Former NBA star Scottie Pippen won’t face charges over Malibu fracas
Basketball great Pippen relieved to gain closure in California assault case
Former Chicago Bulls basketball star Scottie Pippen will not be prosecuted over an altercation with a man at a Malibu restaurant in June, prosecutors said on Tuesday, citing insufficient evidence.
Pippen, 47, was questioned by police following a scuffle with the man outside the Nobu eatery in the oceanfront community of Malibu in June.
Camran Shafighi told police Pippen refused to take a photograph with him while the former National Basketball Association (NBA) star was dining in the restaurant with his family, according to a report by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Shafighi said that when he later approached Pippen in the parking lot, the former athlete spat in his face, punched him in the mouth, knocked him down and kicked him in the face, causing him to lose consciousness, the report from prosecutors said.
Shafighi later sued Pippen over the confrontation.
Pippen, a seven-time NBA All-Star, told police Shafighi spat at him first and he spat back, and he then pushed Shafighi, who fell back and started kicking at him, according to the prosecutors’ report. Pippen told police he raised his foot to block blows from Shafighi.