Ex-Bulls Player Disputes Claim Jordan and Pippen Were Never Close

Randy Brown, a former teammate, says the two stars spent time together off the court.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Former Chicago Bulls player Randy Brown is pushing back against the narrative that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were never close. Brown, who was a member of the Bulls during their championship runs in the 1990s, says he spent a lot of time with the two superstars off the court and doesn't believe they were as distant as Pippen has claimed. Brown's comments contradict Pippen's previous statements that he and Jordan "never were great friends" and didn't hang out much outside of basketball.

Why it matters

The relationship between Jordan and Pippen has been a source of fascination and controversy in recent years, especially after Pippen criticized Jordan and the way he was portrayed in the documentary series "The Last Dance." Brown's firsthand account provides a different perspective on the dynamic between the two Hall of Famers, who led the Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

The details

Randy Brown, a former point guard for the Bulls, says he spent a lot of time with Jordan and Pippen off the court during their championship runs in the 1990s. Brown disputes Pippen's claim that he and Jordan "never were great friends" and didn't hang out much outside of basketball. Brown says the two stars "went in the trenches" together and you "don't win championships with guys you don't like." Brown's former teammate Stacey King agreed with Brown's assessment that Jordan and Pippen were closer than Pippen has suggested.

  • In a recent interview, Pippen said he and Jordan "never were great friends" and didn't hang out much off the court.
  • Brown made his comments about Jordan and Pippen's relationship during an appearance on the Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast with former Bulls player Stacey King.

The players

Randy Brown

A former point guard who was a member of the Chicago Bulls during their championship runs in the 1990s.

Michael Jordan

One of the greatest basketball players of all time, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

Scottie Pippen

A Hall of Fame forward who was Michael Jordan's co-star on the Chicago Bulls championship teams in the 1990s.

Stacey King

A former Chicago Bulls player who played for the team from 1989 to 1994.

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What they’re saying

“Our days are numbered, and it's sad to see that this is playing out in the media, that people think that Michael and Scotty weren't close. And I'm never going to give into that. I'm never going to give into any of that. I spent hours with these guys when there was no basketball.”

— Randy Brown, Former Chicago Bulls Player (Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast)

“You went in the trenches. You don't win championships with guys you don't like. You just don't.”

— Randy Brown, Former Chicago Bulls Player (Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast)

The takeaway

Randy Brown's firsthand account provides a different perspective on the relationship between Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, challenging the narrative that the two superstars were never close off the court. Brown's comments suggest there was more to their dynamic than has been publicly portrayed, and raise questions about the true nature of their friendship and partnership that led to six NBA championships for the Chicago Bulls.