Monday, December 31st, 2007 at 5:00 pm  |  36 responses

Coach Pippen?

by Marcel Mutoni

Former NBA players entering the coaching ranks is nothing new. Some have thrived (Phil Jackson, Avery Johnson); some have crashed and burned (NY-era Isiah Thomas, Scott Skiles).

Former Bulls great Scottie Pippen doesn’t see why he couldn’t be the Bulls’ next head coach. And it’s not just the New Year’s eve bubbly talking either; Scottie is dead serious about this:

“What’s my disadvantage?” Pippen asked. “No NBA coaching experience? [Scott] Skiles’ record with the Bulls wasn’t that great. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to do what you’ve done your whole life. I’ve played basketball, run teams and won.

“What experience do you need? You have assistants who have been there. If I made a mistake, I wouldn’t be the first coach to make a mistake. I’d love the opportunity to be part of the organization now that Skiles is gone. I’ve won championships with this organization and been in the competition when everything was on the line. I was a coach on the floor. Why isn’t that experience?”

Though Pip glibly makes coaching sound as simple as a stroll through the park, he does make some good points.

There’s absolutely no reason a guy like him – someone who’s been through every conceivable NBA war, and a guy players would have no choice but to respect – shouldn’t get a shot at a coaching gig. Hell, it’d better than bringing in Larry Brown.

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  • H to the izzo Posted: Dec.31 at 5:06 pm
    Maybe we should all apply.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Dec.31 at 5:09 pm
    Can coaches sit out the last play of a playoff game?

  • Myles Brown Posted: Dec.31 at 5:11 pm
    And um, Scottie, couldn’t we still say the same things about Zeke?

  • Andrew Price Posted: Dec.31 at 5:17 pm
    He can do it all.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Dec.31 at 5:22 pm
    Even Phil Jackson paid his dues in the CBA. I don’t like the way Scottie talks about coaching like it’s his right–it’s a JOB. A hard job. Why not try it in the D-League or CBA first?

  • Ken Posted: Dec.31 at 5:26 pm
    Can he sub himself in when the Bulls are stinking it up on the floor? I’d be all for him coaching if that were possible.

  • RV Posted: Dec.31 at 5:27 pm
    I think he’d be annoying to listen to, and his experience is playing back in the 90′s, he needs some experience coaching in this new generation

  • TADOne Posted: Dec.31 at 5:41 pm
    Jus that idiotic comment he makes shows you he is not head coaching material.

  • TADOne Posted: Dec.31 at 5:41 pm
    *Just

  • deestarbuckz Posted: Dec.31 at 5:50 pm
    What’s he do when a player refuses to go in the game and Toni Kukoc gets the last shot?

  • TADOne Posted: Dec.31 at 5:57 pm
    Happy New Years to everyone!

  • Ken Posted: Dec.31 at 6:04 pm
    What’s with the decoy Ken in this thread?!?! And obvious 1.4 second jokes aside, I think the Bulls would be better off with an experienced guy like Van Grumpy.

  • the brown guy Posted: Dec.31 at 6:05 pm
    hahahah h to the izzo

  • Spurs DYNASTY!! Posted: Dec.31 at 6:12 pm
    he should go coach in the d-league first or the cba and then apply for a job without opening his big mouth to the media

  • Justin Adler Posted: Dec.31 at 6:58 pm
    Yes Myles, Pip’s contract will allow him to defer tough calss to Kukoc at least once a season.

  • Nascar Posted: Dec.31 at 7:23 pm
    That’s why Ewing is still serving out as assistant coach. Some players have the ability to coach, and they are constantly scouted by the management office. It is not like a try out kind of thing.

  • stevesmith8fan Posted: Dec.31 at 7:37 pm
    Ask Magic Johnson how easy coaching was? He had the same qualities that Pip is talking about.

  • Captain America Posted: Dec.31 at 7:52 pm
    Sign him up, he’d be refreshingly different. It doesn’t take much to manage a team and it would be fun to see who he brings on as assistant coaches.

  • Sesa Posted: Dec.31 at 9:39 pm
    “What’s my disadvantage?”
    That’s pretty ego-charged comment if I should say.

  • TC Posted: Jan.1 at 12:58 am
    Say whatever u want about Pippen but u cannot tell me he is not one of the smartest players to ever play the game. I think Paxson should seriously consider about signing Pip, but maybe as an assistant coach at first.

  • Ben Posted: Jan.1 at 1:27 am
    I agree TC. Give him a go as an assistant. If he thinks he can step straight into a head coaching job half way through a season he is a fool. Even the greatest coaches of all time may not be able to get this group of Bulls out of their funk.

  • Ben Posted: Jan.1 at 1:35 am
    thats a different Ben other than me im young

  • hursty Posted: Jan.1 at 2:50 am
    Pip brings all the qualities that a coach needs for the bulls. Defence, aggression (hello ben gordon),and he can nurture Deng in the all round game that he continues to develop. But yep, coach at a lower grade first, get some NBDL playoffs experience, if youre team can’t function in the lower grades, how can u expect to run a team full of ego’s (im not saying the bulls do) and be successful? anyway, thats just my two cents.

  • Irishpaul Posted: Jan.1 at 5:43 am
    Scottie was, besides being one of the most talented and versatile players in NBA history, he was also one of the most intelligent. Whilst i think he would thrive on that side of the game, motivating players and patience i do not know. Wish him the best tho.

  • Jared Posted: Jan.1 at 11:11 am
    Pips a hell of a salesman.

  • Captain America Posted: Jan.1 at 1:39 pm
    Let him follow the track Sam Mitchell had.

  • JONATHAN HELMICK Posted: Jan.1 at 3:22 pm
    PIPPEN SHOULDNT COACH HIS OLD TEAM CAUSE HE HAS KNOW EXERIENCE I PROBABLEY COULD COACH THE BULLS AND WIN MORE GAMES THAN PIPPEN

  • stevesmith8fan Posted: Jan.1 at 4:13 pm
    He should get a shot as an assistant.

  • Jukai Posted: Jan.1 at 5:07 pm
    Pippen should be out there playing. Don’t more north eastern european teams need this guy right now?

  • ak47 Posted: Jan.1 at 6:56 pm
    If Bill Cartwright got a chance to coach the Bulls why can’t Pippen?

  • Ramon Miranda Posted: Jan.2 at 2:55 am
    Sam Mitchell, need I say more?

  • matt the jazz fan Posted: Jan.2 at 5:49 am
    start by coaching in minnesota first then nbdl assistant then then we’ll think about it

  • matt the jazz fan Posted: Jan.2 at 5:49 am
    and yes that’s in the right order

  • Levon J. Posted: Jan.2 at 6:50 am
    He has the Idaho Stampede written all over him

  • Mark Z Posted: Jan.2 at 7:54 am
    Should he get a shot? No question. But asking for a gig through the media works for Hollywood actors, not NBA coaches. Scottie also needs to pay his dues. Coach D-League, be a bench assistant, etc…

  • jay Posted: Jan.2 at 5:24 pm
    if pippen really said that….lets see how long he would last..not like chi town is getting kobe at this point…mj tried to coach the wiz during his comeback….we saw what happen there. not saying he could not do it but the way he is quoted…it take a lot more than having say mj just call clear outs and go for 45 every game!!! yeah pjax had mad talent but hey the knicks roster is not that bad and they have not even scratched double digit wins yet…a lot easier playing monday qb when you are sitting in the luxury box!

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