prime Pippen vs Kawhi

[Vito Corleone]

Defense
Kawhi = Pippen

Passing
Kawhi <<<<< Pippen

Scoring
Kawhi > Pippen

3p shooting
Kawhi = Pippen

It's too early to debat this except for one thing. Pippen might have been the best defensive small forward I ever witnessed, Kawhi is every bit the same level of defender. If Kawhi never improved on any other aspect of his game, he would be special for this one thing. All the other things are really arguments based on of one year of play. Truth is Kawhi is still an unknown and won't be a truly known commodity for another 3 or 4 years.

[cjw]

Pippen's best shooting percentage seasons were 53.4% from two, 37.4% from three on 5.2 attempts, and over 80% just once from FT in his career (different seasons). Topped out at 22.0 PPG (20.7 PP36), 1.27 PPS and 53.1% eFG%.

Kawhi is at 52.5% from two this year (has been higher in past at lower usage, but still very good), 48.4% from three and 88.2% from the FT line. eFG% is 57.9% is almost 4% higher than Pippen's best season and he's at 1.41 PPS. 20.8 PPG and 22.8 PP36 compares to Pippen's best.

Offensively, current Kawhi blows away Pippen except when it comes to passing (he's improving significantly in that category). Not to mention Pippen played next to the best player of all time, which may have eaten into his scoring but should also have increased efficiency and assist numbers.

Rebounding-wise, Kawhi and Pippen are similar at 11.6 (this year) and 11.9 (best season) rebounds per 100 possessions, respectively.

Best net rating was +15 for Pippen in '95-'96. Kawhi is +19 for his career and +28 this year. Best DRtg for Pippen was 97 in an era where handchecking was allowed. Kawhi is 95 this year.

Obviously, lots of the story remains to be written.

3p shooting
Kawhi = Pippen

Pippen was a 33% career 3pt shooter in an era of a closer 3pt line. Kawhi's worst year was 35% and is a career 40% shooter, and only getting better.

[hater]

6 time champ
7 time allstar
3 time all NBA first team
8 time all NBA defense 1st team
One of the best players in the legendary Dream Team
1st ballot HOFer

This is not a joke fellas. This is for real

[Kawhitstorm]

Pippen refused to play the final 1.8 seconds of a tied playoff game because he wasn't getting the final shot. I would take Leonard over pippen 1000 times out of a 1000.

Yep, Pippen was mentally soft like Porker.

[callo1]

Too hard to compare eras with stats because the rules have changed.

[cjw]

Too hard to compare eras with stats because the rules have changed.

But if you're playing next to the BEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME, your efficiency should be off the charts. Pippen was a very good scorer, but not transcendent. It was the rest of his game that made him what he is - one of the top 5 players at his position ever.

The individual accolades are unfair to compare too, as Kawhi's only 24 (when Pippen first became a starter) + the rings will be almost impossible to match with another perennial 65 win team in the same conference plus no Jordan.

[MoSpur]

Leonard is still very early in his career so its not really fair. Pippen had a great career and played with the BEST of all time so it was hard to recognize how good he was because MJ always got the attention because he was MJ. Leonard still has a lot of years left so I think when its all said and done it will be Leonard > Pippen. I can't really debate that right now.

[hater]

Why not. Not comparing careers obviously. But pure talent and gamesmanship. Who's better today?

[DarrinS]

If you ain't a Kawhi fluffer, this really ain't a debate.

Prime Van Horn vs Kiwi is more like it

Lol, this got

[TheGreatYacht]

Lol, this got

Old got lmao

[DarrinS]

Old got lmao

This old guy could whip your ass

[TrainOfThought5]

Pippen had point guard skills. That's not Kawhi. The size and defense yes

His improvement hasnt slowed down yet.... at this rate, he'll have polished his drive and kick, and pnr skills. If he maintains his defense im not sure how anyone could say that hes not the best player in the league.

[dabom]

This old guy could whip your ass

My brotha.

[TheGreatYacht]

This old guy could whip your ass

Take your insulin, liver spots. I ain't trying to catch a lawsuit

[bic50]

This old guy could whip your ass

[r0drig0lac]

Playmaking Pippen >>> Kawhi
Defense Pippen > Kawhi
Scoring Pippen = Kawhi

* prime Kawhi probably be a better scorer and defensively at the same level. Playmaking skills do not see how Kawhi can get close

[hitmanyr2k]

I like Kawhi as a player, love following his progression and I'm sure he'll get even better where this comparison will actually have merit but at the moment it's really no contest. If Pippen were on the Spurs you guys really wouldn't have to worry about Tony Parker's point guard woes because you would have one of the best playmakers/floor generals ever at the SF position that could run an offense. I think where Kawhi comes up short is his athleticism, explosiveness, and ball-handling ability is not at the same level of Scottie so he's not as dynamic of a player.

[100%duncan]

Comparing prime pippen to 24 yr old kawhi

Shortbus shooting themselves in the foot

[DarrinS]

Take your insulin, liver spots. I ain't trying to catch a lawsuit

Bringa ambalampse

Dude in this video is older than my father

[Dro210]

This comparison is like 3-4 years behind... He's already passing him. Sure, he's gotta a way to go in maintaining this arc, but you're looking at the wrong Bull.

[hater]

This comparison is like 3-4 years behind... He's already passing him. Sure, he's gotta a way to go in maintaining this arc, but you're looking at the wrong Bull.

Jimmy Butler?

[Dro210]

Jimmy Butler?

haha, Jimmy Butler wishes

[adonis827]

Wait until the human avatar downloads Jordan and Pippen modules

[Down Under]

Pippen couldn't shoot very well at all, he dominated when he did because he was the longest and one of the most athletic perimeter players in the league at the time.

[TheChillFactor]

That is Pippen's prime. You think Kawhi would pull that ?