Does Pippen, the second in command, have a chance to snatch a FMVP by Jordan? The gap is too big

On July 15, the combination of Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippen was undoubtedly one of the greatest duo in NBA history. They led the Chicago Bulls to win six championships, and Jordan also won the Finals MVP (FMVP) six times. This achievement not only demonstrates Jordan's unparalleled personal ability, but also reflects Pippen's outstanding contribution as the second in command. However, the discussion about whether Pippen has the opportunity to steal an FMVP from Jordan has always been a topic of relish for fans and media. Judging from historical data and game performance, the gap between Pippen and Jordan in the finals is indeed very obvious, and Pippen has almost no chance to shake Jordan's FMVP status.

First of all, from a data perspective, Jordan's performance in the six finals was perfect. In 1991, Jordan averaged 31.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 11.4 assists in the finals, with a shooting percentage of 55.8%; in 1992, he averaged 35.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists; in 1993, he led the Bulls to complete three consecutive championships with his terrifying performance of 41 points per game. During the second three-game championship, Jordan's performance was still impeccable: in 1996, he averaged 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game; in 1997, he averaged 32.3 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game; in 1998, he averaged 33.5 points, 4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. These data are not only comprehensive, but also extremely efficient, and Jordan's scoring ability and dominance at critical moments are daunting to his opponents. In contrast, although Pippen is also an all-round fighter, his performance in the finals is still far behind Jordan. Pippen's highest average score in the six finals was 20.8 points in 1992 and the lowest was 15.7 points in 1996. The scores in other years were basically hovering around 20 points. Although Pippen contributes a lot in defense, organization and rebounding, his scoring explosiveness and performance at critical moments are far less than Jordan.

Secondly, from the actual progress of the game, Jordan played the role of "savior" many times in the finals, while Pippen was more often a stable deputy. Taking the famous "Flu Battle" in the fifth game of the 1997 Finals as an example, Jordan played for 44 minutes while sick, scoring 38 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and hitting a key three-pointer at the last moment to help the Bulls win. This game fully demonstrated Jordan's willpower and dominance. Although Pippen scored 17 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, his performance was obviously not comparable to Jordan. For example, in the sixth game of the 1998 Finals, Jordan stole Carl Malone at the last moment and completed the "last shot", completely ending the game. These classic moments not only become eternal memories of NBA history, but also further consolidate Jordan's indisputable nature as a FMVP. Although Pippen has performed well in these games, he has never decided the direction of the game alone in life and death like Jordan.

In addition, from the team's tactical status, Jordan has always been the absolute core and first choice of the Bulls, while Pippen is the perfect second in command. Although Phil Jackson's "triangle offensive" system emphasizes teamwork, Jordan is still the end point of tactics and the executor of key balls. Pippen's role is more about organizing forwards and defensive core. His comprehensiveness makes the Bulls' offense and defense more balanced, but the team will still hand the ball to Jordan without hesitation at critical moments. This tactical arrangement also determines that it is difficult for Pippen to surpass Jordan in the finals to compete for FMVP.

Of course, Pippen's contribution cannot be ignored. He is Jordan's most capable assistant. He can lock the opponent's forward ace on the defensive end, and he can organize and share Jordan's pressure on the offensive end. Without Pippen, the Bulls' six-time championship may be difficult to achieve. But in the FMVP selection, the judges valued the players' dominance and decisive performance in the finals, and Jordan's performance in this regard was almost perfect. Although Pippen is excellent, his data and influence are never comparable to Jordan.

Finally, from historical evaluation and media opinions, Jordan's FMVP status has never been questioned. Even in 1992 or 1997, when Pippen performed well, no media or experts believed that FMVP should be attributed to Pippen. This fully demonstrates that the gap between the two is not only in terms of data, but also in terms of the influence and historical status of the game. Jordan is the god of basketball, and Pippen is one of the greatest second-in-commands in history. This positioning has long been widely recognized.

To sum up, although Pippen is one of the best second-in-commands in NBA history, he has no chance to steal any FMVP in the face of Jordan's six finals performance. The gap between the two is not only reflected in the data, but also in the critical moments of the game and the team's tactical status. Jordan's dominance and legendary nature make Pippen's FMVP dream an impossible task. However, this does not affect Pippen's greatness. He is still an indispensable core of the Bulls dynasty and one of the most underrated superstars in NBA history.