Antron Pippen, the oldest child of Scottie Pippen and a former player himself, has died, the longtime NBA great said Monday.
Pippen shared the news in an Instagram post accompanied by several photos of the two from over the years.
“The two of us shared a love for basketball and we had countless conversations about the game,” Pippen wrote. “Antron suffered from chronic asthma and if he hadn’t had it, I truly believe he would’ve made it to the NBA. He never let that get him down, though — Antron stayed positive and worked hard, and I am so proud of the man that he became.”
Antron Pippen was 33. No cause of death was given.
Antron Pippen’s high school career was well-chronicled and he at one time was listed among the top 100 prospects at his age level. He once acknowledged that sharing the last name of a six-time NBA champion generated extra attention.
“I’m used to the expectations,” he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a high school player in 2006. “When I was younger, it bothered me. I was trying to prove to people that I could play. I’m very proud of my father. But I can only be myself.”
A 6-foot-2 guard, Pippen played for South Georgia Technical College and also appeared in three games in the 2008-09 season for Texas A&M-International.
“The Jets family was saddened to learn of the death of one of our former players, Antron Pippen,” the South Georgia Tech athletic department tweeted.
Scottie Pippen, who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, had eight children. Daughter Tyler died nine days after her birth in 1994.
Antron was the lone child from his first marriage, to Karen McCollum.
“Please keep his mom, Karen, and all of his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” Pippen wrote. “A kind heart and beautiful soul gone way too soon. I love you, son, rest easy until we meet again.”
Information from the Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.
