The summer of 1998 brought an abrupt end to the championship era. Krause felt that the Bulls were on the verge of being too old and unable to compete. He decided that the team's only choices were to rebuild or endure a slow decline. His plan was to sink the team and acquire high draft picks while clearing salary cap space to make a run at several promising free agents in two years' time. After having been vetoed in a previous attempt by owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Krause traded Scottie Pippen for cast-offs from the Houston Rockets, none of whom made the Bulls' roster. He also declined to re-sign Dennis Rodman, and traded Luc Longley and Steve Kerr for draft picks. He hired a new coach with no professional experience, Tim Floyd, who had run a successful program at Iowa State University. Upon Phil Jackson's departure, Michael Jordan made his second retirement official. With a new starting lineup of point guard Randy Brown, shooting guard Ron Harper, newcomer Brent Barry at small forward, power forward Toni Kukoc, and center Bill Wennington, the team began the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. Kukoc led the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists, but the team won only 13 of 50 games.
[edit] Five difficult years
The previous year's dismal finish came with one highlight: the team won the draft lottery and the rights to power forward Elton Brand. Since the team lost Harper, Brown, Wennington and Barry in the offseason, Brand and fellow rookie Ron Artest led the team throughout the year, especially after Kukoc missed most of the season due to injury and was then dealt for a draft pick at the trading deadline. Brand recorded the first 20-10 average for the Bulls since the days of Artis Gilmore. He led all rookies in scoring, rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and minutes, while Artest led all rookies in steals and finished second on the team in scoring. For his efforts Brand was named 1999-2000 co-Rookie of the Year with Houston's Steve Francis, and to the all-rookie first team, while Artest was named to the all-rookie second team. However, the team established a franchise low at 17-65, second worst in the league.
After a summer in which the Bulls witnessed most major and minor free agents Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Eddie Jones and even Tim Thomas spurn them, Krause signed free agent center Brad Miller and shooting guard Ron Mercer, and drafted power forward Marcus Fizer and traded draft pick Chris Mihm to Cleveland for the rights of guard Jamal Crawford. Brand again led the team in scoring and rebounds with another 20-10 season, but the new acquisitions failed to make a major impact, and they finished with the worst record in team history at 15-67.
Krause shocked Bulls fans on draft day in 2001 when he traded franchise player Brand to the Los Angeles Clippers for second pick in the draft, Tyson Chandler. He also selected Eddy Curry with the fourth pick. Since both Chandler and Curry came straight out of high school, neither were expected to make much of a contribution for several years, but they were seen as potential franchise players. The team floundered without veteran leadership. At mid-season, the Bulls traded their top three scorers—Mercer, Artest, and Miller along with Kevin Ollie —to the Indiana Pacers for veteran guard Jalen Rose, Travis Best and Norman Richardson. There was also a change in coaching, with Floyd being dismissed in favor of assistant coach and former Bulls co-captain Bill Cartwright, following a series of arguments with players and management. The Bulls improved from 15 to 21 wins, although they were still tied for last in the league.
For the 2002-03 season, the Bulls came to play with much optimism. They picked up college phenom Jay Williams with the second pick in the draft. Rose and Williams teamed with Crawford, Fizer, newcomer Donyell Marshall, Curry, Chandler, and guard Trenton Hassell to form a young and exciting nucleus which improved to 30-52 in Bill Cartwright's first full season as head coach. Curry led the league in field goal percentage, becoming the first Bull since Jordan to lead the league in a major statistical category.
During the summer of 2003, long-time GM Jerry Krause retired, and former player and announcer John Paxson was tabbed as his successor. Jay Williams, coming off a promising rookie campaign, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. His contract was bought out by the Bulls in February 2004 and he has yet to return to the game. Paxson selected point guard Kirk Hinrich with the seventh pick in the draft, and signed veteran free agent and former franchise player Scottie Pippen. With Pippen playing, Cartwright at the sidelines, and Paxson in the front office, the Bulls hoped that some of the championship magic from before would return.
