Underneath the shade of sprawling trees and bushes, NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen is netting shot after shot. \u201cBro, stop doing the same shots!\u201d his son Justin exclaims as Scottie rotates between shooting from the court\u2019s imaginary elbows in their backyard in Hidden Hills. Periodically, he\u2019ll bank one in, nodding to his son that he\u2019s still got that masterful shooting touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a beautiful afternoon in mid-May and we\u2019re at the Pippens home for a \u201cDay in the Life\u201d shoot with Tissot, and Justin and Scottie are going back and forth in their game of PIG. Well, initially, they were playing HORSE, but as the ball continued to find the net, both father and son quickly realized they\u2019d be there until dusk if they didn\u2019t make a pivot. So, PIG it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scottie\u2019s got just one letter; P, while Justin looks to save himself from elimination on the right wing. As soon as the shot clanks off the back iron, Scottie begins to celebrate. But Justin still has a shot at redemption. Right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel like I defeated that kid twice,\u201d Scottie explains. \u201cI\u2019ve played PIG numerous times in my life, and I\u2019ve never heard of you getting a second shot after you miss. I went with his rules, but in my world, I won twice. But in his world, he won once. So, I\u2019ll let him win once.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Justin\u2019s mind, and by the book for some players, if you miss your first shot on the last letter of PIG, you automatically receive a second shot to redeem yourself. If you make the second, you play on. If you miss, game over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was not a new rule,\u201d Justin says in his defense. \u201cWe played PIG, he had me at P-I and then for the last shot on G, you get two shots if you miss it. I don\u2019t know [how] he never heard that. That\u2019s how me and my brothers grew up playing. I can call [them] right now and I\u2019ll ask [them] and [they\u2019ll] tell me the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right on cue, the youngest Pippen whips out his phone and Facetimes his older brother Scotty Pippen Jr., who just finished his second season in the League with the Memphis Grizzlies. There\u2019s no brotherly catchup, no \u201cHow are you doin?\u201d It\u2019s straight to business. Justin asks and Scotty Jr. answers: \u201cWhen we grew up playing, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Competitiveness runs in the Pippen family, from the hardwood to Connect 4 and Monopoly. As we prepare to walk with the two through a typical day in their lives, both father and son are giving each other a hard time. The quips aren\u2019t negative, they\u2019re purposeful. As Scottie puts it, the banter builds a competitive edge while instilling confidence. Coaches say it all the time: \u201cWorry when I\u2019m not giving you a hard time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scottie\u2019s got six NBA championships to his name, Scotty Pippen Jr.\u2019s carving out the beginnings of his career in the L after dicing up the SEC at Vanderbilt. Now, it\u2019s Justin\u2019s turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n