Pippen: 'NBL gateway to NBA'

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Scottie Pippen has praised the intensity of international basketball as a strong NBA pathway.

The world of basketball has changed since former NBA star Scottie Pippen was drafted in 1987.

The now 58-year-old attended the University of Central Arkansas for four years before being drafted into the NBA, but he’s a firm supporter of taking the international route to the Association.

Pippen attended the NBL24 season opener between Melbourne and South East Melbourne last night and watched a pair of the NBL’s top young talents in Luke Travers and Ariel Hukporti hit the floor, alongside former NBA players Mitch Creek, Matthew Dellavedova and Tyler Cook.

“I support the international game,” Pippen told commentators Andrew Gaze and Jack Heverin during the contest.

“I support that these players are getting out, playing with a 24 second shot clock, playing under duress, playing where the game is even more physical, but even the fanbase is different than a college.

“This is really giving them that experience that’s going to take them to the next level and this is the gateway into the NBA.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scottie Pippen ? NBL24<br><br>The Chicago Bulls legend graced the streets of Melbourne in style in the lead-up to yesterday's season opener ? <a href="https://t.co/ndxrEFAl58">pic.twitter.com/ndxrEFAl58</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1707579068110217220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The level of world basketball has been increasing exponentially over recent years. The last five NBA MVP winners have all hailed from outside the United States.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019 and 2020) is from Greece, Nikola Jokic (2021 and 2022) is from Serbia, and Joel Embiid (2023) is from Cameroon.

Prior to Antentokounmpo’s first win, only thee non-American players had been named NBA MVP – Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994, Canadian Steve Nash in 2005 and 2006, and German Dirk Nowitzki in 2007.

Pippen’s Chicago Bulls were crucial in bringing basketball to the lens of the wider world, as was the American 1992 Olympic ‘Dream Team’.

“I had the oppotintuy to play internationally for a couple of years as well, but my years with the Bulls, having those opportunities to play and have the game grow as much as it did in the 90s was great for me as a player,” Pippen said.

“I felt like I was a part of the trail blazing of making basketball more of an international sport.

“It’s been amazing.”