Scottie Pippen: 10 Players Today Most Like Michael Jordan’s Sidekick
Former Bulls All-Star Scottie Pippen finally has his moment in the sun, outside of the shadow of Michael Jordan, as he enters the National Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
Okay, Michael Jordan will introduce Scottie Pippen for his acceptance speech but it remains Pippen's moment, one singular in the focus on him and his career accomplishments.
The talk of today's NBA is for every big star to find his "Scottie Pippen," a euphemism for a wingman who will stand the test of time in the NBA.
Pippen was the ultimate wing man for Michael Jordan, but what others are out there today. Of today's current players which 10 size up to Pippen's style of play and could mimic the importance of Pippen's role?
Carmelo Anthony
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Carmelo is one of the most obvious choices. He's a small forward with size who can create his own offense and score from anywhere on the floor. He has the athleticism to match up against guards but the size to play in the paint and body up with bigger players.
Carmelo scores, rebounds and creates turnovers. However, the one difference between he and Pippen is that Carmelo has so lacked the shutdown defensive qualities that made Pippen a star on both ends of the court.
Dwyane Wade
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Though a guard, Wade may resemble Pippen more than any current player. He is a proficient scorer, he chips in with rebounding, he creates turnovers and he is a very strong defender (three 2nd Team All-Defense). Wade, like Pippen, may also be underrated for his ball-handling abilities.
Lamar Odom
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Lamar Odom was viewed as a poor man's Scottie Pippen which is a significant reason why Phil Jackson decided he needed Odom as a key cog to the Lakers offense. Obviously Odom comes off the bench which is a big difference to Pippen, but his size, length, scoring ability and rebounding all resemble the Hall of Famer.
Odom, like Pippen, also has the ability to take the ball up court and distribute better than the majority of players his size.
Monta Ellis
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Ellis is only 24, but is one of the emerging players in the league. His combination of scoring, improving rebounding abilities and stout defense make him one of the league's lesser heralded rising stars.
He would only be so lucky to have a career like Pippen's, but he is trending the right way and could be a force on both ends when he hits his prime in the next couple of seasons.
Danny Granger
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Granger is a good player on a bad Indiana team so he may get lost in the shuffle. Nevertheless, Granger has made himself into a 25-point per night scorer with complimentary rebounding and ball distributing skills.
Like others on this list, he isn't the seven to eight rebounds per night player like that Pippen was, and he isn't the all over the court scorer, but his versatility and length make him a solid comparison.
Rudy Gay
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Gay is a long, rangy small forward who scores in a multitude of ways. He is still inconsistent on the glass, but he is making up for it by becoming a strong defender and one can create more turnovers. The Grizzlies just locked up Gay to a five-year, $82 million contract believing that his skills will one day elevate to a Pippen-like realm. Just 23 years old, we'll get to see if the Grizzlies star can make it happen.
Gerald Wallace
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Perhaps one of the lesser known but more apt comparisons is the Bobcats forward. Wallace has developed into a double-double per night player who is improving on the defensive end. He has been in the top six in steals per game in each of the last four seasons and earned his first All-NBA First Team Defense nomination last season.
Luol Deng
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Deng isn't nearly the statistical defender like his Bulls predecessor, but he was among league leaders in defensive win shares last season all while being a very capable scorer and rebounder Like Pippen, Deng isn't hesitant to mix it up in the paint and he can score and create his own shot on the offensive end.
Andre Iguodala
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Iguodala isn't the shot creator like Pippen was, but he has the full compliment of production that puts him on the list. Iguodala is an 18-point per night scorer who contributors solid rebounding numbers. He also can distribute the ball very well (5.8 APG in '09-'10) and creates turnovers (1.7 SPG in '09-'10). He isn't the defender Pippen was, but his versatility makes for a solid comparison.
Evan Turner
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It is a faux pas to compare a recently drafted rookie to a Hall of Famer, but the skill set is such a natural fit between the 76ers second overall pick and Pippen.
Turner is a rangy forward who can play four positions on the floor. He can handle the offense through his hands. He creates his own shots. He has very good range (though it needs work) and he rebounds and distributes the ball with a natural ease.
Obviously there is a long way to go for Turner to be on Pippen's level as a player, but the early measures show Turner of a similar ilk.
