CHICAGO (AP) — As if the Bulls losing to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals wasn’t enough, Hall-of-Famer Scottie Pippen has added to Chicago’s pain by suggesting that LeBron James could be better than Michael Jordan.

Pippen stirred the pot in an interview with ESPN radio on Friday morning, saying Jordan “is probably the greatest scorer to play the game” but James “may be the greatest player to ever play the game.”

That set off an explosion on Twitter.

Pippen responded first by posting, “For all of you that don’t know, I played the game you keep watching and cheering.” He softened his stance later, writing: “Don’t get me wrong, MJ was and is the greatest. But LeBron could by all means get to his level someday.”

Jordan and Pippen won six championships with the Bulls in the 1990s. James moved a step closer to his first title when the Heat knocked out Chicago on Thursday, setting up a matchup with Dallas.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.