791: 267: My True Love, My Blood (Requesting Monthly Tickets!) 791: 267: My True Love, My Blood (Requesting Monthly Tickets!) Pippen was very frustrated.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t achieve the sense of belonging that Roger enjoyed.
In Chicago, he won three championships with Michael Jordan and established the first dynasty in modern basketball history.
By rights, the Chicagoans should erect a statue for him.
He got caught up in trade rumors more than once, even though he had a low-paying contract.
In Atlanta, he won two championships with Roger, creating a miracle in Georgia, transforming a baseball city into a basketball city.
But now, once again, he’s caught in trade rumors.
This seems to be the sorrow of being the number two or three.
Paul Gasol was an irreplaceable contributor during the Lakers’ two-title run, and the gentle Spaniard never had disputes with the management, and had a great personal relationship with Kobe.
But whenever star trades came up, the Spaniards were surely the first chips put on the shelf.
Even Showtime’s Skyhook got swept into trade rumors for a time due to disagreements with Magic.
No matter what contributions you made, no matter who you are, if you’re not the marquee player of the team, you’ll be tossed around like garbage, without a shred of dignity.
Pippen felt very tired; he knew he’s not perfect, he had many little faults, and his communication wasn’t very clever.
But there’s one thing he could assure: He gave his all when assisting Jordan and Roger.
In 1998, he returned to the locker room in the middle and relied on cruel electrotherapy to stimulate his already injuried back, gritting his teeth till the very last moment.
Last season, he dragged his aging body, completely relinquished control of the ball and stats, fully dedicating himself to shielding Roger.
He bled for the Hawks and contributed to the team.
Pippen was not a child; he certainly knew being traded was normal in the sports world.
What truly made Pippen forlorn was that the Hawks’ trade approach showed no respect, and he learned he was put on the shelf from rumors of a press conference.
Pippen felt depressed, even to the point where he didn’t really want to attend today’s practice.
After all, if he was going to be traded, was there truly any need to fight for the Atlanta Hawks?
But eventually, Pippen still went, because Roger hadn’t told him anything about the trade.
If there really was a trade, he believed Roger would have definitely informed him beforehand.
If there was anyone in Atlanta worthy of Pippen’s trust, it was Roger.
Upon arriving at the locker room in Emory Healthcare Center, Pippen definitely became the topic of conversation.
Pierce raised the newspaper high upon seeing Pippen arrive: “Scott, quickly tell me that what’s written in the newspaper about the trade rumors is bullshit!”
Pierce and Pippen only played a complete season together, because during Pierce’s rookie year Pippen was sidelined for the season, and the two barely collaborated.
But just one season, Pierce fell in love with Pippen.
Pippen was an excellent teammate willing to do the dirty and tiring work, unless under special circumstances, otherwise both Pierce and Roger could devote more energy to scoring, and leave the other troublesome matters to Pippen.
Pippen was the kind of person that opponents might not like, but as a teammate, he absolutely makes you love him.
Pierce certainly didn’t want such a hardworking big brother to leave.
Most importantly, Pippen had a trait that even Roger couldn’t match: he knew many fun fruit markets in Atlanta!
“Surely it’s fake, Roger couldn’t possibly hide things; we all know his character, he wouldn’t conceal such a secret from us, nor allow any of us to be left in the dark.
In this locker room, there’s never been deception.
Moreover, Roger wouldn’t let a jerk like Latrell or a stat-chaser like Juwan into our locker room.
It’s all fake news, I trust Roger.” Andrae Patterson said.
Pippen did not participate in the discussion, he simply walked straight to his locker.
His locker was immediately to the left of Roger’s, and Pierce’s was to the right.
In the Hawks’ locker room, these positions for lockers weren’t randomly assigned, they represented status within the team.
After Stevie Smith left, Roger kept his locker vacant, until Pierce arrived.
This signified that Pierce was Roger’s hand-picked second Divine Hand.
Now, even though Big Ben was already the defensive core, and even though Marion started replacing Pippen in tactical roles, neither had the qualifications to move their locker next to Roger’s, which represented Pippen and Pierce’s irreplaceability.
Looking at Roger’s locker beside him, Pippen felt much more relaxed.
Yes, Patterson was right, Roger wouldn’t just silently sell him off, definitely not.
Even if the team truly thought he was old, felt he was useless, Roger would face him saying, “Scott, sorry, but we should go separate ways.”
But trading him away without a word?
That’s not Roger’s style, it’s not Roger’s character.
“Scott, why not say anything?
The newspaper says the team wants to trade you and Michael for Juwan Howard, is it true?” Pierce questioned, the young man wanting immediate answers for any matter.
Pippen shook his head: “I don’t know, but I’m very familiar with such matters, the media wouldn’t randomly create trade rumors, so it’s definitely news let out by someone from the team.
But I only trust Roger, I don’t believe any news from anyone else.”