Scottie Pippen and Clyde Drexler had a competitive rivalry, with Pippen recently calling out Drexler’s attitude during the 1992 Olympics.
Scottie Pippen, a Chicago Bulls legend, played a key role in winning six NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan in the 1990s, earning a Hall of Fame career with his elite defense, versatility, and unselfish play.
On the other hand, Clyde Drexler was the face of the Portland Trail Blazers. A 10-time All-Star, Drexler later captured an NBA championship with the Houston Rockets in 1995.
Despite their individual brilliance, the two stars didn’t always see eye to eye—especially during their time as teammates on the legendary 1992 Dream Team.
Pippen Criticizes Drexler’s Mindset
In early 2025, Pippen made headlines on the No Chill with Gilbert Arenas podcast while reflecting on Team USA’s historic gold-medal run in Barcelona. When asked about Drexler, he didn’t hold back:
“His attitude was awful, always had his head down,” Pippen said, calling out his former teammate’s energy.
This criticism isn’t new—Pippen has previously stated that Drexler struggled to fit in with the team, possibly due to lingering frustration from the 1992 NBA Finals, where his Blazers fell to Pippen’s Bulls.
A Different Role on the Dream Team
Drexler had just led Portland to the Finals, averaging 24.8 points, but on the star-studded Dream Team, he took a bench role, scoring 10.5 per game.
Pippen, who was known for shutting down opponents and facilitating for Jordan, wasn’t impressed with Drexler’s approach.
“We were there to dominate, and you could tell he wasn’t fully locked in,“ Pippen said, implying that Drexler lacked the intensity needed to match the Dream Team’s high-energy mentality.
Rivalry with Jordan and Locker Room Tension
One source of tension may have been Drexler’s past comparisons to Jordan.
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, many saw him as one of Jordan’s top rivals among shooting guards.
Pippen, fiercely loyal to Jordan, likely carried that rivalry into the Dream Team locker room. A former teammate recalled in a 2023 documentary, “Scottie never held back,” highlighting his blunt, competitive nature.
Meanwhile, Drexler’s laid-back style may not have meshed with the intense, competitive personalities of Jordan, Pippen, and others. Pippen’s memoir suggests Drexler was more focused on proving himself than fitting into the team.
A History of Respect and Competition
Despite the tension, Pippen has also acknowledged that Drexler was one of the few players he feared facing in big games, recognizing his ability to take over when he got hot.
Drexler, in turn, has praised Pippen for his unique skill set, even saying he always knew Pippen was “just as deadly as Jordan” in certain situations.
The two squared off 21 times in their NBA careers, with Pippen’s teams winning 12 of those matchups.
