In 12 seasons in Chicago, Pippen averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Pippen was a key part of all six title teams in Chicago. He also made eight All-Defensive teams for the Bulls and led the NBA in steals, steals per game, steal percentage and defensive rating in 1994-95. Pippen went on to become a seven-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection, including three times being named to the first team. The Seattle SuperSonics picked Pippen fifth overall in the 1987 NBA Draft and on draft night, swapped his rights with a 1989 first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls for Olden Polynice, a second-round pick in 1988 and a 1989 first-rounder. Scottie Pippen was one of those prospects out of nowhere, a forward from tiny Central Arkansas, an NAIA school at the time. Small Forward: Scottie Pippen (1987-98, 2003-04) The Bulls acquired Scottie Pippen in a draft night trade from the Seattle SuperSonics in 1987 and never regretted the decision. NOTE: Players must have appeared in 250 regular-season games with the franchise to be considered for this list. So who are the best players by position in the history of the Chicago Bulls? Bill Cartwright (151 games from 2002-04) and Pete Myers (three games in two stints in 20) are the only former Bulls to go on to coach the team. The team has had 21 coaches in all, 14 of whom served at least one full season, with Jackson the leader in both longevity (nine seasons) and wins (545-193 from 1990-91 through 1997-98. In 47 seasons, the team has made the playoffs 32 times-an impressive record of early and sustained success. The six seasons the Bulls missed the playoffs from 1999 through 2004 is the longest such stretch in team history.Ĭurrently, Chicago is on a run of five consecutive playoff appearances dating to 2008-09, but the team hasn’t reached the NBA Finals since winning the last of its six titles in 1998. The end of the 1990s and the early 21st century were the worst of times for the franchise, which set a record for futility in 2000-01 by going 15-67. Led by coach Phil Jackson and legendary Michael Jordan, Chicago won six titles in eight seasons from 1991-98 before the front office decided to blow it up and rebuild. It wasn’t until the 1990s, however, that the Bulls would finally reach the NBA Finals after four losses in the conference finals (1974, 1975, 19). In fact, Chicago made the playoffs in nine of the franchise’s first 11 seasons, winning 50 games for the first time under new coach Dick Motta in its fifth season, 1970-71. Their 33-48 record in 1966-67 still stands as the best ever posted by an expansion team and they made the playoffs in Year 1. The team drafted 10th overall in the first round and selected guard Dave Schellhase out of Purdue, who lasted just two seasons with the Bulls and never was a regular member of the rotation.Ĭhicago enjoyed some solid early success. The Bulls brought in Chicago native and former NBA star Red Kerr to coach the team and landed some quality players in the expansion draft in the spring of 1966, including Los Angeles Lakers forward Bob Boozer and Baltimore Bullets guard Jerry Sloan. Klein was the first former player to be a principal owner, playing one season with the Chicago American Gears of the NBL. Owned by former National Basketball League player Dick Klein, who also served as the Bulls’ general manager for the team’s first six seasons, Chicago made it work this time. The Chicago Bulls were the NBA’s third attempt to put a team in the Windy City, launching in 1966-67 after the Chicago Stags played for four seasons (1946-47 through 1949-50) before folding and the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs lasted just two (1961-63) before relocating to Baltimore.
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