Scottie Pippen’s frustration with “The Last Dance” docuseries is well-documented, but director Jason Hehir believes Pippen’s so-called “hatred” toward Michael Jordan may have been influenced by external sources.

Michael Jordan and 2-year-old Katie Ledecky on the day they played hide-and-seek in a legendary video
Pippen: Me & my teammates haven’t gotten enough praise
Speaking on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, Hehir shared his thoughts on the controversy and provided insight into Pippen’s potential lack of firsthand engagement with the series.

During his appearance on the podcast, Hehir expressed skepticism about whether Pippen had actually watched the entire documentary.

“I think he’s been told by several people they did you wrong and all that, but I would bet a lot of money that he did not sit down and watch all 10 hours of that doc,”Hehir said, inviting Pippen to discuss the series directly on the podcast.

Pippen’s primary complaint about “The Last Dance” was its focus on Michael Jordan, which he felt overshadowed his and his teammates’ contributions to the Chicago Bulls’ success.

Pippen articulated his frustration in his memoir, “Unguarded,” stating, “The final two episodes aired on May 17. Similar to the previous eight, they glorified Michael Jordan while not giving nearly enough praise to me and my proud teammates.”

He also alleged that Jordan had editorial control during the final post-production phase, influencing the portrayal.

Hehir has previously expressed regret about Pippen’s displeasure with the series.

On “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” he mentioned his sadness that he might never get the chance to discuss the series with Pippen again and acknowledged that it’s difficult to please everyone with a documentary.

“If everyone feels great about a documentary, then one probably did not do his job right making it,” he stated.

Pippen & Jordan’s troubled relationship aired for TV
The rift between Pippen and Jordan became more apparent following the release of the docuseries.

Pippen’s “No Bull Tour,” which included former teammates Horace Grant and Luc Longley, was perceived by many, including analysts like Stephen A. Smith, as a form of resistance to “The Last Dance.”

Smith criticized Pippen’s focus on the negatives, reminding him of Jordan’s acknowledgment of Pippen’s importance to their six championships.

Interestingly, Pippen’s stance on Jordan and the series has not been entirely consistent.

In an appearance on “Today,” he praised “The Last Dance,” calling it “a special moment for us to really relive some of the greatest time in basketball history and more so have an opportunity to see what team basketball was like.”

This dual stance supports Hehir’s claim that Pippen’s opinions might have been shaped by external feedback rather than his own viewing of the documentary.

Hehir also shared a behind-the-scenes story about a controversial clip involving Pippen that was cut from the final version.

Pippen had made a disparaging joke about Chicago Bulls executive Jerry Krause, which the NBA insisted be removed out of respect for Krause’s family.

“I included that in our rough cuts because I wanted people to see what this guy was going through day in and day out. And that’s the one thing that they made me take out in three or four years of doing this,” Hehir explained.

Despite these challenges, Hehir remains reflective about the impact of “The Last Dance,” particularly regarding Krause’s portrayal and the subsequent fan reactions.

Hehir recalled a moment when Bulls fans booed Krause at a Ring of Honor ceremony, causing emotional distress for Krause’s widow.

“I don’t feel responsible or guilty, but part of me is like if we never did this, then this poor woman wouldn’t have gone through what I’m sure was one of the worst moments of her life,”Hehir said.