JumpMan
Throughout the offseason, the team at Bulls Confidential is going to reveal our picks for the top 25 best players in Chicago Bulls franchise history. We are measuring overall impact on the organization, community, and how they impacted their team. Follow along on Twitter by searching #BC25.
10. Dennis Rodman
9. Luol Deng
8. Jimmy Butler
5. Bob Love
4. Derrick Rose
3. Jerry Sloan
Everyone around the world knows who Michael Jordan is: Arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. Some may call it fate, some may use the word luck, but Bulls fans around the world can be thankful that the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trailblazers valued Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie over #23 back in the 1984 NBA Draft.
As a rookie, Jordan established himself as one of the games best players, winning Rookie of the Year, averaging 28.2 ppg. Jordan led the Bulls to the playoffs, however they were eliminated in four games by the Milwaukee Bucks. As a third-year player, following an injured sophomore season, Jordan averaged a career best 37.1 ppg while starting all 82 games during the 1986–87 season.
During the 1987 season, Michael won both MVP and defensive player of the year. Attempting to stop Jordan was one thing. Trying to get by him was a completely different story. Jordan averaed a career high 3.16 steals per contest.
From 1987–1990, the Bulls battled the hated “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons, led by Isiah Thomas. The Bulls lost three consecutive playoff series vs. Detroit. They simply could not get past them. It would not be until 1991, where Jordan would get help from All-Star Scottie Pippen, that the Bad Boys would be overthrown. Michael Jordan would win his second MVP this season (of his five total) and would go on to give the Chicago Bulls their first NBA Championship.
If you listen to the broadcast in this video, the announcer states “5.9 remaining, more than just enough time for Jordan to work his magic.” Everyone knew that if you gave Jordan a chance to beat you, you’d regret it.
Jordan would continue this dominance, delivering three championships in a row before stepping away from the game of basketball after his father’s tragic murder in 1993. He would sign with the Chicago White Sox and play minor league baseball until his famous words “I’m back” came in a press release.
From 1995–1998, the Bulls would once again “three-peat” giving the franchise six total championships, putting them in the conversation for the greatest franchise in sports history.
In his final Bulls season in 1997–98, Michael still dominated the league, averaging 28.7 ppg. He would then retire for the second time from the NBA. He would eventually come back for a third NBA stint with the Washington Wizards.
When you think of basketball, you think of Michael Jordan. He made the Bulls franchise a threat to win it all every year he was in the league. Regardless if you were a fan or not, everyone respected his greatness. The #23 will forever be tied to the Buls franchise and fanbase, and every current player wearing that number in the league is paying a respect to the Greatest Of All Time.
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