Second fiddles stick together.
Scottie Pippen has no problem with Kyrie Irving asking the Cleveland Cavaliers to trade him. In fact, the Hall of Famer believes it's high time the All-Star point guard got his own team.
"I am a very strong supporter of what he's doing because I've watched what has happened to him in his career and how things went for him in Cleveland, and I think he's at a superstar level now that he can control his own destiny," Pippen said on ESPN's "The Jump" on Friday.
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Many have questioned Irving's desire to leave a club as successful as the Cavaliers, who have made three straight NBA Finals and won it all in 2016. Even though the team (as currently constructed) is favored to make it out of the Eastern Conference again in 2017-18, Pippen is looking past the upcoming season and thinks now's a good time for Irving to bolt.
"I think it's the perfect timing," he said. "Cleveland didn't win a championship, they were right there, but there's been a lot of things going on within that organization. LeBron (James) doesn't give those guys the security that they need, that 'the superstar is gonna be there and he's gonna support us.' And I see Kyrie looking at the opportunity to run before LeBron runs, because there's a lot of chatter out there that LeBron's coming to play with the Lakers."
Pippen also speculated on how differently his career would've played out had he left Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during his prime. The seven-time All-Star, who was Robin to MJ's Batman, admitted he probably wouldn't have won six championships in that scenario.
However, from an individual and financial standpoint, he said it would've been better for him to do more on the court as the No. 1 option on another squad, like Irving reportedly wants to be.