Scotty Pippen Jr. sees ‘balanced’ NBA with LeBron, Giannis moves

FILE–Scotty Pippen Jr. #1 of the Memphis Grizzlies goes to the basket against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at FedExForum on April 12, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin Ford/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. was among the many who didn’t see LeBron James opting to go to the Philadelphia 76ers coming.

James made the surprising move to sign a two-year contract with the 76ers in what he described as his “last decision.”  

“I would say surprising. I think it’s definitely crazy, the team they’re building over there. So it’s exciting to see what they do this year,” said Pippen recently during his visit in Manila.

Scotty Pippen Jr. on LeBron James joining the Sixers and the competition this NBA season. @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/uxVTs3Xmr3

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 30, 2026

The 41-year-old James declined offers from his former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat, where he would’ve formed a “Big Three” with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Pippen believes James’ move to Philadelphia to team up with former MVP Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and rising star VJ Edgecombe, plus Antetokounmpo in Miami, to challenge the NBA champion New York Knicks in the same conference make up for an intriguing and unpredictable NBA season.

READ: NBA: Scotty Pippen Jr. ready for bigger role with Grizzlies

“I think both East and West are really competitive this year. I think previously the West has been super competitive, but East teams have won. So I think the whole NBA right now is pretty balanced and a lot of good teams, a lot of good players,” the 25-year-old Pippen said. “So I think it’s going to be interesting to see who wins it all this year.”

Pippen Jr. was a former teammate of James with the Los Angeles Lakers, where the second-generation player had a short stint during the 2022-23 NBA season. He signed a two-way contract with the Lakers, splitting time with the team’s G League affiliate South Bay Lakers, after going undrafted in 2022.

Pippen, son of NBA legend and six-time NBA champion Scottie, was waived by the Lakers in October 2023. He rejoined the South Bay Lakers before getting a call-up midway through the season from the Grizzlies, who then rewarded him with a four-year contract in 2024 after averaging 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 21 games.