Shaq and Scottie Pippen Engage in Epic Instagram Battle

July 23, 2015 by

Throughout his career as an NBA player and even in the years since his retirement, Shaquille O’Neal has been a lightning rod for controversy. Not so much the kind of controversy where TMZ is on the scene and we’re seeing mug shots on the news–it’s entertaining more than anything.

Unless you’re Scottie Pippen.

The Chicago Bulls legend and the former Los Angeles Lakers great engaged in one of the most amazing social media clashes in recent memory after Shaq posted the following on his Instagram account–

We would beat em by fifty “what you think”. Let me know and don’t hold back

A photo posted by DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq) on Jul 19, 2015 at 5:29pm PDT

Shots fired. Of course, Pippen was quick to fire a retort that undoubtedly hit O’Neal where it hurts–

Sorry @shaq but I don’t get caught up in hypotheticals. All I know is we won 6 titles, twice the amount you claimed while in LA… A photo posted by Scottie Pippen (@scottiepippen) on Jul 20, 2015 at 1:55pm PDT

I can’t fault Pippen’s logic. Basic math tells us that 6>3. Nonetheless, Big Shaq deftly dodged Pippen’s jab and fired back with a low blow–

Sorry @scottiepippen I don’t believe in hypotheticals either, but I seen most of those final you did ok , but this guy did most the work . #youwereok steve kerr and Ron harper deserve more credit than you , remember I WAS BATMAN YOU WAS ROBIN , I was PUFFY YOU WAS MASE…

A photo posted by DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq) on Jul 20, 2015 at 3:10pm PDT

Anybody need a T MOBILE SIDEKICK. I GOTTa PRETTY GOOD ONE #BESTSIDEKICKEVER A photo posted by DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq) on Jul 20, 2015 at 3:56pm PDT

Although O’Neal’s photoshop game could probably use some work, there’s no denying that Pippen will be forever cemented as the second fiddle to the awesomeness that was Michael Jordan. Not that we can hold it against him–MJ was arguably the greatest player in NBA history.

Pippen took the opportunity to remind us that he’s not the only one to “ride coattails” and also made a crack about Shaq’s inability to hit free throws for good measure–

Speaking of being a sidekick… if I recall correctly you know a thing or two about that as well. @shaq

A photo posted by Scottie Pippen (@scottiepippen) on Jul 20, 2015 at 5:58pm PDT

Easy big fella… if only you were as good at free throws as you are talking smack! @shaq A photo posted by Scottie Pippen (@scottiepippen) on Jul 20, 2015 at 5:07pm PDT

Burn and burn.

Of course, any hoops historian worth his salt knows that the Lakers five of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor, Shaq and Kareem Abdul-Jabber probably would beat the Derrick Rose, MJ, Pippen, Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman cadre handily.

Still, the Pippen-O’Neal exchange was one for the ages.