When Charles Barkley admitted Scottie Pippen was ‘better’ than him during Michael Jordan’s retirement

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Charles Barkley once openly admitted that Scottie Pippen was “better” than him during the turbulent period following Michael Jordan’s first retirement from the NBA.

The comments came at a time when the Chicago Bulls were navigating uncertainty, and Pippen was reportedly frustrated with both his workload and contract situation.

With Jordan stepping away in 1993, the spotlight shifted firmly onto Pippen.

Charles Barkley says Scottie Pippen was better than him

Speaking in archived footage available on YouTube, Barkley said “Anybody in their right mind would want to play with Scottie Pippen. He’s probably the best non-center basketball player in the world.

“Other than Hakeem Olajuwon, he’s the best player in the world … If you have a chance to get Scottie Pippen, I mean, that’s something you definitely want to think about.”

The remarks were made during Jordan’s first retirement, when Pippen was tasked with carrying the Bulls as their primary star.

Despite leading Chicago deep into contention, Pippen grew increasingly frustrated with his contract, which was widely regarded as team-friendly and below market value for a player of his stature.

Amid that tension, trade speculation intensified, including reported interest from the Phoenix Suns, where Barkley was a central figure. The idea of pairing Pippen with Barkley sparked major discussion across the league.

Charles Barkley admits Chicago Bulls would demand a huge return for Pippen

Barkley added, “It’d be interesting to see what kind of deal that would take, he deserves a lot to come up, I mean, they think they gave up a lot to get me, he’s better than me, so they’d have to give up a lot.”

The statement underscored how highly Barkley rated Pippen at the time. While Barkley himself was an MVP-level talent, he acknowledged that acquiring Pippen would require a significant trade package given his all-around impact.

Pippen’s two-way dominance, versatility and playmaking elevated him beyond a typical second option once Jordan stepped away. His ability to lead while defending multiple positions strengthened the argument that he was among the league’s elite.

Although a move to Phoenix never materialised, Barkley’s candid assessment remains one of the clearest acknowledgements from a peer that Pippen’s value during Jordan’s absence rivalled anyone in the NBA.