Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16, 1966, and played its first game during the 1966–67 NBA season. The Bulls share their home arena with the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks, playing in the newer United Center which replaced the former Chicago Stadium.

The Bulls had their best years in the 1990s. They helped make the NBA popular all over the world. They are famous for winning six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998. All six championship teams were led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson. The Bulls won 72 games in the 1995–96 season, setting an NBA record until the Golden State Warriors won 73 games in the 2015–16 season.

Since 1998, the Bulls have had a hard time getting back to their top level. The team faced challenges in the 2000s but showed promise in the early 2010s with players like Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Jordan and Rose both won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award while playing for the Bulls. The Bulls have rivalries with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and the New York Knicks.

History

1966–1975: Team creation and early success

The Chicago Bulls started as an NBA team on January 16, 1966. They were the third team in Chicago, after the Chicago Stags and the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs. Dick Klein, the team's first owner, also played professional basketball before becoming the team's general manager and president.

In their first season, 1966–67, the Bulls played their first game on October 15 and won. They finished with a 33–48 record, the best for any new team at the time, and became the first new team to make the playoffs. Guard Guy Rodgers and forward Jerry Sloan were named All-Stars, and Johnny "Red" Kerr won Coach of the Year.

The Bulls first played at the International Amphitheatre and later moved to Chicago Stadium. Despite early success, fan interest dropped, and attendance fell. In 1969, Klein resigned and hired Pat Williams, who helped bring back fans with new ideas and a team mascot, Benny the Bull.

Under Williams and coach Dick Motta, the Bulls made the playoffs for four years in a row, including a best-ever 57 wins in 1972. Key players included Sloan, Bob Love, Chet Walker, and Norm Van Lier. The Bulls reached the conference finals in 1973–74 and again in 1974–75 but lost both times. After some tough seasons, Motta was replaced by Ed Badger.

1976–1984: Gilmore and Theus duo

Klein sold the Bulls to the Wirtz family, who owned the Chicago Blackhawks. They didn’t invest much in the team, leading to tough times.

Artis Gilmore, joined in 1976 from the ABA, led the team with guard Reggie Theus, forward David Greenwood, and forward Orlando Woolridge.

In 1979, the Bulls lost a chance to pick first in the draft and chose David Greenwood instead of Magic Johnson. After Gilmore was traded, the team relied on Theus but struggled. Theus was traded in 1983–84, and Jerry Reinsdorf bought the team in 1985.

1984–1990: Michael Jordan era begins

In 1984, the Bulls picked Michael Jordan with the third choice in the draft. Jordan set records in his first season and led the team back to the playoffs. The team added players like John Paxson and Charles Oakley to help Jordan.

Jordan broke his foot in 1985–86 but came back to help the team in the playoffs. In 1986–87, Jordan led the league in scoring, and the Bulls made the playoffs again. In 1987, the team added Scottie Pippen, and they won 50 games, reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The 1988–89 season brought more changes, including trading Charles Oakley for Bill Cartwright. The Bulls reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Pistons.

In 1989–90, Jordan again led in scoring, and the team added new players like Stacey King and B. J. Armstrong. They reached the Conference Finals but lost to the Pistons once more.

1990–1993: First championship three-peat

In 1990–91, the Bulls won a record 61 games and went through the playoffs to win their first NBA title against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bulls won again in 1992 with 67 wins, beating the Portland Trail Blazers in the Finals.

In 1993, they won their third straight title, defeating the Phoenix Suns in the Finals.

1993–1995: Jordan's first retirement and the Scottie Pippen era

On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement. The Bulls were led by Scottie Pippen, who became one of the league's best players. The team won 55 games in 1993–94 but lost in the playoffs to the Knicks. The Bulls moved from Chicago Stadium to the United Center in 1994–95.

In 1994, the Bulls lost some players but added Ron Harper and Jud Buechler. Michael Jordan came back in March 1995, and the Bulls made the playoffs but lost to the Orlando Magic.

1995–1998: Return of Michael Jordan and second championship three-peat

With Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and coach Phil Jackson, the Bulls aimed for another title.

The 1995–96 season saw the Bulls set a record with 72 wins, the best ever at the time. They won the NBA title against the Seattle SuperSonics. Jordan won many awards, including NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP.

In 1996–97, the Bulls won 69 games and their fifth title against the Utah Jazz. Jordan won his ninth scoring title, and Rodman his sixth rebounding title.

The 1997–98 season was busy, but the Bulls still won 62 games. They faced the New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets, and Indiana Pacers in the playoffs before meeting the Utah Jazz in the Finals again. The Bulls won, giving Jordan his sixth title and sixth Finals MVP. Jordan retired for the second time in 1999.

