NBA great called out over huge MJ-LeBron GOAT backflip

NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen has been called out by basketball fans after a sensational new backflip in the never-ending GOAT debate.

Pippen has been asked on numerous occasions who the greatest of all time is between six-time NBA champion former teammate Michael Jordan and 14-time NBA All-Star LeBron James.

For some reason, Pippen seems to have a vendetta against the Los Angeles Lakers star, widely regarded as the heir apparent to Jordan’s throne.

As a guest on ESPN’s ‘The Jump’ recently, Pippen was quick to say that Duke University freshman Zion Williamson would be the biggest draft prospect since his Jordan, completely eliminating James from the conversation.

Even when host Rachel Nichols protested that he might have overlooked the three-time NBA champion, Pippen immediately disregarded her argument.

When Nichols asked why, the 53-year-old credited the star Blue Devil’s size and physicality as catalysts to his current success.

Now Pippen has doubled down on his criticism of James during a segment on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ – where he is a regular guest.

This time Pippen made it clear who he is siding with in the MJ vs LeBron GOAT debate.

“When I look at LeBron James, he’s not what Michael [Jordan] was as a player. He’s not even what Kobe Bryant was as a player,” Pippen told the hosts.

“When you talk about trying to compare Michael’s instinct, his ability to take over games, his ability to want to have that last shot. LeBron doesn’t have that gene.”

Pippen won six championships in Chicago as Jordan’s sidekick. In the past, he hasn’t been shy to offer both praise and doubt over James’ work ethic, and that’s exactly the argument he took when he pleaded his case .

He was especially skeptical of how James handled this week’s 117-113 loss against the Atlanta Hawks.

“I can sit here and say today, I watched LeBron the other night,” Pippen explained.

“The game was on the line. And he made little or no effort to go after the ball.”

Even after co-host Max Kellerman defended King James, Pippen nonetheless added the former Cleveland Cavalier doesn’t posses that “clutch” gene like his former teammate.

“It’s that clutch gene. I’m not taking it away that he don’t know how to win, and he’s not willing to have the ball in his hands. But the players that have that clutch gene, they’re gonna go get that ball.”

Understandably, Pippen’s comments sparked plenty of debate on social media.

Pippen’s statement was understandable enough but there was one big problem: it was at complete odds with an analysis he made one year ago when comparing James to Jordan.

This isn’t the first time Pippen’s confusing disdain for James has drawn ire.

In 2017, he was suddenly at a loss for words when prying TMZ reporters asked for his thoughts on MJ vs. LeBron after former President Barack Obama was asked to choose between the two.

Spoiler alert: POTUS 44 picked the guy who played for Chicago.

With Yahoo Sports US