The Day I Beat Scottie Pippen at Pop-a-Shot

Every once in a while, a work event creates a story you’ll be telling for the rest of your life.

This was definitely one of those days.

We hired NBA legend and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen to join us at a Rubrik event and share some words of wisdom with the crowd. Scottie talked about leadership, teamwork, competing at the highest level, and what it takes to build a championship culture.

It was an incredible experience—and honestly, that alone would have made the night unforgettable.

But after the conversation ended, things took an unexpected turn.

There was a Pop-a-Shot game nearby, so naturally, I decided it would be a good idea to challenge one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Was this a smart decision? Probably not.

Did I expect to win? Absolutely not.

But somehow, against all odds, the final scoreboard read: Purvis: 84 | Pippen: 78

I had miraculously beaten Scottie Pippen in a basketball game!

Yes, it was Pop-a-Shot. Yes, it lasted only a few minutes. And yes, Scottie has six NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and a place in the Hall of Fame.

But the scoreboard doesn’t lie.

I genuinely couldn’t believe it—and judging by the reaction from everyone watching, neither could anyone else. It was a hilarious and completely surreal way to end an already memorable work event.

I’m officially retiring from competitive basketball with a perfect record against NBA Hall of Famers.

Watch the full showdown here: James Purvis vs. Scottie Pippen