1998–2008: Post-Jordan era and a decade of struggle

1998–2004: The Baby Bulls

After Jordan left, GM Jerry Krause rebuilt the team. Scottie Pippen was traded, and Dennis Rodman left. The Bulls struggled, finishing 13–37 in 1998–99.

Winning the draft lottery allowed the Bulls to pick Elton Brand. Despite a good rookie season, the team struggled, finishing 17–65 in 1999–2000. The team continued to struggle, finishing with only 21 wins in 2000–01.

In 2001–02, new players like Jay Williams joined, but the team finished 30–52. Williams was hurt in an accident, and the team struggled again in 2003–04, finishing 23–59.

2004–2008: Continued rebuilding

From 2004 to 2008, the Bulls tried to rebuild. They picked Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Chris Duhon in 2004. The team made the playoffs in 2005–06 but lost in the first round.

In 2006–07, the Bulls added Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha and signed Ben Wallace. They made the playoffs but lost in the second round.

In 2007–08, coach Scott Skiles was fired, and Jim Boylan took over. The team finished 33–49 and missed the playoffs.

2008–2016: Derrick Rose era

2008–2010: Appearance of Derrick Rose

In 2008, the Bulls won the draft lottery and picked Derrick Rose. The team made trades to improve and made the playoffs in 2008–09 but lost to the Boston Celtics.

In 2009–10, the Bulls added players and made the playoffs as the eighth seed but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2010–2011: Arrival of Tom Thibodeau and Rose's MVP year

In 2010, Tom Thibodeau became the coach. The Bulls added Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and Ömer Aşık. Derrick Rose won the NBA MVP Award, and the Bulls finished best in the league at 62–20. They reached the Eastern Conference finals but lost to the Miami Heat.

2011–2014: Injury-plagued seasons for Derrick Rose

From 2011 to 2014, the Bulls faced injuries but tried to stay competitive. Derrick Rose tore his ACL in 2011–12, and Joakim Noah was hurt. The Bulls lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Rose missed all of 2012–13, but the Bulls made the second round before losing to the Miami Heat. In 2013–14, Rose tore his meniscus, and the Bulls lost in the first round again.

2014–2015: Return of Derrick Rose to health and rise of Jimmy Butler

In 2014–15, Derrick Rose returned, and Jimmy Butler emerged as a star. The Bulls finished third in the Eastern Conference and reached the playoffs but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2015–2017: Departures of Tom Thibodeau and Derrick Rose

In 2015, Tom Thibodeau was fired, and Fred Hoiberg became coach. The Bulls struggled and missed the playoffs in 2015–16.

In 2016, Derrick Rose was traded, and the Bulls added players like Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade. Jimmy Butler had a great season, but the Bulls lost in the first round of the 2017 playoffs.

2017–2025: Lavine era

2017–2020: Final years of GarPax and rebuilding

In 2017, the Bulls traded Jimmy Butler for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Lauri Markkanen. The team struggled, finishing 27–55 in 2017–18.

In 2018, the Bulls drafted Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison and signed Zach LaVine to a big contract. Fred Hoiberg was fired, and Jim Boylen became coach. The Bulls finished 22–60 in 2018–19.

In 2019, the Bulls drafted Coby White and signed Tomáš Satoranský and Thaddeus Young. Artūras Karnišovas became executive vice president, and Marc Eversley became general manager. Jim Boylen was fired, and Billy Donovan became coach in 2020. The Bulls drafted Patrick Williams.

In 2020–21, the Bulls traded for Nikola Vučević and Al-Farouq Aminu but finished 31–41 and missed the playoffs.

2021–2024: DeRozan–Lavine duo

In 2021, the Bulls traded for Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan. The team started strong but struggled after Ball's injury. DeRozan and LaVine made the All-Star team, but the Bulls lost in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks.

In 2022, LaVine signed a big contract, and the Bulls drafted Dalen Terry. They made the play-in tournament but lost to the Miami Heat.

In 2023, the Bulls drafted Julian Philips and re-signed Vučević and Coby White. They again made the play-in tournament but lost to the Miami Heat.

2024–present: new direction with Buzelis–Giddey

DeMar DeRozan signed with the Sacramento Kings, and the Bulls traded Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey. Andre Drummond signed with the Sixers. The Bulls drafted Matas Buzelis. Lonzo Ball returned in 2025, and the team traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings for several players and picks.

The Bulls finished 39–43, missing the playoffs again. In the 2025 draft, they picked Noa Essengue. During the offseason, they traded Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 2025–2026 season started well but ended with a losing streak. The Bulls made several trades at the deadline, breaking up their veteran players. Arturas Karnišovas and Marc Eversley were fired, and Billy Donovan stepped down. Bryson Graham became the new executive vice-president of basketball operations.

