Chapter 903 - 57: Nightmare

Pippen is not someone who wouldn’t give his all on the court, as long as the Bulls gave him a new contract.

During the regular season, when Pippen went on strike, Jerry Krause quickly drafted a new contract and put it in front of Pippen.

After some struggles and thought, Pippen accepted the Bulls’ terms and decided to sign the long-term deal to secure his financial future.

However, even by the time the Finals began, the signing of the contract was still not finalized. Jerry Krause delayed the signing due to tax-related reasons.

The main reason for Krause’s delay was his lingering hope for Toni Kukoc and his strong desire to bring Kukoc to the Bulls next season.

Krause was betting—betting that the Trail Blazers would make it to the Finals and that Kukoc’s Croatian compatriot Petrović could inspire Kukoc to pursue his NBA dream.

If that happened, the Bulls would have an all-around Croatian star coming off the bench, serving as the sixth man for the Bulls’ frontcourt—something Pippen had never had as a decent backup.

If Kukoc did join the Bulls, his salary would be higher than Pippen’s, leaving uncertain whether Pippen would remain motivated to play well for the team.

So, Krause kept stalling—stalling until the Finals, following the collective bargaining agreement’s rules, and the time finally came to make a decision.

Once the Finals ended, the salary cap for the current season would expire, player contracts for next season would come into effect, and the new salary cap would be announced. By then, the Bulls would undoubtedly face a deficit.

Krause yet again sought confirmation from Croatia about whether Toni Kukoc would come to America. After much hesitation, Kukoc’s answer remained unchanged—he still wanted to wait.

Petrović’s success did not inspire Kukoc. On the contrary, seeing the former Croatian prodigy relegated to becoming a sixth man in America, Kukoc felt that if he joined the Bulls, he’d merely be a side character. So, he decided not to come for now.

Jerry Krause finally gave up hope, realizing that Kukoc definitely would not join the Bulls next season. Before Game Two of the Finals, he informed Scottie Pippen’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, that he was ready to sign with Pippen.

Jimmy Sexton asked Krause if the terms of the contract were still the same—the same amount, the same duration?

Krause said, of course, nothing had changed, and he was ready to sign—but it would have to be done secretly.

This was classic Krause style—keeping everything mysterious, like he was conducting some covert operation.

Krause arranged for Sexton and Pippen to discuss the contract in a separate room at the hotel and to sign the deal there.

But Sexton insisted on delaying the signing until before Game Three, once they returned to Chicago, where the signing would be held at the Bulls’ headquarters.

"We’re signing a player contract, not some unequal treaty. Why do we have to do it sneakily? It should be announced publicly—it could even boost team morale."

Krause disagreed with Sexton’s approach. He insisted on signing the contract in private, as he didn’t want journalists to ask too many questions about Pippen’s deal.

"Disclosing details isn’t helpful to our recruitment efforts or contract proceedings. This is my way of doing things; let’s respect each other, okay?"

Neither side could reach an agreement, so they both compromised. Krause agreed to finalize the contract in Chicago.

The deal was struck—but Pippen and Sexton agreed not to hold a press conference and to sign the contract quietly in a discreet location.

At such a crucial moment in the battle between the Trail Blazers and the Bulls, Jerry Krause was still fixated on salary caps and contracts, leaving a key player like Pippen unable to fully focus on the game. This was a major management failure for the Bulls.

If the opponent were anyone but the Trail Blazers, the Bulls’ strength would be sufficient to handle them comfortably.

Pippen had performed remarkably well in this year’s playoffs, excelling in critical games and staying steady against the Pistons.

He deserved a good contract, but the Bulls kept scheming—right up to the start of the Finals. When Kukoc didn’t pan out, they begrudgingly and secretively moved to renew Pippen’s contract.

Of course, Pippen felt deeply dissatisfied, which caused him to resist the coaching staff’s assignment to confront Ah Gan.

If I’m not paid properly, with my contract unsigned, why should I risk everything?

If Ah Gan elbowed me into a concussion, and the Bulls refused to sign a new contract, what would happen to me in the future?

Pippen was an outstanding and dedicated player with remarkable ability and an impeccable performance on the court.

But people are inherently selfish and have their own concerns. Until the contract issue was resolved, Pippen had a lingering grievance.

With his professional attitude, he could play a game at 100%, but expecting him to deliver 120% or even 150% was unlikely.

Before Game Two began, the victorious Trail Blazers decided to make some adjustments to their tactical approach.

Meanwhile, the Bulls, who had lost the first game, stuck to their defensive arrangement from Game One, only demanding that Jordan make more offensive adjustments.

At the same time, Phil Jackson instructed pre-game that Buck-Williams and Bill Cartwright must score early and be aggressive against Ah Gan.

The interior needed to put enough pressure on the Trail Blazers, whether causing fouls for Ah Gan or directly scoring—anything was better than being dominated by Ah Gan alone.

"I know it’s tough, but the Finals are supposed to be tough. Beating the Trail Blazers is supposed to be tough. You absolutely have to get it done!"

On the evening of the game, inside the Bulls’ locker room, Phil Jackson tapped on the tactical whiteboard and issued a stern order to the Bulls’ frontcourt players.