippen has reignited his long-standing tension with former Chicago Bulls teammate Michael Jordan through a pointed new commercial for Mr. Pibb, the spiced cherry-flavored soda launched in 1972 as a rival to Dr. Pepper.
The Commercial’s Sharp Dig
In the ad, Pippen plays on his ‘Pipp’ nickname to address misconceptions about the brand. “Let’s set the record straight about Pibb,” he declares. He challenges the notion that Mr. Pibb ranks second best, stating, “When you think about Pibb, you think of what? Second best? When something has been considered second-best for so long, we just blindly accept it as gospel.”
Pippen then escalates with a reference to a “decade-long plot built on marketing, social media, and multi-part documentaries.” He concludes defiantly, “Yeah, I said it. Pibb is a GOAT, don’t correct me.” The remarks appear to target Jordan’s dominant legacy and public image.
Historic Partnership Turned Sour
Pippen and Jordan formed the core of one of basketball’s greatest teams, securing six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Their on-court synergy defined an era, but off-court relations have deteriorated since the 2020 docuseries The Last Dance, which highlighted Jordan’s career.
Pippen expressed dissatisfaction with his depiction in the series, arguing it overemphasized Jordan while portraying him as a challenging teammate. The seven-time All-Star has since described Jordan as difficult to work with during their playing days.
Limited Off-Court Bond
Pippen clarified last year that he and Jordan maintained a professional distance. “I guess the last three championships that we won, we trained together at his house, but other than that, we didn’t really put a lot of time in away from basketball,” he explained. “Most of our time was spent whether we were working out or on the practice floor.”
Their rift deepened when Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa Pippen, dated Jordan’s son Marcus, who is 17 years her junior. The couple has since split and reportedly no longer communicate.
Reflections in ‘Unguarded’
In his 2021 memoir Unguarded, Pippen delves into their fractured dynamic. “I don’t usually allow our lack of closeness to bother me,” he wrote. “I have plenty of friends. Yet there are occasions, and watching the doc was definitely one, when I think about the relationship I wish the two of us had, and it hurts. It hurts a lot.”
He acknowledged shared responsibility: “By no means am I an innocent party here. I missed some openings that might have made a difference, and I have to live with that.” Pippen also expressed regret over not contacting Jordan after the 1993 murder of his father, James Jordan. “I feel horrible every time I think about it,” he noted. “When I heard the news, I should have reached out to Michael right away. Having lost my own dad three years before, I might have been able to offer Michael some comfort. To this day, he and I haven’t spoken about his father’s death.”
