Scotty Pippen Jr: 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report
A very different player than his father, Pippen is a productive offensive option with some legitimate NBA appeal
In the 1990s, there was no better defender, athlete or positionless player than Scottie Pippen. The Chicago Bulls star won six NBA Championships and became a Hall of Famer and Top 75 player of all-time thanks to the rare 6’8” frame, ball handling and ability to guard every position. His athleticism and natural traits carried him early, while his drive and IQ picked up late.
Don’t let this make you feel old, but Pippen’s son is now a legitimate NBA prospect. Scotty Pippen Jr. (yes, he spells it differently) has put together three consecutive strong seasons at Vanderbilt, two of which he’s scored over 20 points per game. At 6’3” and with very mundane athleticism, the younger Pippen has a drastically different game than his pops.
Replace the athleticism with strength and craftiness. Pippen rarely dunks on guys or finishes at the heights of the rim. Instead, he uses polished pump fakes and lean-ins to not just score but gets his opponents in foul trouble. During the regular season, Pippen lead the nation in free throw attempts, taking over 8 per game.
When he leaves Vanderbilt, he’ll need to be far more balanced offensively. He won’t have the long leash to over-dribble like Jerry Stackhouse gave him, nor will he get the same impact from head fakes and up-and-unders with NBA-caliber rim protection. For a guy with less-than-ideal athleticism, the improved spacing on an NBA court could greatly benefit him.
Pippen isn’t an above-average passer for his position, but he’s got a good basketball IQ to help him anticipate who could be open. The improvements to the shot will be important, especially off the bounce. That stiffer form caught up to him at the NBA Draft combine last year in live play, and it certainly will be the difference between being a G-League mainstay and making an NBA roster legitimately.
Perhaps most important for Pippen to remedy will be his defense. The guy has garnered a reputation through three years in the SEC as someone who doesn’t really care about that end of the floor. He acted like a turnstile on the perimeter for opponents to walk through, providing little resistance on-ball. With lower volume at the next level and less of a creation burden, the built-in excuse of energy conservation will be gone.
We think Pippen can salvage himself into a sturdy defender, mainly due to his instincts. He sees the game really well on that end and has some ball-hawking tendencies. When he’s left free to roam and be aggressive, he comes away with a ton of deflections. Those high-risk, high-reward moments aren’t always a coach’s favorite, but there is hope for him to find a way to impact that end.
Pippen doesn’t strike us as someone who can push his way up into the first round. He’s a back-half of the second-round type who could have a ton of intrigue as a Summer League and training camp flier. We’d expect to see him in the G-League next year one way or another, and how quickly he makes it to the big leagues will depend on his aptitude for playing defense and correcting some of his collegiate shortcomings.
Below are some statistical profiles and outlooks on Pippen