Scottie & Larsa Pippen: A 6-Year Divorce, Marcus Jordan, and the Bulls Dynasty Shadow
A 24-year marriage, a 6-year divorce, and then she dated Michael Jordan's son.
Key Facts
What Happened
Scottie Pippen, six-time NBA champion and Michael Jordan's legendary Chicago Bulls teammate, married Larsa Younan in 1997. The marriage would last 19 years before Scottie filed for divorce in October 2016, though the legal proceedings would drag on for nearly six more years. During that time, Larsa claimed she 'didn't get a nickel' from Scottie for six years while the divorce was being processed.
The divorce became one of the most protracted and publicly messy in NBA history. While sealed court records kept specific financial details private, it was known that Scottie's total career earnings exceeded $120 million in NBA salary alone. The couple had four children together — Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia — and custody arrangements became a major point of negotiation. Larsa eventually received half of Scottie's Chicago Bulls retirement account (accumulated from 1997 to 2016, estimated at $470,000) plus undisclosed spousal and child support.
The real scandal erupted after the divorce was finalized in December 2021. In September 2022, it was reported that Larsa had begun dating Marcus Jordan — the son of Michael Jordan, Scottie's former teammate and frequent rival for credit in the Bulls dynasty. The relationship felt like a deliberate provocation to many observers, given the well-documented tension between Scottie and Michael Jordan that had been reignited by the 2020 documentary 'The Last Dance,' in which Scottie felt disrespected.
The Larsa-Marcus relationship became tabloid fodder, with social media dissecting every appearance and Instagram post. The couple eventually split after over a year of dating. Meanwhile, Larsa built a second career as a reality television personality on The Real Housewives of Miami, where she openly discussed the financial and emotional toll of her divorce, telling viewers that the six-year process nearly broke her.
Legal Breakdown: Spousal Support
The Cost of Protracted Divorce
The Pippen divorce took six years from filing to finalization — during which Larsa claims she received no financial support. Prolonged divorce proceedings can be financially devastating for the lower-earning spouse, especially when the higher-earning spouse controls assets. Courts can award temporary spousal support during proceedings, but enforcing these orders requires additional legal action and expense.
Retirement Accounts as Marital Property
Scottie's NBA retirement account was divided using a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which allows retirement benefits to be split between spouses without tax penalties. Only the portion accumulated during the marriage (1997–2016) was subject to division. This is standard practice — pre-marital retirement contributions typically remain separate property, while contributions during the marriage are marital property subject to equitable distribution.
Sealed Settlements and Privacy
Many details of the Pippen divorce were sealed by the court, including specific spousal support amounts. High-profile individuals often negotiate sealed settlements to prevent public scrutiny of their finances. While this protects privacy, it also means the public — and specifically, other divorcing couples — cannot use these cases as benchmarks. Larsa's decision to discuss the divorce publicly on reality TV created tension between the sealed legal terms and her public narrative.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If your divorce is dragging on for years, ask your attorney about temporary support orders to ensure you're not left financially stranded during proceedings.
- →Retirement accounts earned during marriage are typically marital property — understand QDRO rules before accepting any settlement offer.
- →Sealed settlements protect privacy but can also hide unfair terms. Make sure your attorney explains every sealed provision before you sign.
- →Post-divorce relationships with people connected to your ex can reignite conflict. Consider the broader social and custody implications before dating within your ex's circle.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.