NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 13: Larsa Pippen and Scottie Pippen attend Haute Living NY And Louis XIII Cognac Collectors Dinner In Honor Of NBA All Star Weekend 2015 at STK Midtown on February 13, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Haute Living)

Scottie Pippen has filed for divorce from wife Larsa. The pair have bee married for 19 years.

Pippen, 51, filed for divorce from the former Real Housewives of Atlanta star on Tuesday.

“This is a very difficult time for Mr. Pippen. He is hopeful that the divorce will be swift and amicable,” Scottie’s attorney Roberta G. Stanley said in a statement to PEOPLE. “We are respecting his request to protect his privacy and the privacy of his children during the dissolution of marriage proceedings.”

“After careful consideration and 19 years together, Larsa and Scottie have each filed for dissolution of their marriage. Although they are no longer to be married, Larsa remains hopeful that she and Scottie will always do what is best for their 4 beautiful children and jointly raise them with love and respect,” a rep for Larsa said in a statement to E! “She would like to thank everyone for their understanding and kindly ask for privacy from the media during this difficult time of transition for her family.”

The couple wed in 1997 and have four children together- Sophia Pippen, Scotty Pippen Jr., Justin Pippen and Preston Pippen.