Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Did Michael Jordan ever win a playoff series without Scottie Pippen?

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Anjum Ash. | Last updated 2/13/24

Bulls legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are two of the greatest players to have ever graced the courts. Together they have aced six Championship titles and would go on to establish the legendary Bulls dynasty. Although Jordan had been the ultimate frontman, Scottie Pippen’s irrefutable role in those title campaigns is often understated.

When Michael Jordan retired from professional basketball in 1993, Pippen would be the one to step up for the Bulls. Although it is true that the Chicago Bulls never made the NBA Finals in Jordan’s absence, Scottie Pippen did lead the franchise to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

To say Michael Jordan could have won all six NBA Championships without Pippen would be a grave disservice to the small forward – for even MJ, the NBA GOAT, never won another ring without Pippen by his side. So, has Michael Jordan won any playoff series without Scottie Pippen on the roster?

How many playoff series did Michael Jordan win without Scottie Pippen?

It is almost ominous that Michael Jordan has never won a single playoff series without Scottie Pippen. After Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets in 1999 and Jordan retired for the second time, the Bulls did struggle without either MJ or Scottie Pippen to take the helm.

But when Jordan made his return to the NBA with the Washington Wizards in 2001, what remained of his career did not prove to be as glorious as his stint without his fellow comrade in the playoffs.

To judge the latter part of MJ’s career in this context might seem rather unjust. Given the player was already past his golden prime, it is perhaps not the proper reference in respect to Scottie Pippen’s contribution to their NBA titles.

However, Jordan did not win any playoff series before Pippen joined the Bulls either. Scottie Pippen was drafted in 1987, and up until that time – MJ was yet to win a single playoff series.

Time and again it has been rallied upon that Scottie Pippen’s contribution in the Bulls success was criminally understated. And given their playoff records in Pippen’s absence, even with MJ on the team, it seems to hold truer than not.