However, the 2003-04 season was a resounding disappointment. Eddy Curry regressed, leading to questions about his conditioning and commitment. Tyson Chandler was plagued by a chronic back injury, missing more than thirty games. Pippen's ability to influence games was impaired by knee problems, and he openly contemplated retirement. Jamal Crawford remained inconsistent. Bill Cartwright was fired as head coach in December and replaced with former Phoenix coach Scott Skiles. A trade with the Toronto Raptors brought Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams in exchange for Rose and Marshall in what was seen as a major shift in team strategy from winning with athleticism to winning with hard work and defense. After struggling throughout the season, the Bulls finished with 23 wins and 59 losses, the second-worst record in the league. Fizer was not re-signed, and Crawford was re-signed and traded to the Knicks for expiring contracts. Hinrich provided the lone bright spot, becoming a fan favorite for his gritty determination and athletic ability. He won a place on the All-Rookie first team.
[edit] Resurgence
During the 2004 offseason, Paxson traded a 2005 draft pick to the Phoenix Suns in return for an additional pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. He used the picks to select University of Connecticut guard Ben Gordon and Duke small forward Luol Deng in the first round, and Duke point guard Chris Duhon in the second. Paxson also signed free agent small forward Andres Nocioni, who had recently won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the Argentinian national team. After losing the first nine games of the season, the Bulls began to show signs of improvement behind their improved team defense and clutch fourth-quarter play from Gordon. The Bulls finished the regular season 47-35, with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the NBA playoffs for the first time since Jordan's departure. In the first round, the 4th-seeded Bulls played the Washington Wizards. The Bulls opened the series with two wins at home, but lost the next four games and the series. After the season, Ben Gordon became the first rookie to win the NBA Sixth Man Award and the first Bull to win the award since 1996 with Toni Kukoč.
During the 2005 offseason, the Bulls re-signed free agent Tyson Chandler. However, Curry showed possible symptoms of a heart disease resulting of a heart murmur during checkups, and Paxson would not clear him to play without extensive DNA testing. Ultimately, Curry refused to participate in the tests, and he was traded along with Antonio Davis to the New York Knicks for Michael Sweetney, Tim Thomas, and what became the second pick of the 2006 NBA Draft - as well as the right to swap picks with New York in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Without a significant post presence, the Bulls struggled for most of the 2005-06 season. However, a late-season 12-2 surge allowed them to finish 41-41 and into 2006 playoffs. There, the Bulls faced the Miami Heat. After two close losses in Miami, the Bulls broke through with a blowout win in Game 3, and another win in Game 4. However, the Heat took the next two games to win the series. The Bulls' several young players nevertheless earned additional postseason experience, and Nocioni turned in a remarkable series of performances that far exceeded his season averages.
In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Bulls selected forward-center LaMarcus Aldridge and immediately traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers for forward Tyrus Thomas and forward Viktor Khryapa. In a second draft-day trade, the Bulls selected Rodney Carney and traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for guard Thabo Sefolosha. Later that summer, four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace signed with the Bulls for a reported four-year, $60 million contract. Following the signing of Wallace, the Bulls traded Tyson Chandler, the last remaining player of the Krause era, to the (then) New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for veteran power forward P.J. Brown and salary cap space that was used to sign former Chicago co-captain Adrian Griffin.
In 2006-07, the Bulls overcame a 3-9 season start to finish 49-33, the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. In the first round, the Bulls again faced Miami, the defending NBA champion. The Bulls narrowly won Game 1 at home, then followed it with a blowout victory in Game 2. In Miami, the Bulls rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to win Game 3 and then posted another comeback win in Game 4. The Bulls' four-game sweep of the defending champion stunned many NBA observers. It was Chicago's first playoff series victory since 1998, Jordan's last season with the team.
