Scottie Pippen Says Man in Nobu Dustup Used the 'N' Word

Scottie Pippen has filed a countersuit against a man who alleges in his own complaint that the former Chicago Bulls forward attacked him at an upscale Malibu restaurant last year.

Pippen's countersuit was filed last Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Camran Shafighi. It alleges assault, battery, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil rights violations. He is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The countersuit alleges that Shafighi called Pippen the “N” word in front of his wife, Larsa, and their children, and that he also spat on the former NBA player and his offspring.

Pippen was dining last June 23 with his family at Nobu, a restaurant on the beach in Malibu frequented by celebrities.

He had already allowed Shafighi to take his photograph at his table, but told the plaintiff when he approached again that he did not want any more photos shot because he wanted to spend the time with his family, the countersuit states.

The countersuit states that Shafighi nonetheless tried to have his photo taken with Pippen, going so far as to push Larsa Pippen out of the way so he could get close to the former player. Shafighi became angry as both sides walked outside of the restaurant, according to the countersuit.

“You stupid (“N” word), you stupid black man,” Shafighi yelled, according to the countersuit. “You're (expletive) stupid. I used to love you, now I hate you.”

Shafighi was “extremely aggressive and noticeably intoxicated,” the countersuit states.

When Pippen's brother-in-law tried to intervene and calm Shafighi down, the plaintiff continued uttering the “N” word and said, “I'm going to kill you,” according to the countersuit.

Shafighi pushed Pippen's brother-in-law, but the plaintiff's momentum caused him to “stumble, trip and fall,” the countersuit states.

Even though Shafighi was on the ground, he kicked Pippen several times, including in the groin area, Pippen's countersuit claims.

“Mr. Pippen was completely caught off guard with Mr. Shafighi's resort to physical violence,” the countersuit states. “Mr. Pippen instinctively protected himself by lifting his leg up to block Mr. Shafighi's kicks.”

Shafighi's attorney, Kathryn Lee Boyd, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Shafighi started the litigation with his lawsuit filed last July 11. He alleges he was the subject of a “brutal and unjustified physical attack” that included spit in the face, a shove and a punch that sent Shafighi to the ground.

“At no time did or could Mr. Shafighi physically provoke or fight back, as he was knocked unconscious with the first blow,” the lawsuit states.

The 48-year-old Pippen won six NBA titles with the Bulls. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and now serves as special adviser to the Bulls' president and chief operating officer.

--City News Service