Larsa Pippen Explains the “Roller-Coaster Ride” of Co-Parenting with Ex-Husband Scottie Pippen

It looks like Larsa Pippen has figured out the secret to co-parenting with her ex-husband, Scottie Pippen.

Together, The Real Housewives of Miami cast member and the former basketball player are parents to four kids: Scotty Jr., Preston, Justin, and Sophia. When she recently spoke with The Daily Dish, she shared how she and her ex manage to co-parent their kids.

“It’s great. I feel like Scottie and I parent the same way. We’re both pretty disciplined with our kids. We’re both pretty traditional in the way we talk to our kids and treat our kids. So I feel like we’re both the same when it comes down to parenting our kids. So we do get along as far as that,” she said. “I kind of feel like we’re both pretty understanding with our kids, and we both have the same parenting goals for our kids. So I think it, like, works for our family.”

She did note that it’s not always smooth sailing and that they’ve experienced “highs and lows” along the way. “I feel like it’s kind of like a roller-coaster ride that you’re on, and there’s times where it’s gonna be scary and there’s times it’s gonna be lows and highs,” she said. “And I feel like just focusing on my kids and just making sure my kids are healthy and happy and that’s like the number one thing for us.”

It’s been quite the journey for Larsa and Scottie. They announced they were divorcing back in 2016, and they experienced ups and downs before it was confirmed in January 2022 that their divorce was finalized.

While Larsa and Scottie have been officially divorced for more than a year, don’t expect Larsa to change her famous last name anytime soon. “Well, I have four kids,” she said. “And I’ve been Pippen for a long time. So I feel like the only way I would change my last name is if I got remarried.”

Her days as a basketball wife might be behind her, but she still has fond memories from that time, including getting to know the other spouses. “I feel like there’s like a camaraderie. You know, with NBA players’ wives or ex-wives, we’ve kind of gone through similar situations and similar experiences,” she said. “So I do feel like there is a little bit of, you know, [an understanding].”

This brings us back to her family’s “fun” legacy in the world of basketball. Their eldest son, Scotty, has in fact, followed in his dad’s footsteps and is now a pro basketball player (Scotty plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and was recently recognized as a Next Up All Star). “I’m so proud of him. He’s been on this journey since he was 4 years old. I feel like this is his lifelong dream and he loves the Lakers, so I’m really excited for him to be part of an organization that he loves so much. So it’s been really fun,” she said. “It’s a good experience for him.”

Scotty isn’t the only younger Pippen who may be following in their dad’s footsteps, she shared as she revealed updates on what her other three kids are up to. “Preston is in college. He is studying entrepreneurship and business. So he’s super excited about that. My son Justin is 17 years old. He’s actually another athlete. He loves basketball. So he’s kind of following in little Scotty’s footsteps and his dad’s. My daughter, Sophia, is a model. She acts, she dances. She’s my mini Larsa.”

And the proud mom feels totally fine with having her kids follow in their famous parents’ footsteps. “I want my kids to do the things that make them feel good, and I feel like if they’re comfortable doing whatever passion or whatever they want to pursue, I feel like I’m excited to help,” she said.

These days, Larsa is in her new chapter. Since her divorce, in addition to being a busy mom, Larsa has moved on in her romantic life and has gone public with Marcus Jordan on Instagram (in fact, with several Instagrams). Larsa and Marcus (a son of basketball player Michael Jordan) were rumored to be dating before she confirmed it on social media and later called him “my forever Valentine.”

Watch The Real Housewives of Miami Thursdays on Peacock and the Bravo app.