In Gotham City, Batman would occasionally need Robin’s help to defeat crime. In the movie “Top Gun,” Maverick needed Iceman to accomplish his mission.

In the NBA, Michael Jordan became a champion with a big assist from Scottie Pippen.

With Pippen as his wingman, Jordan won six NBA championships and six Finals MVPs with the Chicago Bulls. Pippen was the Robin to Jordan’s Batman. He was the ultimate No. 2 option to basketball’s No. 1 option. He was the perfect complement to the man many consider as the G.O.A.T.

Whenever Jordan needed help on offense, Pippen willingly shouldered some of the burden. During the Bulls’ championship run in the 1990s, it was Pippen who initiated and ran Phil Jackson’s triangle offense in Chicago.

Whenever Jordan needed help on defense, it was Pippen who often drew the assignment of guarding the other team’s best scorer to keep Jordan from getting into foul trouble.

And when Jordan was sick and needed someone to pick him up, Pippen was there to pick him up. During Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Jordan was so sick he barely had the strength to return to the bench. Who was there to help him? Pippen.

You can’t mention Jordan’s accomplishments without giving credit to his famous sidekick.

Pippen finally got his due when he was recently named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, as class that includes Karl Malone, Bob Hurley Sr., Cynthia Cooper and Dennis Johnson.

Pippen certainly deserved to be enshrined in Springfield, Mass. He was a seven-time NBA All-Star, an eight-time member of the NBA’s all-defensive team, won six championship rings, a member of the Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team.

As the leading man, Pippen also took two teams – the 1994 Bulls and the 2000 Portland Trail Blazers – to the conference finals. Jordan never got past the conference semifinals without Pippen.

The former Central Arkansas standout was one of the most versatile players in the league history. He played four positions on offense and was a very capable scorer. He could drive to the basket at will and finish with either hand, and when defenders backed off he made himself into a decent 3-point shooter.

Defense was Pippen’s calling card. With the exception of Bill Russell, Pippen could very well be the greatest defensive player in league history. His lengthy 6-foot-8 frame allowed him to guard any perimeter player. When the Bulls needed a stopper in the 1991 NBA Finals against the Lakers’ 6-9 point guard Magic Johnson, Jackson summoned Pippen to stifle the leader of Showtime. And he did.

In Jackson’s defensive scheme, Pippen was the shutdown corner and Jordan was the free safety.

Though no one will ever question who was better between Jordan or Pippen, the fact remains that Jordan never won a championship without Pippen. To bring home the trophy, you need a good wingman. Just like Magic needed Kareem, Bird needed McHale, West needed Wilt and Shaq needed Kobe.

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Michael Jordan was named NBA regular-season MVP five times; John Stockton holds the all-time record for assists and steals; and David Robinson was the league MVP in 1994-95 season. (GETTY IMAGES)

When a Hall of Fame class includes arguably the greatest player of all time, arguably the greatest point guard in NBA history, arguably one of the best centers of his generation, arguably one of the greatest coaches in NBA history and arguably one of the best coaches of all time in women’s basketball, then it’s officially the greatest collection of inductees that will take the podium in Springfield, Mass.

Hard to argue against the selection of Michael Jordan, John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer – a star-studded list that make up the 2009 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class.

Jordan, Stockton, Robinson and Sloan were all elected in their first year of consideration into the Hall of Fame, while Stringer has been named a finalist in prior years. To be elected, finalists need 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Basketball Hall of Fame. The class of 2009 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield on Sept. 10-12.

A closer look at the newest members of the Basketball Hall of Fame:

Michael Jordan – Player, is one of the most recognized figures in the sporting world. Jordan was selected as a unanimous collegiate All-American twice (1983, 1984) at the University of North Carolina where he won an NCAA Championship and received both Naismith and Wooden Award Honors. He went on to a storied NBA career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards and was a 14-time NBA All-Star, a five-time NBA MVP, a six-time NBA Finals MVP, and won multiple All-NBA First Team honors while winning six NBA Championships. Jordan was also named NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988) and was a nine-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team. The NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1985, Jordan was also named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team and won two Olympic Gold Medals including one with the original “Dream Team” in 1992 and one as a collegian in 1984.

David Robinson – Player, spent his entire NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, guiding them to two NBA Championships while being named to 10 NBA All-Star Teams, four All-NBA First Team Selections, one NBA League MVP and was selected to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team. Robinson also won two Olympic Gold Medals, including his participation on the legendary 1992 “Dream Team” and with the 1996 Gold Medal Olympic team. During Robinson’s college career at the U.S. Naval Academy, he earned Player of the Year, Naismith and Wooden Honors while leading the nation in rebounding and blocked shots.

Jerry Sloan – Coach, began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach with the Chicago Bulls before beginning his tremendous career with the Utah Jazz. He is the only coach in NBA history to win over 1,000 games with a single team while compiling a winning percentage of over .600. Sloan led the Jazz to two NBA Finals, 18 playoff appearances and is fourth on the NBA list of coaching victories. Sloan was also named as the Sporting News NBA Coach of the Year in 2004.

John Stockton – Player, spent his entire NBA career with the Utah Jazz, accumulating 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals – both NBA records at his retirement. He was named to 10 NBA All-Star teams and was selected as a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team while leading the Jazz to two NBA Finals. He was also named to the All-NBA First Teams in 1994 and 1995. Like Robinson, Stockton won two Olympic Gold Medals (1992, 1996) and was a member of the original “Dream Team.”

C. Vivian Stringer – Coach, has won more than 800 games in her career and currently ranks third on the women’s all-time career wins list. She is the first coach to lead three different schools to the NCAA Final Four including Cheyney State, the University of Iowa and Rutgers University where she is currently. Coach Stringer is also enshrined at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Note: The individual profiles were provided by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball. The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level worldwide – professional, collegiate, men and women.

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