SCOTTY Pippen Jr. shares one of the most iconic names in NBA history.
But the son of six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is determined to make his own name in the league.
Scotty Pippen Jr. in action for the NBA G League’s South Bay LakersCredit: Getty
The 23-year-old is the son of NBA legend Scottie PippenCredit: Getty
Scotty and Scottie Pippen together in 2019Credit: Getty
The 23-year-old is looking to kickstart his career after signing a two-year, two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The deal enables the guard to play for both the Grizzlies and their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
Pippen is coming off the back of an impressive spell for the G League’s South Bay Lakers this season, where he averaged 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.8 steals in five games.
He briefly played in the NBA, starring in six games for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022-23 when he averaged 2.3 points and 5.3 minutes before being waived.
Prior to joining the Lakers, Pippen was a three-year standout player for Vanderbilt, earning two first team All-SEC selections.
He was undrafted in 2022 but secured a two-way deal with the Lakers after impressing on the team’s NBA Summer League summer squad.
Now Pippen is looking to revive his career with the Grizzlies, who have been devastated by injuries this season.
Scotty is the son of Chicago Bulls icon Scottie and his ex-wife Larsa Pippen, alongside siblings Preston, Justin, and Sophia.
And Bulls icon is immensely proud of his son’s achievements thus far.
“I’m very proud of him,” Scottie told People.
“As a father, I can’t continue to lead or guide him on the court.
“At some point, I took my own wings and went and he will do the same.”
Scottie has been with Scotty every step of the way at the prestigious Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles and Vanderbilt.
“I tried to talk him through it his whole life, just teaching him the game and making him feel like that’s the path you’re on,” the 58-year-old says.
“You just teach him and hope for the blessing of God and a little luck and things falling in your way, but it’s about preparing him for it and hoping and praying it happened.”
Scotty has only vague memories of his father’s iconic playing days with the Bulls.
“I don’t really remember too much of it because he retired when I was about five,” he says.
“I remember going to the gym, the Bulls facilities and going to the games, but most of my memories of his career are based off watching his highlights on YouTube with my little brother.
“I’m used to people always wanting pictures and autographs from him, so I’ve been around it my whole life.”
Despite the burden of his famous name, Scotty is ready to become forge his own path in the league.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Scotty told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“People will doubt me because of it. They expect me to be something, and they put – I wouldn’t say certain pressure on me – but they think of my dad when they look at me. …
“But my dad’s not out there with me. At the end of the day, it’s my own legacy.”
Scotty and Scottie actually share the same spelling of their first name.
“Both my dad and I have it on our birth certificates with a ‘Y,’” Scotty added.
“But my dad later changed it to ‘ie’ because he liked signing signatures with it.”
Scottie Pippen with a young Scotty in 2003Credit: Getty
Scotty poses for a picture with his three siblingsCredit: Getty