Scottie Pippen Calls Phil Jackson A Racist Who Mistreated Kobe Bryant - a podcast by Locked On Podcast Network, Anthony Irwin

Scottie Pippen won six titles alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago, with Phil Jackson as their coach, but the experience wasn't all sunshine for the Hall of Fame forward. While promoting his new bourbon and upcoming book on The Dan Patrick Show, Pippen claimed that Jackson's decision to design a game-winning shot for (white) rookie forward Toni Kukoc rather than him during the 1994 playoffs, which angered Pippen enough to refuse to take the court, was fueled by racism. As another example of what Pippen viewed as a racist mindset, he cited a harsh depiction of Kobe Bryant in Jackson's 2005 book "The Last Season," which was published before Jackson and Kobe reunited to win another pair of titles.

Pippen's "evidence" of Jackson's alleged racism isn't terribly compelling, but does provide reminders that the coaching legend was often capable of being an abrasive jerk. Jackson admitted the book was too harsh on Kobe, and even prompted his return to the Lakers in part to help undo image problems he played a role in creating for Bryant. Either way, Pippen's interview provided yet another reminder of the misgivings about his career, being seen as MJ's sidekick, and other elements. It's a wild conversation, but also kind of sad.The Kamenetzkys also open up the Twitter mailbag, answering a question about whether the Lakers could have won it all had they stayed healthy, considering how many other teams suffered injuries throughout the playoffs.

Hosts: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Pippen calls Phil Jackson a racist, and while never providing strong evidence, he does underscore how The Zen Master was enabled far too often to engage in insensitive, rude or hypocritical behavior.

SEGMENT 2: Again, Jackson's depiction of Kobe in his book doesn't necessarily reflect a racist mindset, but it was definitely harsh, and in ways not always fair.SEGMENT 3: From Twitter follower Kyle Downey asks., could the Lakers have won it all had they stayed healthy?

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