Let me say this first.
Pippen is absolutely correct in saying playing with a herniated disc in your back is probably harder than playing with the flu.
With that being said, he is 100% wrong in thinking that he should get more credit than Jordan, and it is pretty easy to explain why.
Let’s start with the flu game.
June 11th, 1997, Game 5 in Utah with the series tied 2-2.
If Jazz can win this game, they will get two cracks to win the title in Chicago. There are 100 different conspiracy theories on why Jordan was “sick,” but he was clearly under the weather.
Jordan plays 44 minutes, scores 38 points, including the game-clinching 3 (nice assist from Pip).
A healthy Scottie Pippen knowing that Jordan is sick and needs help, goes 5-17 and scores 17 points.
Moving on to Pippen’s bad back game.
June 14th, 1998 Game 6 in Utah, Bulls are up 3-2 in series.
Pip is dealing with a herniated disc in his back that got re-injured early in the game. Pip himself says if there is a Game 7, he wouldn’t have played. If they lose this game, Jordan realizes that the Jazz will have all the momentum headed into Game 7, scores 45 of the Bulls’ 87 points, steals the ball for Malone, and hit the most iconic game-winner in NBA history.
https://youtu.be/8V_1ZxCN3nI?t=156
Pip had a gusty performance, just staying on the floor for 26 minutes considering his condition, but it has mostly been forgotten.
So the reason people remember the Flu Game over the Bad Back game is simple.
Even though Jordan was sick in the Flu Game, he still carried the Bulls to a win. In the bad back game, understanding that Pippen wasn’t 100%, he carried the Bulls to a win and the NBA title.
I feel for Pip. He is going through some things, but he really needs to understand why things are the way they are.
Flip the pages for Pip speaking on his Bad Back game.
