Scotty Pippen Jr. didn’t get much playtime with the Lakers, but he shined in a recent game against his old coach.
Impressive Defense Against Milwaukee
In a match where the Grizzlies defeated the Bucks 122-99, Scotty Pippen Jr. was key in holding Damian Lillard to just four points. Pippen scored 16 points himself and played solid defense for 27 minutes, all while his former coach watched.
A Personal Challenge
Pippen took this game personally. He said, “One of the coaches over there didnโt believe in me so I definitely wanted to show I can play some defense.” This comment seems aimed at Darvin Ham, who coached him during his short stint with the Lakers.
Scotty Pippen Jr. was one of the players who guarded Dame the most tonight. He said he โdefinitelyโ took that matchup personal. Why?
โOne of the coaches over there didnโt believe in me so I definitely wanted to show I can play some defense.โ
Iโll let you solve the puzzle.
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC)
Finding Success in Memphis
After leaving the Lakers, Pippen started with the South Bay Lakers before joining Memphis on a two-way contract. With Ja Morant out, he became a starter for 16 games and averaged nearly 13 points per game while showing strong defensive skills. His performance earned him a four-year contract with Memphis.
Sometimes we wonder why talented players don’t get more chances earlier on.
Lakers’ Struggles with Young Talent
Pippen wasn’t alone in feeling overlooked by Ham. The Lakers were reportedly upset that young players like Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves weren’t given consistent starting roles while veteran Taurean Prince got more playtime.
Prince is now playing under Ham again with the Bucks but hasn’t had much success so far this season. Meanwhile, Pippen’s standout performance proves why he’s valued by his new team.
