The Chicago Bulls has existed for 56 years and have proved some of the greatest players to play in the National Basketball Association. Chicago has Four out of the five players on this list have made it to the basketball Hall of Fame except for Derrick Rose. But only three out of the five players made it to the NBA Top 75 List, Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman. Here is my list of the top 5 greatest basketball players in Chicago Bulls history.
5. Dennis Rodman
Seasons in Chicago: 3 (1995-1998)
Chicago Stats: 5.2 points, 15.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists
Accomplishments: All-Defensive First Team (1996), 3 Time Rebounding Champion (1996-98), 3 Time NBA Champion (1996-98)
The number five spot could have been players like Artis Gilmore or Bob Love, but Dennis Rodman made the cut. Before coming to Chicago in 1995, Rodman was a part of the Bad Boys in Detroit and San Antonio Spurs. Even Scottie Pippen didn’t want Rodman, but he ended up being significant in the Bulls’ second 3-peat history.
In the short amount of seasons in Chicago (3), he contributed with his rebounding ability and sometimes with his mid-range shot when Pippen or Jordan was out. He led the league in rebounding each season while in Chicago and averaged at least 14 rebounds per season. Rodman also holds team records for offensive rebounding percentage, defensive rebounding percentage, and total rebounding percentage. Without Rodman, Jordan and Pippen would 100% not have won six rings.
4. Jerry Sloan
Seasons in Chicago: 10 (1966-1976)
Chicago Stats: 14.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists
Accomplishments: 4 Time All-Defensive First Team (1969, 1972, 1974, 1975), 2 Time All-Defensive Second Team (1970, 1971), 2x All-Star (1967, 1969)
Many NBA fans and Bulls might remember Jerry Sloan for his coaching days with the Utah Jazz. But before Pippen existed, Sloan was considered the most excellent defender in Chicago Bulls history, with most of his accomplishments being his work on the defensive end of the ball. During his ten seasons in Chicago, he made All-Defense first team four times. If Jordan and Pippen never existed, Sloan would be in the top 2 for games played, minutes, and total rebounds.
Sloan got 10,233 career points to enter the 10K club and averaged 2.2 steals per game, which is second among career averages in Chicago Bulls history. Sloan holds the team record for defensive rating, while his 36.6 defensive win shares rank. After his playing days were over, he would go on to coach the Utah Jazz and face Jordan and Pippen in the 1997 and 1998 Finals. Bulls fans know who won the Finals in both of those years.
3. Derrick Rose
Seasons in Chicago: 8 (2008-2016)
Chicago Stats: 19.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds
Accomplishments: Rookie Of The Year (2009), 3 Time All-Star (2010-12), All-NBA First-Team (2011), MVP Award (2011)
Chicago’s very own and former number one pick of the 2008 Draft, Derrick Rose, became a superstar early in his career. He earned MVP honors in his third season, and Rose is still the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA. But during the first round of the 2012 playoffs, he got a torn ACL and would simply not get back to his old self. If Rose never got hurt, he would possibly have the chance to be number two on this list and would have won a championship. But that never happened, and he is still looking for that ring, but it will not likely occur with the New York Knicks.
After eight seasons in Chicago, he got traded to the New York Knicks and bounced around with some teams before ending up in New York. Before returning to the Big Apple, he dropped a career-high 50 points during his time in Minnesota. Rose got a new 6th man role on the Knicks and was a significant piece of the Knicks during the 2021 Postseason. But the Knicks lost in five games against the Atlanta Hawks.
2. Scottie Pippen
Seasons in Chicago: 13 (1987-1998, 2003-2004)
Chicago Stats: 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists
Accomplishments: 7 Time All-Star (1990, 1992-97), All-Star Game MVP (1994), 3 Time All-NBA First-Team (1994-96), 2 Time All-NBA Second-Team (1992, 1997), 2 Time All-NBA Third-Team (1993, 1998), 7x All-Defensive First-Team (1992-98, All-Defensive Second-Team (1991), Steals Leader (1995), 6 Time NBA Champion (1991-93, 1996-98)
Passing these top 2 players will be challenging to do, even if Rose won a title. Scottie Pippen could be number one on another team’s list, but his teammate was 100% better than him. Pippen won six times in the Windy City and was one of the best two-way players in the history of the NBA. He could quickly get you 20 points but also can defend the opponent’s best player at any moment. Nobody else could have played better than him alongside Michael Jordan.
Pippen is second in Bulls history with most games, minutes, field goals, two-point field goals, assists, steals, and points. Once Jordan left in 1993, Pippen got his chance as the number one guy but never got the help to reach the NBA Finals. Plus, Rodman didn’t arrive yet in the Windy City. He will forever live in the shadow of Jordan, but he deserves respect and credit for accomplishments and being key to two 3-peats in Chicago.
1. Michael Jordan
The most outstanding player in NBA history and Bulls history is by far Michael Jordan. If you ask someone to name me a basketball player, most of the time, that name will be Michael Jordan. Jordan dominated the basketball game with the mid-range shot and his fear factor, which helped the Bulls earn six titles in 8 seasons. During those two seasons, he didn’t lose in the finals; he played baseball for the Chicago White Sox in honor of his father, who passed away in 1993. Jordan’s father wanted him to play baseball.
Jordan owns the most points, rebounds, assists, and steals with the team. He ranks second in blocks. He has 29,277 career points, over 14,000 more than Pippen, who ranks second. Jordan is number one on most Bulls lists and will stay number one for a long time. Without Jordan, Chicago will not have any titles and will not be worth as much as $3.65 Billion.
Seasons in Chicago: 13
Stats: 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists
Accomplishments: Rookie Of The Year (1985), All-NBA Second Team (1985), 12 Time All-Star (1985-93, 1996-98), 10 Time All-NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98), Time Slam Dunk Contest Champion (1987, 1988), 10 Time Scoring Champion (1987-93, 1996-98), Defensive Player Of The Year (1988), 5 Time MVP Award (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), 3 Time All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998), 9 Time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98), 3 Time Steals Leader (1988, 1990, 1993), 6 Time Finals MVP (1991-93, 1996 6 Time NBA Champion (1991-93, 1996-98),
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