Chicago Bulls unveil a bronze sculpture of Scottie Pippen in the United Centre
The Chicago Bulls honoured one of the most illustrious and celebrated legends ever to have graced their city, Scottie Pippen, by unveiling his bronze sculpture at the United Centre, on Thursday night.
The ceremony for the unveiling of the bust took place during the half-time interval of the high profile game between the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics. The reception included a video tribute, honouring Pippen's 12 seasons with Chicago and was followed
by a few remarks by the man himself. Pippen’s wife and his four children also attended this historic ceremony.
Expressing his inner feelings in front of a jam packed United Centre, Pippen admitted that he was utterly humbled and honoured to have been bestowed upon with this honour.
Pippen said, “To be in a position where an organization like the Bulls creates a bust of you that will permanently be displayed in a building like the United Centre says it all, I’m very humbled by it, I can’t say thank you to the organization enough to
really get across how I feel. I’m truly honoured that the Bulls would do this for me.”
Pippen’s 17-year luminous NBA career started in 1987 when he was selected by the Seattle Supersonics in NBA Draft. Soon he was traded with the Chicago Bulls and stayed there until 1998.
The Bulls’ organization regards Pippen as one of the all time great players in history of NBA. During his twelve-year stay at the franchise, Pippen marshalled the Bulls to six championships titles. His tenure at Chicago was a success at the individual front
as well. Pippens was selected an NBA All-Star seven times during that stretch.
Pippen was also considered as the best defensive player in the Bulls’ roster, as he was able to make into the NBA All-Defensive team for 10 consecutive years. Pippen averaged 16.1 points per game in his career and will be remembered as one of the most inspirational
players ever to have played for one of the greatest team.
Last year in August, he was also inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pippen also acknowledged his time at the Chicago Bulls where he achieved so much in his career.
He said, “Living and playing in Chicago during the 1990s is what stands out the most for me, if I could have written a script of how I wanted my career to be, I couldn’t have done it any better. Basketball in general, for us, felt like it was picture perfect
at times.”
The 2003-2004 season was the only low-time in his career. He played only 23 games and his injury problems forced him to retire early from the game. That was the year the Bulls surrendered the Championship ring to the ‘bad boys’ of the league, the Detroit
Pistons.
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