Rivalries

Cleveland Cavaliers

Further information: Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry

The Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been rivals since 1970. The rivalry became big when the Bulls chose Michael Jordan in 1984. After Jordan retired, the rivalry quieted down. It got exciting again when Cleveland chose LeBron James in 2003. Cleveland often had the upper hand, while Chicago chose Derrick Rose in 2008 to build a stronger team.

Detroit Pistons

Further information: Bulls–Pistons rivalry

The Bulls have a strong rivalry with the Detroit Pistons, especially since the late 1980s. They met in the playoffs four times in a row, with Detroit winning each time until 1991. The rivalry continued in 2007, and because both teams are in the same area and division, the competition has always been tough.

Miami Heat

The Bulls and the Miami Heat started rivalry in the 1990s when the Heat became strong competitors. Chicago beat them three times on their way to winning championships. The rivalry came back when the Bulls returned to the playoffs and players like Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose led their teams. The teams met in important playoff rounds several times over the years.

New York Knicks

Further information: Bulls–Knicks rivalry

The Bulls and the New York Knicks have had many intense matchups. They met in the playoffs four years in a row from 1991 to 1994, and again in 1996. The rivalry began earlier, in 1989, when both teams were rising to fame, led by Michael Jordan for Chicago and Patrick Ewing for New York. The long history between the two cities has kept the rivalry lively.

Boston Celtics

The Bulls and the Boston Celtics have a long and famous rivalry. In the 1980s, they had amazing battles between Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. The rivalry continued into the 2000s with more exciting playoff games. Even though the Bulls had their championship years in the 1990s, the two teams still meet in important games today.

Traditions

During their successful years, the Chicago Bulls made player introductions special. Announcers used famous songs like "On The Run" by Pink Floyd and "Sirius" by The Alan Parsons Project to get fans excited. Players would walk onto the court one by one with bright lights shining on them. They added fun videos and special effects over the years.

The Bulls also wore black shoes and socks during important playoff games. This tradition started long ago to show the team was together. Players sometimes wore different colors, but mostly stuck with black to honor this tradition.

Every fall, the Bulls would travel away from home because the circus used their arena. Fans called this "the circus trip". This changed when the circus stopped coming to Chicago.

Name, logo, and uniforms

Name

Dick Klein wanted a name that reminded people of Chicago's history with meat packing. He thought about names like Matadors but decided against them. His son Mark suggested "Bulls," and Klein liked it.

Logo

The Bulls have used almost the same logo since they started. It's a red, charging bull's face, designed by an artist named Dean P. Wessel in 1966. For a short time in the 1970s, they had another logo with the words "Windy City" below the bull.

Uniforms

1966–1973 uniforms

The Bulls have three main uniforms: white, red, and black. The first uniforms looked a lot like today's, with a diamond shape around the logo on the shorts and clear lettering.

1973–1985 uniforms

In 1973, the Bulls changed their uniforms a lot. They removed the stripes and moved numbers to the front. The red uniforms got a new look with different writing.

1985–present uniforms

In 1985, the Bulls updated their uniforms again. Numbers moved to the center, and the writing changed. When Nike started making NBA uniforms in 2017, the Bulls kept most of their look but made small changes. They also added a special design on the waist with four stars.

Alternate black uniforms

In 1996, the Bulls added a black uniform. Over the years, this uniform changed a few times, with different colors and designs.

Other uniforms

The Bulls have worn special uniforms for holidays and events. For example, they wore green uniforms around St. Patrick's Day and special designs for Christmas and environmental awareness events.

Nike City uniforms

Since 2017, the Bulls have had special "City" uniforms each season, inspired by Chicago's flag, buildings, and culture. These uniforms change every year with different colors and designs.

Mascots

See also: Benny the Bull

Benny the Bull is the main mascot of the Chicago Bulls. He started in 1969. Benny is a red bull who wears number 1. He is one of the oldest and best-known mascots in professional sports. The Bulls also had another mascot named Da Bull. Da Bull began in 1995 and could dunk a basketball very well. Da Bull was retired a few years later. Benny looks friendly, while Da Bull looked more like a real bull. Da Bull was brown and wore number 95.

Season-by-season record

List of the last five seasons completed by the Bulls. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Chicago Bulls seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Franchise records

The Chicago Bulls have many great records in basketball. They have won championship titles and set many game records that fans love. These show how talented and hard-working the players and team have been.

Training facilities

Alumni Hall on DePaul University’s Lincoln Park campus was where the Bulls practiced in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the early '80s, the team practiced at Angel Guardian in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. In 1985, they moved to the Multiplex health club in Deerfield, Illinois. By 1992, they had their own private facility, the Sheri L. Berto Center in Deerfield.

In 2012, the Bulls announced they would move closer to the United Center. In 2014, they opened their new training facility, the Advocate Center, just a block east of the United Center.

Home arenas

Personnel

Current roster

Retained draft rights

The Bulls have draft rights to some players who are not currently in the NBA. These players may join other teams outside the NBA, but the Bulls keep their rights until one year after those players finish their contracts with those teams.

Franchise leaders

Bold means the player is still with the team. Italics means the player is still playing but not with the team.

Points scored (regular season) (as of the end of the 2025–26 season)

• 1. Michael Jordan (29,277)
• 2. Scottie Pippen (15,123)
• 3. Bob Love (12,623)
• 4. Luol Deng (10,286)
• 5. Jerry Sloan (10,233)
• 6. Zach LaVine (10,056)
• 7. Chet Walker (9,788)
• 8. Artis Gilmore (9,288)
• 9. Kirk Hinrich (8,536)
• 10. Reggie Theus (8,279)
• 11. Derrick Rose (8,001)
• 12. Ben Gordon (7,372)
• 13. Coby White (6,945)
• 14. Horace Grant (6,866)
• 15. Nikola Vučević (6,823)
• 16. Norm Van Lier (6,505)
• 17. Jimmy Butler (6,208)
• 18. Toni Kukoč (6,148)
• 19. Orlando Woolridge (6,146)
• 20. DeMar DeRozan (5,831)
• 21. Dave Greenwood (5,824)
• 22. B. J. Armstrong (5,553)
• 23. Mickey Johnson (5,531)
• 24. Dave Corzine (5,457)
• 25. Joakim Noah (5,325)
• 26. Taj Gibson (5,280)
• 27. John Paxson (4,932)
• 28. Bob Boozer (4,807)
• 29. Tom Boerwinkle (4,596)
• 30. Quintin Dailey (4,473)
• 31. Bob Weiss (4,445)
• 32. Carlos Boozer (4,347)
• 33. Andres Nocioni (4,120)
• 34. Clem Haskins (3,703)
• 35. Bill Cartwright (3,638)
• 36. Wilbur Holland (3,568)
• 37. Ayo Dosunmu (3,533)
• 38. Lauri Markkanen (3,439)
• 39. Eddy Curry (3,414)
• 40. Charles Oakley (3,162)
• 41. Patrick Williams (3,141)
• 42. Elton Brand (3,117)
• 43. Steve Kerr (3,109)
• 44. Ricky Sobers (3,059)
• 45. Scott May (3,048)
• 46. Nikola Mirotić (2,774)
• 47. Ron Harper (2,760)
• 48. Jalen Rose (2,742)
• 49. Jamal Crawford (2,737)
• 50. Jim Washington (2,736)

Other statistics (regular season) (as of the end of the 2025–26 season)

Head coaches

Main article: List of Chicago Bulls head coaches

The Chicago Bulls have had many head coaches since the team started. A head coach leads the team and helps guide the players during games and practices. This list shows all the coaches who have worked with the Bulls.

Hall of Famers, retired, and honored numbers

Basketball Hall of Famers

Notes:

• ¹ Jordan was in the Hall of Fame twice – as a player and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ² Pippen was in the Hall of Fame twice – as a player and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ³ He played for the team from 1966 to 1976.
• ⁴ Colangelo worked in marketing, scouting, and as an assistant to the president.
• ⁵ He coached the team in 1981–1982.
• ⁶ Wade was in the Hall of Fame twice – as a player and as part of the 2008 Olympic team.

FIBA Hall of Famers

Notes:

• ¹ Jordan was in the FIBA Hall of Fame twice – as a player and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.

Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame

Main article: Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame

Retired numbers and honorees

• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all teams on August 11, 2022.
• ¹ B. J. Armstrong wore this number when it was retired and kept it until 1995.
• ² Jordan wore #12 for one game in 1990 and #45 for part of 1994–1995.
• The Bulls will retire Derrick Rose’s #1 on January 24, 2026.

Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor

On January 12, 2024, the Bulls started the Ring of Honor for former players and staff. On September 12, 2025, they added six more members: Johnny Bach, Cartwright, Neil Funk, Grant, Paxson, and Van Lier.

The first group included everyone whose number was retired or honored, plus other important team members like original owner Dick Klein and assistant coach Tex Winter. They plan to add more members every two years for people who played at least three seasons with the Bulls and have been retired for three years.

Media

Main article: List of Chicago Bulls broadcasters

The Chicago Bulls' games are shown on radio and television so fans can enjoy them. On radio, games are on Entercom's WSCR (670). Chuck Swirsky describes the game, and Bill Wennington gives color commentary. Spanish broadcasts are on Univision Radio's WRTO (1200) with Omar Ramos and Matt Moreno.

For TV, the Bulls are on Chicago Sports Network. The main announcers are Adam Amin and Stacey King, with Jason Benetti helping sometimes. Some games are also on ABC, NBC, and ESPN, or can be watched on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock. Other games are on NBA League Pass.

In 2020, a popular documentary called The Last Dance about Michael Jordan and the Bulls' successful years brought more attention to the team.