Pippen Steps Aside After 17 Seasons

Scottie Pippen played the sidekick to basketball’s greatest star, creating a partnership the Chicago Bulls parlayed into an NBA dynasty with six titles in the 1990s.

Pippen’s career ended Tuesday as he announced his retirement after 17 years in the league. He made the announcement standing in front of the six championship trophies he helped the Bulls win.

“As I stand here and as I look back, I don’t think Michael [Jordan] had any championship trophies without me,” Pippen said in Deerfield, Ill.

Pippen, 39, chosen one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players in 1996 for the league’s 50th anniversary, was known for his all-around play -- especially his long-armed defense as a 6-foot-7 swingman against some of the league’s best scorers.

He was also a seven-time All-Star and a key figure on a Bulls team that compiled a record 72-10 regular season.

After 11 years with the Bulls, Pippen left after the 1999 lockout and played one year in Houston and four in Portland. Looking for leadership, the Bulls brought Pippen back last season. But he had knee surgery in December and played only 23 games.

It was the first time in his career Pippen missed the playoffs. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 237 has played in more postseason games than Pippen (208).

Pippen finished his career with a 16.1 scoring average to go with 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

Pippen said his various injuries have left him unable to play a full season. Still, the Bulls will pay him the $5 million left on his two-year contract this season.

“After 17 years, I got all the basketball out of me I possibly could,” said Pippen, whose No. 33 will be retired next season.

And unlike Jordan, who made two comebacks after retiring, Pippen promised he’s finished.

“There won’t be any return for me,” he said.

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Guard Sam Cassell was a no-show on the first day of training camp, sending a message to the Minnesota Timberwolves that he was displeased about not getting a contract extension.

“He’s not totally unhappy, he just feels it’s time for him to look out for his interests,” said Charles Tucker, Cassell’s agent.

Tucker said he didn’t know when Cassell, 34, would report. Cassell’s contract calls for him to be paid $5.65 million this season and $6.1 million next season.

Cassell had career bests in scoring (19.8 points a game) and shooting (48.8%) last season and made his first All-Star team in his first season with Minnesota. He had surgery in June to repair torn cartilage in his hip.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves signed Eddie Griffin, the troubled former Houston and New Jersey forward jailed earlier this year on drug and aggravated assault charges.

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Attempting to become the second NBA player to return after a kidney transplant, Alonzo Mourning lifted weights, shot around and did stretching exercises on the New Jersey Nets’ first day of camp but did not participate in contact drills.

“I’m not going to get it all back in one week,” said Mourning, who was unsure about playing any preseason games. “I’ve got to read my body, and I’ve got to be smart about this. I want to live another 50 years, that’s the most important thing here.”

Mourning underwent transplant surgery 10 months ago. Mourning was diagnosed in 2000 with a serious kidney ailment that ultimately forced him to leave the Nets last November after a comeback.

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Washington Wizard forward Kwame Brown may miss the first month of the regular season after August surgery to repair a broken right foot, the team said. He was injured in a pickup game.... The Atlanta Hawks extended the contract of General Manager Billy Knight and added the title of executive vice president.... The Denver Nuggets signed free-agent forward Rodney White to a two-year contract, one day after a judge allowed him to leave Washington, D.C., for the first time since his arrest last month on a felony charge of unlawful discharge of a gun. The Nuggets expect the charge to be reduced.

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Great Scott

Scottie Pippen’s playoff statistics in the Chicago Bulls’ championship seasons:

*--* YEAR G FG REB AST PTS 1990-91 17 504 8.9 5.8 21.6 1991-92 22 468 8.8 6.7 19.5 1992-93 19 465 6.9 5.6 20.1 1995-96 18 390 8.5 5.9 16.9 1996-97 19 417 6.8 3.8 19.2 1997-98 21 415 7.1 5.2 16.8

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Note: For his career, Pippen averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists.