In 1987, Scottie Pippen was drafted by then Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause as a little known basketball player from Central Arkansas.
Some 23 years later, the 6-7 former NBA star became a new member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA with the greatest player in the history of the NBA, Michael Jordan, as his presenter.
As a person who witnessed many of Pippen's exploits on the court, it's no surprise that he wound up in the Hall of Fame.
As the Chicago Bulls team 'DJ' for seven years (1987-94), which consisted of producing and playing the music and sound effects heard during the NBA games, I was courtside at the scorer's table for three of the seven years at that position, and witnessed Pippen's transition from the bench to the superstar status he ascended to.
Pippen started out on the bench and often would be the first one to enter the game when then starting forward Brad Sellers would get yanked from the game by then Head Coach Doug Collins.
Long time Bulls official scorer Bob Rosenberg would joke with Pippen as he waited at the scorer's table to enter the game, "Hey Scottie, you going in for Brad (Sellers)?"
Pippen would smile and laugh slightly before entering the court, "Yeah" was his response.
That was during the 1987-88 season as the Bulls began to surround Jordan with the supporting cast he needed to lead the team to the NBA championship.
Along with fellow rookie Horace Grant, Pippen was one of the pieces of the puzzle to get it going during that rookie season.
The team continued to ascend to new and greater heights as the years rolled by, culminating with the Bulls' first ever championship in the 1990-91 NBA season.
Seeing Pippen giving his acceptance speech Friday evening, it was good to know that even though the role played as the Bulls' sound producer (official title) was a small one, it was never the less a role played in helping contribute to an atmosphere conducive to winning at the old Chicago Stadium.
Pippen had some favorite tunes he liked to hear during the pre-game warmups as did Jordan and many other players. But when MJ and Scottie P (as he was often called) requested a tune, we would definitely accommodate.
Current Bulls public address announcer Tommy Edwards, back for a second tour of duty after leaving the mic at the tail end of the 1989-90 season, was the man who bellowed out the introductions for the team during Pippen's early years.
When he became the starter midway through his rookie year, Pippen would be introduced first and Michael last to the roar of the crowd as Alan Parson's "Eye in the Sky" Sirius introduction song was played during a spotlight ceremony that has since been copied by numerous NBA teams.
That introduction was prophetic it seems now as the two players were book ended around the supporting cast of starters that, through the years, carried the team to six NBA championships in eight seasons spanning from 1991-98.
When all was said and done and the team moved from the old Chicago Stadium to the United Center in 1994, Pippen and Jordan were the two who were there for all six titles.
Congratulations Scottie P... you earned it.
