Scottie Pippen Says He'd Be Best Player in NBA Today, Wouldn't Be a 'Big Challenge'

Scottie Pippen certainly isn't lacking in confidence.

"I'd do very well," the Hall of Famer said during an interview with El Pais (h/t HoopsHype) when asked how he would fare in the NBA if he played today. "The game has changed, sure—it's more up and down now—but my style fit that kind of play even in the '80s and '90s. I don't think it would be a big challenge."

He continued and said, "Yes, I think so," when discussing whether he'd be the top player in the league. "There's no reason to think otherwise. If I worked as hard as I did back then, I believe I'd easily be among the best."

There may be something to the notion that Pippen was a player who would thrive in today's style of basketball. He was a point forward at 6'8" who could defend all over the court, get out in transition and create matchup problems for any opponent.

Those versatile forwards who can handle the ball, facilitate and defend are extremely valuable in today's game and allow their teams to mix and match lineups with small-ball approaches or bigger looks.

And he's also probably better than he historically gets credit for since he was so often overshadowed by Michael Jordan during his peak on the Chicago Bulls.

Still, it is quite a stretch to say he would be the best player in the NBA. That is not a position he ever realistically held during his own career, and the NBA is loaded with elite depth and talent as currently constructed.

Pippen was also never a great outside shooter and connected on 32.6 percent of his three-point attempts in his career. The three-point shot is far more important in today's game than it was when Pippen played, so he would have to make significant strides in that category to truly be the best player in today's game.

Realistically, he would probably be an All-Star and All-Defensive selection who wasn't seen as the league's top player.

Which is exactly what he was during his own career.