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Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were once a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court — but their friendship has seemingly turned sour.

The pair’s friendship traces all the way back to the 1980s when they were both drafted into the NBA; Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls, and Pippen initially went to the Seattle SuperSonics. After Pippen was traded to the Bulls, the pair played side-by-side and were an integral part of the team’s success in the ’90s, when the Bulls won a total of six league championships.

Even after the former teammates had retired from the sport, the athletes still appeared to share a strong bond. They were by each other’s sides when they were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and praised one another whenever given the opportunity. But that all changed with the release of ESPN’s docuseries, The Last Dance, in 2020.

The 10-part series was co-produced by Jordan’s production company and chronicled the Bulls’ 1997-1998 season, during which the team rounded out their second championship three-peat. While the show documented their success, it focused heavily on Jordan’s personal story — much to the disappointment of Pippen.

Although Pippen initially said that there was no bad blood between the duo, he later revealed in his memoir, Unguarded, that the documentary had “glorified” Jordan and didn’t give “nearly enough praise to me and my proud teammates.”

“I just felt like that he had rights to really control something that I felt like should have been more historically about the Chicago Bulls, more about that team, and the history of that team. Especially, the last three seasons. And I just didn’t think it went in that direction,” Pippen later told PEOPLE.

While Pippen revealed Jordan privately reached out to mend things, the former NBA player has continued to publicly condemn his teammate for his actions — on and off the court.

Since 2022, Jordan’s son Marcus Jordan has also been dating Pippen’s ex-wife Larsa Pippen. Though Pippen hasn’t spoken about his ex-wife’s new beau, Jordan made headlines in July 2023 when he told TMZ that he disapproved of his son’s relationship.

Here’s everything to know about Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s friendship.

Late 1980s: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen met while playing in the NBA

Pippen (33) and Michael Jordan (23) on the court during Game 5 vs Los Angeles Lakers, Inglewood, Calif., on June 12, 1991.John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated/Getty

When Pippen was drafted into the NBA in 1987, Jordan had already been playing professionally for a few years. The pair’s friendship began when Pippen joined the Chicago Bulls during his first year in the league. Looking back, Pippen says it was during that time the pair established a close bond — and it felt that no one could beat them when they were on their game.

“Yeah, that relationship, we established that we felt like that in the late 80s, playing against the Pistons, just starting to grow and mature and have each other’s backs. We grew up together and we defended each other,” Pippen told The Guardian. “That respect we had on the court, that competitiveness we took through to the top — it was special. That was the respect we had for each other, because we had to be on the court to do what we did. We had to be dominant.”

1990s: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen won six championships with the Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls celebrate in the locker room after winning the 1998 NBA Championship.Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty

Throughout Jordan’s and Pippen’s careers playing with the Bulls, the team made NBA history, winning a total of six league championships. They took home the championship title three times in a row on two separate occasions. Their first three-peat came between the 1991 to 1993 seasons, and they did it again between 1996 and 1998.

1999: Scottie Pippen says he misses playing with Michael Jordan

Kerry Kittles #30 of the New Jersey Nets in action against Michael Jordan #23 and Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls during the NBA Playoffs in 1998.Ezra Shaw/Getty

Following Pippen and Jordan’s second three-peat, Jordan retired from the game, and Pippen went on to play with the Portland Trail Blazers. Looking back at his career with Jordan, Pippen admitted that he missed playing with his former teammate.

“I miss playing with him. I miss our body language out on the court, things we developed together. I miss that we had one another, that intimidation factor that we’d bring to the game. I miss winning,” Pippen told Sports Illustrated in 1999.

2009: Michael Jordan thanks Scottie Pippen while being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame

Michael Jordan gets emotional during the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Induction Ceremony.Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty

Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. In the opening lines of his acceptance speech, Jordan gave a shout-out to Pippen, sharing that it was he who was by his side every championship he won.

“I told all my friends I was gonna come up here and say thank you and walk off. I can’t. There’s no way. I got so many people I can thank. In all the videos, you never just saw me. You saw Scottie Pippen. Every championship I won,” Jordan said on stage.

2010: Michael Jordan inducts Scottie Pippen into the Basketball Hall of Fame

Scottie Pippen takes a photo with Michael Jordan during the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Induction Ceremony.Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty

The following year, Jordan helped welcome Pippen into the Basketball Hall of Fame. During Pippen’s speech, he acknowledged Jordan and thanked him for being the “best teammate” through the years.

“MJ, you have touched so many people’s lives, but none life like mine. Thank you for being the best teammate. I will always cherish that experience and I will cherish our relationship forever,” Pippen shared while giving his speech.