Unguarded

Written by Scottie Pippen and Michael Arkush

Narrated by JD Jackson

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

This unflinching “master class” (The New York Times) of a memoir from two-time Olympic gold medalist and NBA Hall of Famer reveals how Scottie Pippen, the youngest of twelve, overcame two family tragedies and universal disregard by college scouts to become an essential component of the greatest basketball dynasty of the last fifty years.

Scottie Pippen has been called one of the greatest NBA players for good reason.

Simply put, without Pippen, there are no championship banners—let alone six—hanging from the United Center rafters. There’s no Last Dance documentary. There’s no “Michael Jordan” as we know him. The 1990s Chicago Bulls teams would not exist as we know them.

So how did the youngest of twelve go from growing up poor in the small town of Hamburg, Arkansas, enduring two family tragedies along the way, to become a revered NBA legend? How did the scrawny teen, overlooked by every major collegiate basketball program, go on to become the fifth overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft? And, perhaps most compelling, how did Pippen set aside his ego (and his own limitless professional ceiling) in order for the Bulls to become the most dominant basketball dynasty of the last half century?

In Unguarded, the six-time champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist finally opens up to offer pointed and transparent takes on Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, and Dennis Rodman, among others. Pippen details how he cringed at being labeled Jordan’s sidekick, and discusses how he could have (and should have) received more respect from the Bulls’ management and the media.

Pippen reveals never-before-told stories about some of the most famous games in league history, including the 1994 playoff game against the New York Knicks when he took himself out with 1.8 seconds to go. He discusses what it was like dealing with Jordan on a day-to-day basis, while serving as the facilitator for the offense and the anchor for the defense.

Pippen is finally giving millions of adoring basketball fans what they crave; an unvarnished, “closely observed, and uncommonly modest” (Kirkus Reviews) look into his life and role within one of the greatest, most popular teams of all time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797131467

Scottie Pippen

Scottie Pippen played seventeen seasons in the NBA, winning six championships and two Olympic gold medals. He was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. Pippen is the only person ever to win an NBA championship and Olympic gold medal twice in the same year. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He lives in the Los Angeles area and you can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ScottiePippen.

Reviews for Unguarded

[carlosstw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great Career, great person, interesting story, I liked to see a different point of view regarding the Bulls Dynasty.

[Juan Jackson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good book! It provided insights in the 90s Bulls through Pippen's eyes.

[Adam German · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nice to see Scottie get his time to tell his story in it’s entirety. Worth the listen if you’re a 90’s bulls fan.

[Daniel Laguna · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesante para conocer más sobre la perspectiva de pippen, pero me pareció me parece que si eres fan de Jordan no te va a gustar del todo.

[Ali Saial · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good story, especially the parts that talked about his dad and brother. The only aspect of the story that I didn’t really like was that he compared himself to MJ a little too much.

[Angelo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pippen maybe reveals a bit too much about his true feelings during his legendary career but it's nonetheless captivating. A must listen/read for all Bulls fans during that period.

He may have gone overboard during the promotion but it's pretty much an even keeled depiction of his career.

[Orsayor L Simmons · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm glad I ignored the naysayers from the media, because I really enjoyed this book. A true eye-opener!

[Melody Hertler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book very inspiring this book really fire

[Ross Taylor · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sorry but scottie comes off as an immature cry baby. It is clear how jealous he is of MJ and even Tony K. When Michael gets the game winning shots he goes on and on about "it should be about the team" then when he doesn't get the game winning shot he sits out like a baby? What about the whole "team thing"? Then he calls Phil a racist? Anyway some good tidbits here and there but overall he comes off as a whiner. ... Good narrator though!

[Jarvis Jenkins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very truthful memoir. No bashing just honest feelings of I one fast paved a way.

[Gregory Evans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interesting storyline. Great read. A lotto be thankful for too

[Nakecia Bowers · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was expecting to learn more about Scottie. Most chapters are a play by play of games he played including the stats so it felt like fluff. It was a recap of games he played and very little else other than he felt he was underrated and not respected enough. I only finished it because I talked myself into believing that it would get better.

[Mara Lozada · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Chicago bulls will always be 1 of the greatest team in the 90’s era…