Former U. S.
President Donald Trump has praised the physical toughness of Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, a remark that resurfaces amid ongoing tensions between Pippen and his former teammate Michael Jordan.
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According to a report by Basketball Network on June 13, 2026, Trump recalled watching Pippen compete courtside during the 1990s.
He noted that television broadcasts failed to capture the true intensity of Pippen's playstyle under the basket.
"You see him on television, looks like a thin, frail guy," Trump said.
Trump emphasized that Pippen constantly absorbed rough contact from much larger opponents without backing down.
"But he would go in for a layup and it was rough, you have no idea.
He'd go in and these big guys are just whacking at each other - and I'm sitting right there and watching this.
Holy s—t!" Trump added.
The former president highlighted that Pippen gave as much as he took.
"They're rapping and smacking him and he's rapping and smacking them right back and he goes and gets his points," Trump said.
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Trump concluded that the public perception of Pippen's physical stature was inaccurate. "But Pippen is not as frail as he might appear on television," he said.
Pippen-Jordan Relationship Deteriorates
While Pippen earned praise for his historic resilience, his modern relationship with Michael Jordan has fractured significantly following the release of "The Last Dance" documentary.
