Scotty Pippen Jr. bent on charting own path to NBA greatness

MANILA, Philippines -- For some, being a son of someone who is one of the greatest ever in the same field you are in may bring incapacitating, backbreaking pressure. 

Scotty Pippen Jr. does not feel that way. 

Pippen, the son of the legendary forward who played for the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, is out to carve a career of his own. 

The 22-year-old point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies is one of the brightest young stars of the squad, and while his journey was different from his father, he is unfazed. 

Pippen told reporters during a media availability event at the NBA store Thursday at SM Megamall that he does not see carrying the surname as pressure. 

“I think it's… I use my dad as a resource. I think people look at it as a pressure. I just kind of use that as an advantage,” he told reporters. 

“Just knowing that I have someone that can help me get to where I need to be and push me,” he added. 

Even before, he has come to his father for pieces of advice, and the 60-year-old, six-time champion emphasized one thing. 

“[He] just [keeps on] talking about my work ethic, you know, just keep working. Even now, he still tells me to keep working. A lot of guys have these big contracts and stuff like that,” he said. 

“He just tells me to just put my head down and just keep working. And I think even when I was a kid and I was getting overlooked, he always told me just keep working. Your time will come. So I think that's the main advice he's given me.” 

And that time may be coming for the young 6-foot-2 guard. 

With the trade of star guard Ja Morant, not just a window, but a door, of opportunity opened up for him. 

“Yeah, my mentality was to keep working. You know, I knew my opportunity would come and I knew I had to be ready for that,” he said.

“I knew I had an uphill battle and a lot of work to do, but you know, I had the right people around me that pushed me, got me to where I need to be,” he added. 

Pippen stressed that the departure of Morant, who was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, is “definitely tough to see,” it will open more opportunities for the rest of the team. 

“I think just stepping into a bigger role and, you know, just this summer just being prepared for that and [getting] ready to get the season started,” he said. 

Pippen also emphasized just how fast the NBA changes, and it is up to him to ensure that he works hard enough to get ready when his time comes. 

“I would say just knowing how fast the NBA changes. You could be a two-way player one day, then you could be a main player, then a starter in the NBA. So just knowing how harder you have to work and just knowing that every day the NBA changes,” he said. 

“This game could be taken away from you or, you know, opportunities could be given to you. So just always being ready.” 

Pippen entered the NBA undrafted. After spending a year with the LA Lakers, he blossomed into one of the rising stars in the young Grizzlies squad. 

Last season, he played only 10 games but had averages of 11.4 points, 4.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds to go with 1.9 steals in 21.2 minutes per game. The previous season, he played in 79 games and started 21, while averaging 9.9 points, 4.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds a contest.