Pippen expected to retire today

NBA veteran was hampered by injuries last season

? Scottie Pippen, who teamed with Michael Jordan to form a tandem that drove the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s, is expected to retire after 17 seasons, an NBA source said.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Pippen is scheduled to make the announcement today on the Bulls’ first day of training camp practice. Pippen did not attend the team’s media day Monday.

Pippen was brought back last season to give leadership and experience to a young Bulls team, but he had knee surgery in December and played in only 23 games. It was the first time in his career the seven-time All-Star missed the playoffs.

Pippen, 39, was voted one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players.

He was traded to Houston in 1999 after the lockout, played one season with the Rockets and then spent four years in Portland. He signed a two-year, $10 million deal to return to Chicago in the offseason and averaged 5.9 points.

“I would have liked an opportunity to coach him because I liked having Scottie around last year,” Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. “The few days he did practice and play in games he kind of took it to another level and set a good example.”