In January 2017, I reached into the Scoop B Radio time capsule to revisit a conversation with Scott Burrell. While many fans today recognize him as the resilient target of Michael Jordan’s competitive fire in The Last Dance, our “buttoned-up” dialogue explored a fascinating “What If”: Burrell was actually a rare three-sport professional prospect who had to choose between the diamond and the hardwood.
Reflecting on this in December 2025—as the intersection of cross-sport athleticism becomes a major focus for scouting analytics—Burrell’s story remains the definitive example of a player who sacrificed individual stardom to become a champion in the most intense environment in sports history.
“The Mariners or the Blue Jays?”
Before Scott Burrell was a UConn Husky or a Chicago Bull, he was a flamethrowing pitcher. His athletic pedigree was so high that he was drafted into Major League Baseball twice: first by the Seattle Mariners out of high school, and again by the Toronto Blue Jays after his freshman year of college.
“I ultimately stuck with hoops, and I’m probably happy that I did,” Burrell told me. “But having those options—being drafted by two MLB teams—it gives you a different perspective on professional sports. You realize how fortunate you are to have one path, let alone two.”
Burrell eventually became the first person in history to be a first-round draft pick in both the NBA and the MLB (though he didn’t sign the MLB contract). That decision paved the way for his arrival in Chicago in 1997.
Surviving the Jordan Crucible
When Burrell joined the 1997–98 Bulls, he wasn’t just joining a team; he was entering a “PhD program” in winning. Playing alongside Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, Burrell was famously pushed to his limits by MJ.
- The Jordan Treatment: Jordan targeted Burrell in practice to see if he would fold under pressure.
- The Result: Burrell didn’t fold. He became a vital rotation piece, providing size and shooting that helped secure the 1998 NBA Championship.
- The Philosophy: Burrell noted that Phil Jackson’s ability to let personalities like Rodman “flow” while MJ set the standard was the secret sauce of that era.
| The Scott Burrell Dual-Threat Resume | Detail |
| MLB Draft (1989) | Selected by the Seattle Mariners (High School). |
| MLB Draft (1990) | Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays (UConn). |
| NBA Draft (1993) | 20th Overall Pick by the Charlotte Hornets. |
| Peak Achievement | 1998 NBA Champion (Chicago Bulls). |
2025 Retrospective: The Coach and the Legacy
As of late 2025, Scott Burrell has transitioned that championship pedigree into a successful coaching career. In our 2017 session, he was already making waves as the head coach at Southern Connecticut State University, leading them to an impressive conference record.
His ability to navigate the mental intensity of Michael Jordan and the physical demands of professional baseball has made him a “Key One” in player development. He teaches his players that success isn’t just about talent—it’s about the “mental toughness” to survive the room you’re in.
As Scott said to me:
“Winning a championship with those guys… it changes how you look at everything in life.”
In 2025, whether he’s on the sidelines or reflecting on the Bulls dynasty, Scott Burrell remains a testament to the power of making the right choice and sticking to it.
