NBA Finals 2011: LeBron James Called A Better Player Than Michael Jordan By Scottie Pippen

The "Robin" to the Chicago Bulls "Batman" of the 1990's has stirred up some emotions with his comments about the greatest player to ever play the game. Scottie Pippen went on MIke and Mike in the Morning on ESPN radio and made a comment that has Bulls fans turning on the once-great wing-man for Michael Jordan. Via ESPN.

"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to play the game, but I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will but he keeps everybody involved."

It is kind of like a knife in the back to Bulls fans considering Pippen is dissing the best player off all-time, Pippen's wing-man, and doing that for a player that spurned the Bulls last off season so he could "take his talents to South Beach". Pippen probably didn't know the problems he was going to create when he made these comments but the timing could not have been worse. Coming off of two heart-breaking defeats at the hands of LeBron and the Heat, Pippen takes a mini-shot at a hometown icon to praise a nemesis? Come on Pippen, you're smarter than that. Now rather than taking the high road after his comments have become front-page news, he tweeted out to all of those who were angry about his comments.

"For all of you that don't know, I played the game you keep watching and cheering."

Now he's attacking fans? What did he think was going to happen when he basically slapped Bulls fans in the face and then questioned their ability to call-out someone who made a questionable remark at a terrible time. There were probably some fans who took it too far and this tweet was probably directed at them. But that tweet went out to everyone and made this situation even worse for the former Bulls star.

There is no question that LeBron James is the most physically-superior basketball player to ever step on the hardwood. But calling him the best player in the game before he ever wins a ring is a little much right now. When he gets those rings that debate can happen. There is also a certain "Mamba" in Los Angeles that might have something to say about crowning a player "best of all-time" before he can slide a gaudy rock on one of his fingers, let alone have to use both hands.

Either way, Pippen should have known better than to say something like this at a time that Bulls fans are already dealing with the end of a promising season. Now they get to watch the player that chose to go to Miami, and their hometown kid in Dwayne Wade, try and win a championship while they get to sit back and watch.