they can use the Pippen/Jordan relationship as a starting point.

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Tonight, Scottie Pippen will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. While generally noted as one of the best players of his era and a ridiculously versatile swingman, Pippen in many ways remains underrated. That’s not surprising given that he won six championships next to the greatest player in league history, but it’s still a shame.

Alongside Michael Jordan,United States, Pippen was one of the most versatile players in league history. He was one of the NBA’s best defenders, a terrific scorer who averaged 20 ppg four times during a career that spanned one of the league’s most defensive-minded eras, and helped make the point forward position something more than a fun novelty.

Plus, while his 1 1/2 seasons without Jordan have been unfairly summed up by his refusal to act as a decoy during Toni Kukoc’s buzzer-beater in the 1994 playoffs, he was one of the league’s best players and arguably should have been the MVP that season in carrying the undermanned Bulls to 55 wins. If you want a full explanation of what made Pippen so great, read this excellent post from The Painted Area.

Put simply, he did everything well and thrived next to one of the best scorers in the league. If you can’t read headlines, then please note that LeBron James(notes) finds himself in the same role next season. And he could become a league-wide wrecking ball if he follows Pippen’s lead, just in a different way than LBJ performed in Cleveland.

When LeBron entered the league in 2003, he was compared to Magic Johnson for his height and sublime vision and passing. But at this point in his career, Pippen is the better comparison, both because James is firmly established as a wing and because of his partnership with Wade.

To be clear, they are not exactly similar players. James blocks a lot of shots, but he hasn’t been a lockdown defender on Pippen’s level to this point in his career. Plus, while Pippen was fantastic with the ball, he didn’t have James all-encompassing skillset.

But those differences only make it clear just how much talent LeBron has. His defensive deficiencies have been less a function of ability and more about his considerable offensive responsibilities with the Cavs. He simply hasn’t been able to be a lockdown defender due to the strictures of stamina, but he can now achieve that status in Florida with Wade next to him.

Those Bulls teams are the clearest model for the Heat. I’ve discussed this issue with Q McCall and Bethlehem Shoals, and both have argued that the Heat would ideally run a similar triangle system with Wade and James a dual points of attack. But even if the Heat don’t embrace that system (which seems unlikely, after all), they can use the Pippen/Jordan relationship as a starting point.

It’s odd to think of James as a secondary player next to Wade. But to call Pippen "secondary" neglects his immense importance to the Bulls and his own unique stardom. With his considerable skills and athleticism, James can exceed Pippen’s accomplishments. If he does so, he might even help illuminate just what made Pippen so special and finally rid him of that "underrated" tag.
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