"If Scottie stayed for three or four years, I'd be first ballot Hall of Fame easy" - Cuttino Mobley on why Scottie Pippen was his favorite teammate

Cuttino Mobley had a solid 11-year career in the NBA. But if the retired guard could go back and change one thing to improve his legacy, he would like to spend more time with his favorite teammate, Scottie Pippen .

The Rhode Island alum opened up about Pippen's role in his development on the TFU podcast. The Houston Rockets acquired the six-time champion in a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, right around the time H-Town drafted Mobley in the second round.

"Scottie Pippen was on my team my rookie year. That was the best thing in my life," he said . "I would say this: If Scottie would've stayed with me at least another three or four years, Hall of Fame, like first ballot easy. The knowledge he gave me on a regular basis, how to look at film, how to prepare your body, he's my favorite when it came to how do you become an ultimate professional."

The importance of veteran guidance

Pippen had a lot left in the tank by 1998, but a feud with Charles Barkley cut what was supposed to be a fairy-tale Rockets season short. The Arkansas asked to be traded , supposedly to the Los Angeles Lakers, after they hired Phil Jackson to take over head coaching duties.

Ultimately, the legendary forward joined the Portland Trail Blazers, and his departure left a massive void in Mobley's development. Cuttino drew a parallel to the veteran guidance Kobe Bryant had early, and looking back, he thinks that mentorship would have catapulted his career to new heights.

"Phil Jackson brought Scottie and Mike to help Kobe. Then you have Brian Shaw, then you have Ron Harper; Kobe had so much knowledge (to draw from)," the 49-year-old said.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but Mobley has a point. The veterans on the team during the 1999-2000 season were the corpses of Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. "Sir Charles" played 20, and "The Dream" appeared in 44 out of 82 games that year. Moreover, they played different positions, so there was nobody to continue Mobley's learning process as a wing.

Outstanding, but not elite

Despite not having Pippen's extended mentorship, Mobley's career still saw him thrive in an era dominated by some of the best shooting guards ever. In the company of stars like Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, and Tracy McGrady, Cuttino's name was consistently in the mix for a few seasons, a testament to his scoring and defensive prowess.

Reflecting on his time, Mobley recognizes how having Pippen around for a few more years could have made a difference. But even without this, Cuttino made the most of his talent and had a solid run that many players would envy. He retired in 2008, averaging 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 747 regular season games.

Related: "For years I was able to take some of that light away from him" - Michael Jordan knew his departure was the 'best thing' for Scottie Pippen