If you’re new to basketball lore, Scottie Pippen is a name you need to know-a Chicago Bulls icon who teamed up with Michael Jordan to snag six NBA titles in the ’90s. A defensive wizard and all-around stud, Pippen’s a Hall of Famer whose resume screams greatness.
Then there’s Clyde Drexler, aka “The Glide,” a Portland Trail Blazers legend who lit up the league with his smooth scoring and jaw-dropping dunks, earning 10 All-Star nods and a championship with the Rockets in ’95. These two titans crossed paths on the 1992 Dream Team, but according to Pippen, it wasn’t all buddy-buddy vibes.
Pippen dropped this gem on the No Chill with Gilbert Arenas podcast in early 2025, reminiscing about that legendary Team USA squad. “His energy was terrible, he always had his head down,” he said about Drexler, throwing shade at his teammate’s demeanor during their gold-medal run in Barcelona.
The Dream Team-stacked with MJ, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and more-was a hoops juggernaut, steamrolling opponents by an average of 44 points. But Pippen’s comments hint at some behind-the-scenes friction with Drexler.
Pippen roasts Drexler’s “terrible” Dream Team energy
Drexler, who’d just led Portland to the ’92 Finals (only to lose to Pippen’s Bulls), was no lightweight-averaging 24.8 points that season with his signature flair. On the Dream Team, though, he played a quieter role, coming off the bench for 10.5 points per game. Pippen, fresh off locking down foes and dishing assists to Jordan, wasn’t impressed. “We were there to dominate, and you could tell he wasn’t all in,” Pippen noted, suggesting Drexler’s vibe didn’t match the squad’s intensity.
What sparked the tension? Back in the day, Drexler was often pitted against Jordan as a rival shooting guard, and Pippen-MJ’s fiercely loyal sidekick-might’ve carried that into the Dream Team locker room. “Scottie didn’t hide his feelings,” a former teammate recalled in a 2023 doc, nodding to Pippen’s straight-shooter style. Drexler, known for his chill, effortless game in Portland, might’ve clashed with the rah-rah energy of a team full of alphas.
Sure, the Dream Team still snagged gold-Drexler included-but Pippen’s take adds a layer of spice to the tale. Picture this: two future Hall of Famers, both at their peak, sharing the court with the world watching, yet not quite clicking. Drexler hasn’t fired back yet, and with his own legacy locked down, he might not bother. Still, it’s a fun peek into the dynamics of the greatest team ever assembled.
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