The Bulls then advanced to face the Detroit Pistons, marking the first time the Central Division rivals had met in the playoffs since 1991. The Pistons won the first three games. No NBA team had ever come back from a 0-3 deficit to win the series, but the Bulls avoided a sweep by winning Game 4 by 10 points. The Bulls then easily won Game 5, and had a chance to make NBA history. But they lost in game 6 by 10, and the Pistons won the series 4-2 on May 17.
[edit] Traditions
[edit] Starting Lineup Introductions
The Chicago Bulls were the first NBA team to dim their lights during the starting lineup introductions of home games. Other teams around the league soon followed suit. During the Bulls' run of dominance, the player introductions became world famous. Longtime announcer Tommy Edwards was replaced by Ray Clay in 1990, and Clay continued many of the traditional aspects of the Bulls introductions, including the music, Alan Parsons Project's "Sirius", for all six championship runs. The lights are first dimmed during the visiting team introduction, accompanied by the song "On The Run" by Pink Floyd. Then virtually all lights in the stadium are shut off for the Bulls introduction, and a spotlight illuminates each player as he is introduced and runs onto the court. More recently, laser lights and computer graphics on the stadium monitors have been added. Coincidentally, Alan Parsons wrote "Sirius" for his own band and was the sound engineer for "On the Run" from Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon.
Traditionally, the players have been introduced in the following order: small forward, power forward, center, point guard, shooting guard. Thus, Scottie Pippen was usually the first Bulls player introduced, and Michael Jordan the last. (Pippen and Jordan were the only players to play on all six Bulls championship teams.) Although internal disputes eventually led to the dismissal of Clay, a modified version of "Sirius" is still used. On September 12, 2006, the Bulls announced the return of Tommy Edwards as the announcer.[3]
[edit] Black shoe tradition
The Bulls have an unofficial tradition of wearing black shoes (regardless of being home or away) during the playoffs, which dates all the way back to 1989 when they debuted the tradition.[4] It was noted when the Bulls made their first playoff appearance during the 2004-05 season after a six-year hiatus, they went back to the tradition and wore black shoes.[5] They were also the first NBA team to outfit the black socks with black shoes when they made their championship run during the 1996 playoffs. Starting with the 1999 playoffs, this fashion became the norm around the NBA.[citation needed]
[edit] Headband Rule
The team also has a rule that no player may wear a headband. This rule was broken by Ben Wallace during the 2006-2007 regular season. Roughly one third of NBA teams place similar restrictions on player apparel during games.[6]
[edit] Uniform and logo
The Bulls' have three different uniforms: a white home uniform, a red road uniform, and a black alternate road uniform. The design of the white and red sets are nearly identical, with the team name featured on the front over the number, and the player's last name over the number on the back. The shorts have the Bulls logo in a diamond shaped design on the sides of the legs. The less-often used black uniform shares the same design as the white and the red ones, except that "Bulls" is replaced with "Chicago" on the front of the jersey.
The Bulls wear white shoes during the regular season, but black shoes during the playoffs. This unofficial tradition goes back to the Jordan era. The Bulls also wear only their red uniform on the road during the playoffs.
The Bulls' logo is a red bull's face with an angry expression. The horns are tipped with blood.
The Bulls have recently implemented strict rules on dress code by not allowing players to wear such accessories as head bands and wrist bands. The new dress code has not upset too many players. The dress code was put in place by John Paxson, so players would look more professional and would hopefully instill traits such as respect and humility within the team.
