Chicago Bulls

Thanks to this fella, Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls have become one of the NBA’s most recognizable franchises. While the Bulls are nowhere close to replicating Jordan’s success in the 1990s, Chicago remains a competitive team. Jordan leads the Bulls’ team stats but others like Derrick Rose have endeared themselves to the fans.

While Chicago is not a title contender these days, it still gets considerable support from the betting community. The Bulls can be found at middle-of-the-pack NBA odds on online sportsbooks as they begin to regain their status as a serious contender.

General Information

Conference & Division

• Founded: 1966
• Conference: Eastern
• Division: Central

City: Chicago, Illinois

Stadium: United Center

Championships & Titles

Years:

• 6 NBA Championships
• 6 Conference Championships
• 9 Division Titles

Chicago Bulls All-Time Records

Most points all-time:

• Michael Jordan, 29,277

Most rebounds all-time:

• Michael Jordan, 5,836

Most assists all-time:

• Michael Jordan, 5,012

Most steals all-time:

• Michael Jordan, 2,306

Most blocks all-time:

• Artis Gilmore, 1,029

Most wins all-time (coach):

• Phil Jackson, 545

Chicago Bulls Stats & Team History

The Bulls are Chicago’s third NBA franchise following the Stags and Packers/Zephyrs. Right from its inaugural season, the Bulls were a playoff team, despite having losing seasons. Dick Motta joined the franchise in 1968 and became its best coach until the 1990s. With him, the Bulls had several 50+ win seasons and two trips to the Conference Finals.

Following Motta’s departure in 1976, Chicago struggled. Artis Gilmore and Reggie Theus were All-Stars, but the Bulls made just one playoff appearance and shuffled head coaches until 1984. Everything changed for the franchise when the team drafted Jordan with its third overall pick.
Jordan quickly reshaped the Bulls’ culture and, despite still having a losing record, the team contended for the playoffs. Jerry Krause joined the Bulls in 1985 as the new executive. In 1987, the team drafted Scottie Pippen to become Jordan’s running mate and in 1989, Phil Jackson came on board as the new coach.

Jordan’s Bulls shared an intense rivalry with the “Bad Boy” Pistons of the late-80s. Detroit beat Chicago three times in the NBA playoffs, en route to winning a pair of titles. But finally, in 1991, Chicago broke through by sweeping Detroit and winning its first of six NBA Championships.

After the Bulls’ first “three-peat”, Jordan shocked the world by abruptly retiring from the NBA. To this day, many speculate as to why Jordan retired. Without him, the Bulls still contended and reached the semifinals. Jordan returned midway through the 1994-95 season, although Chicago lost to the upstart Orlando Magic in the semis.
Chicago re-tooled and acquired an old rival: former two-time Defensive Player of the Year Dennis Rodman. With his rebounding and defensive presence, the Bulls achieved their second three-peat to become six-time NBA champions. Jordan promptly retired at the end of the 1997-98 season while Pippen, Rodman, and many others left.

The Bulls rebuilt with mixed results until the 2004-05 season when they returned to the postseason. In 2007, Chicago finished with a 33-49 record, but won the NBA Draft Lottery. It selected hometown kid Derrick Rose with the pick.

Rose led the Chicago Bulls’ team stats en route to becoming the youngest player to win MVP. With Rose, the Bulls had consecutive seasons as the best team in the East. Unfortunately, he injured his knee and was never the same player until he departed in 2017.

After several more years of rebuilding, Chicago has finally returned to respectability. With the star tandem of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, the Bulls are playoff contenders again.

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