In one of his recent interviews, Pippen …

In one of his recent interviews, Pippen said a back injury he suffered at the end of his rookie year came in as a blessing in disguise. Pippen understood that playing in the NBA, apart from being physically fit, also demands a sharp mind and readiness in every possible aspect. Guidance from some of his older teammates helped him in understanding that even though he is young, he should take care of any potential injuries that could affect him performing on a high level. “Probably the best thing that happened to me was that I hurt my back after my first year in the league because it really put me in a position to focus on the physical aspect of how to survive in this game and how I would survive as a player with a bad back. It was a big challenge for me. I feel like I met that challenge, surviving 16 years of hard playing. Those things that I dealt with early on in my career definitely prepared me for learning and getting better.”