[edit] St. Patrick’s Day uniform program
In 2006 the Bulls were one of three teams to take part in the NBA's first ever St. Patrick's Day uniform program (with the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks). The program consisted of the teams wearing specially designed green uniforms. For the program The Bulls' changed their red road uniforms to green while maintaining the traditional red and black bull’s head on the shorts and the back of the jersey as well as the wording of "Bulls" on the front remaining black. The Bulls wore these uniforms on March 18th against the Miami Heat.[7]
The following year the Bulls once again participated in the St. Patrick's Day uniform program altering their road jerseys in the same way as before. This time the special edition uniforms were worn twice by the Bulls: once on March 13th at home against the Celtics and then again on March 17th in Memphis versus the Grizzlies.[8]
[edit] Rivalries
The Bulls' primary rivals have been the Detroit Pistons ever since the Jordan-led Bulls met the "Bad Boy" Pistons in the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals. The two teams met in the playoffs four consecutive years, with the Pistons winning each time until 1991, when the Bulls defeated the Pistons in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals, en route to their first NBA championship. The geographic proximity and membership in the Central Division further intensify the rivalry, which has been characterized by intense, physical play ever since the teams met in the late 1980s. Chicago fans have been known to have a disliking for Detroit professional teams, as it is the only city that is in the same division as Chicago in all four major North American sports. "Detroit Sucks" is commonly chanted when playing any Detroit team.
The Bulls also had an intense rivalry with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike the rivalry with the Pistons, in which the two teams have been relatively competitive, the Bulls-Cavs rivalry has been one the more one-sided rivalries, heavily favoring the Bulls. Twice, Michael Jordan hit game- and series- winning shots against the Cavaliers in the playoffs.
A third franchise that the Bulls have competed fiercely with is the New York Knicks. The two met in the playoffs in four consecutive years (1991-1994), once in 1996, with the teams series twice (1992 and 1994) going the full seven games. The Bulls triumphed in the first three years before narrowly losing in 1994. As with Detroit, the historic rivalry between the cities has led to animosity between the teams and occasionally their fans.
[edit] Season-by-season records
[edit] Players of note
[edit] Basketball Hall of Famers
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were members of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, and all members of that team who are eligible (retired at least 5 years) have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
[edit] Retired numbers
- 4 Jerry Sloan, G, 1966-76
- 10 Bob Love, F, 1968-76
- 23 Michael Jordan, G, 1984-93 & 1995-98
- 33 Scottie Pippen, F, 1987-98, 2003-04
- Phil Jackson, Head Coach, 1989-98
- Jerry Krause, General Manager, 1985-2003
Note: Jackson and Krause do not have actual numbers retired in their honor; rather, two banners hang from the rafters paying tribute to them.
[edit] Head Coaches
- Red Kerr (1966/67-1967/68)
- Dick Motta (1968/69-1975/76)
- Ed Badger (1976/77-1977/78)
- Larry Costello (1978/79) - Coached first 56 games of 1979/80
- Scotty Robertson (1978/79) - Coached final 26 games of 1979/80 as Interim Head Coach
- Jerry Sloan (1979/80-1981/82) - Fired 51 games into 1981/82
- Phil Johnson (1981/82) - Coached 1 game as Interim Head Coach
- Rod Thorn (1981/82) - Coached final 30 games of 1981/82
- Paul Westhead (1982/83)
- Kevin Loughery (1983/84-1984/85)
- Stan Albeck (1985/86)
- Doug Collins (1986/87-1988/89)
- Phil Jackson (1989/90-1997/98) (545-193)
- Tim Floyd (1998/99-2001/02) - Fired 25 games into 2001/02
- Bill Berry (2001/02) - Coached 2 games as Interim Head Coach
- Bill Cartwright (2001/02-2003/04) - Coached final 55 games of 2001/02, fired 14 games into 2003/04
