Beneath the shade of sprawling trees and bushes, NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen takes shot after shot. “Brother, stop the same shots!” His son Justin exclaims as Scotty spins between imaginary elbow shots on the court in their backyard in Hidden Hills. Every now and then, he’ll throw in a nod to his son that he still has mastery of the marksmanship.
It’s a beautiful afternoon in the middle of May, and we’re at the Pippens’ house for a Day in the Life shoot with Tissot, and Justin and Scotty are going back and forth in their PIG game. Well, at first they were playing HORSE, but as the ball kept finding the net, father and son quickly realized they would be there until dusk if they didn’t make a turn. So PIG it is.
Scotty has only one letter. P while Justin looks to save himself from elimination on the right wing. As soon as the shot comes off the back iron, Scotty starts celebrating. But Justin still has a chance at redemption. Is that right?
“I feel like I beat that kid twice,” Scotty explains. “I’ve played PIG many times in my life, and I’ve never heard of you getting a second shot after you miss. I went by his rules, but in my world I won twice. But in his world he won once. So I’ll let him win once.”
In Justin’s mind, and according to the playbook for some players, if you miss your first shot on the last letter of PIG, you automatically get a second shot to save yourself. If you do the second, you’re playing. If you miss, it’s game over.
“There was no new rule,” says Justin in defense. “We played PIG, he had me in PI, and then for the last G shot, you get two shots if you miss it. I don’t know (how) he never heard it. That’s how my brothers and I grew up playing. I can call (them) right now and I’ll ask (them) and (they’ll) tell me the same thing.”
Immediately, the youngest Pippen pulls out his phone and Facetimes his older brother Scottie Pippen Jr., who just finished his second season in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies. No fraternal violence, no “How are you?” It’s just down to business. Justin asks, and Scotty Jr. answers. “When we grew up playing, yes.”
Competitiveness runs in the Pippen family, from the hardwood to Connect 4 and Monopoly. As we set out to walk the two through a typical day in their lives, both father and son give each other a hard time. Pagans are not negative, they are purposeful. As Scotty says, jokes create a competitive edge while instilling trust. Coaches always say. “Worry when I’m not giving you trouble.”
Scotty has six NBA championships and Scotty Pippen Jr. began his career at L at Vanderbilt after tearing up the SEC. Now it’s Justin’s turn.