- Pete Myers (2003/04) - Coached 2 games as Interim Head Coach
- Scott Skiles (2003/04-Present) - Coached final 66 games of 2003/04
[edit] Current roster
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[edit] Additional players of note
[edit] Recent NBA Draft selections
- 2007 - Joakim Noah (Round 1, 9th pick); Aaron Gray (Round 2, 49th pick); JamesOn Curry (Round 2, 51st pick)
- 2006 - LaMarcus Aldridge (Round 1, 2nd pick) Rights traded to Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights of Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa; Rodney Carney Round 1, 16th pick, traded to Philadelphia 76ers for rights to Thabo Sefolosha
- 2004 - Ben Gordon (Round 1, 3rd pick)); Jackson Vroman (Round 2, 31st pick) Rights traded to Phoenix Suns for the draft rights to Luol Deng, (Round 1, 7th pick) a future first round draft pick, and cash; Chris Duhon (Round 2, 38th pick)
- 2003 - Kirk Hinrich (Round 1, 7th pick); Mario Austin (Round 2, 36th pick); Matt Bonner (Round 2, 45th pick) Rights traded to Toronto for a 2004 2nd round pick; Tommy Smith (Round 2, 53rd pick)
- 2002 - Jay Williams (Round 1, 2nd pick); Roger Mason, Jr. (Round 2, 32nd pick); Lonny Baxter (Round 2, 44th pick)
- 2001 - Eddy Curry (Round 1, 4th pick); Trenton Hassell (Round 2, 30th pick); Sean Lampley (Round 2, 45th pick)
- 2000 - Marcus Fizer (Round 1, 4th pick); Chris Mihm (Round 1, 7th pick) Rights traded to Cleveland Cavaliers for the draft rights to Jamal Crawford (Round 1, 8th pick); Dalibor Bagaric (Round 1, 24th pick); A.J. Guyton (Round 2, 32rd pick); Jake Voskuhl (Round 2, 33th pick); Khalid El-Amin (Round 2 34th pick)
- 1999 - Elton Brand (Round 1, 1st pick); Ron Artest (Round 1, 16th pick); Michael Ruffin (Round 2, 32nd pick); Lari Ketner (Round 2, 49th pick)
- 1998 - Corey Benjamin (Round 1, 28th pick); Shammond Williams (Round 2, 34th pick); Maceo Baston (Round 2, 58th pick)
[edit] Developmental league
The Bulls are represented in the NBADL by the Iowa Energy.
[edit] High points
[edit] Individual Awards
- Michael Jordan - 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- Michael Jordan - 1988
- Michael Jordan - 1985
- Elton Brand - 2000 (Co-Rookie of the year)
- Toni Kukoč - 1996
- Ben Gordon - 2005
- Michael Jordan - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
All-Star Game MVP
- Michael Jordan - 1988, 1996, 1998
- Scottie Pippen - 1994
- Michael Jordan - 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999
- Luol Deng - 2007
- Johnny Kerr - 1967
- Dick Motta - 1971
- Phil Jackson - 1996
- Jerry Krause - 1988, 1996
- Michael Jordan - 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
- Scottie Pippen - 1994, 1995, 1996
- Bob Love - 1971, 1972
- Norm Van Lier - 1974
- Michael Jordan - 1985
- Scottie Pippen - 1992, 1997
- Scottie Pippen - 1993, 1998
- Jerry Sloan - 1969, 1972, 1974, 1975
- Norm Van Lier - 1974, 1976, 1977
- Michael Jordan - 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
- Scottie Pippen - 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
- Dennis Rodman - 1996
- Jerry Sloan - 1970, 1971
- Norm Van Lier - 1972, 1973, 1975, 1978
- Bob Love - 1972, 1974, 1975
- Artis Gilmore - 1978
- Scottie Pippen - 1991
- Horace Grant - 1993, 1994
- Kirk Hinrich - 2007
- Ben Wallace - 2007
- Erwin Mueller - 1967
- Clifford Ray - 1972
- Scott May- 1977
- Reggie Theus - 1979
- David Greenwood - 1980
- Quintin Dailey - 1983
- Michael Jordan - 1985
- Charles Oakley - 1986
- Elton Brand - 2000
- Kirk Hinrich - 2004
- Luol Deng - 2005
- Ben Gordon - 2005
- Stacey King - 1990
- Toni Kukoc - 1994
- Ron Artest - 2000
- Marcus Fizer - 2001
- Jay Williams - 2003
- Tyrus Thomas - 2007
[edit] Records
- Hold the best overall win-loss season record with 72-10 in 1995-96
- Hold the record for most consecutive home games won (44 from 1994-95 through 1995-96)
- Hold the record for most consecutive home games won, start of season, 37 in 1995-96
- Hold the record for most road games won and best overall road record in standard 41 road games, 33-8 in 1995-96
- Hold the record for the fewest points per game in a season after 1954-55 (81.9 in 1998-99)
- Hold the record for the fewest points in a game after 1954-55 (49, April 10, 1999)
- Hold the record for largest margin of victory in a NBA Finals game (42; defeated the Utah Jazz 96-54)
- Hold the record for fewest points allowed in a NBA Finals game (54 against the Utah Jazz)
- Share record for most players with 40 or more points in a game (Michael Jordan with 44 & Scottie Pippen with 40 on February 18, 1996 against the Indiana Pacers)
- Share lowest free throw percentage by two teams in one game (.410 with the Los Angeles Lakers, February 7, 1968)
- Share record for most personal fouls by two teams in one game (87 with the Portland Trail Blazers, March 16, 1984)
- Hold the #2 best overall win-loss home record with 39-2, achieved in both 1995-96 and 1996-97
- Michael Jordan, most consecutive games with 10 or more points (840 with the Chicago Bulls)
- Michael Jordan, most free throws made in one quarter (16 twice; vs. the Miami Heat in 4th quarter on December 30, 1992, vs. the Utah Jazz in 4th quarter on November 15, 1989)
- Michael Jordan, most free throws made in one half (20 vs. the Miami Heat in 2nd half on December 30, 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most free throws attempted in one half (23 vs. the Miami Heat in 2nd half on December 30, 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most points in a playoff game (63 against the Boston Celtics, April 20, 1986)
- Michael Jordan, most field goals attempted in one half of a playoff game (25 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1st half on May 1, 1988)
- Michael Jordan, most consecutive playoff games with 20 or more points (60 from March 2, 1989 to May 11, 1993)
- Michael Jordan, most playoff games with 50 or more points (8)
- Michael Jordan, most free throws made in one quarter of a playoff game (13 against the Detroit Pistons, May 21, 1991)
- Michael Jordan, most free throw attempts made in one quarter of a playoff game (13 against the Detroit Pistons, May 21, 1991)
- Michael Jordan, most three-point field goals in one half of a playoff game (6 against the Portland Trail Blazers, June 3, 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most three-point field goals in one half of a NBA Finals game (6 against the Portland Trail Blazers, June 3, 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most points in one half of a NBA Finals game (35 against the Portland Trail Blazers, June 3, 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most field goals made in one half of a NBA Finals game (14 twice; vs. the Portland Trail Blazers in 1st half on June 3, 1992, vs. the Phoenix Suns in 1st half on June 16, 1993)
- Shared record: Will Perdue for fewest minutes played by a disqualified player in a playoff game (7 against the New York Knicks, May 14, 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most points per game in a NBA Finals series (41.0 ppg vs. the Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals)
- Michael Jordan, most points in a three-game playoff series (135 against the Miami Heat in 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most points in a five-game playoff series (226 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1998)
- Michael Jordan, most field goals in a three-game playoff series (53 against the Miami Heat in 1992)
- Michael Jordan, most field goals in a five-game playoff series (86 against the Philadelphia 76ers in 1990)
- Michael Jordan, most field goals in a six-game playoff series (101 against the Phoenix Suns in 1993)
- Dennis Rodman, most offensive rebounds in a NBA Finals game (11 twice against the Seattle Supersonics in the 1996 NBA Finals)
- Shared record: Two teams with the fewest players to score more than ten points in a playoff game (4 with the Miami Heat, May 24, 1997)
- Highest defensive rebound percentage in a playoff game (.952 against the Golden State Warriors on April 30, 1975)
- Shared record: Highest free throw percentage by one team in a playoff game (1.000 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 19, 1992)
- Ben Gordon, Most consecutive three pointers in a game without a miss (9, shared with Latrell Sprewell)
