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Who are the top Chicago Bulls of all time? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Toni Kukoc: one of the first European-born NBA stars, Kukoc was a superstar in the EuroLeague before coming over to Chicago; as a Bull, he was a Sixth Man of the Year and the third scoring option on the second three-peat teams.
9. Chet Walker: a Bull for the last six years of his NBA career, Walker averaged 19+ points and 5+ rebounds per game each season with Chicago to make four All-Star teams.
8. Dennis Rodman: though he only spent three seasons with the Bulls, Rodman won the rebounding crown each year and made an All-Defensive team; he was a key component of the second three-peat due to his tenacious rebounding and defense.
7. Norm Van Lier: a strong all-around point guard, Van Lier produced six consecutive seasons of 10+ points, 4+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game en route to three All-Star teams, an All-NBA team, and seven All-Defensive teams.
6. Artis Gilmore: after dominating for half a decade in the American Basketball Association (ABA), Gilmore joined the Bulls in 1976 and averaged at least 17 points and 9 rebounds per game for the next six seasons, in the process making four All-Star teams.
5. Jerry Sloan: before becoming a Hall of Fame coach with the Utah Jazz, Sloan was taken by Chicago in the expansion draft and eventually made two All-Star and six All-Defensive teams with the Bulls, thus earning the nickname of “The Original Bull” and becoming the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired.
4. Derrick Rose: a Rookie of the Year winner and the youngest player in NBA history to win MVP (at age 22 in 2010-2011), Rose was an electrifying point guard for the Bulls before his career was slowed by injuries – in addition to MVP, he was a 3x All-Star and a First Team All-NBA selection during his seven seasons with Chicago.
3. Bob Love: a 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, and 3x All-Defensive pick during his prime, Love averaged 20+ points per game for six straight seasons in Chicago and was arguably the team’s first superstar.
2. Scottie Pippen: the Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman on six Chicago championship teams, Pippen was a force on both ends of the court (7x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 10x All-Defensive) and further elevated his game when Jordan retired for the first time – in 1994-1995, he became just the second player in NBA history to lead his team in every major statistical category.
1. Michael Jordan: widely regarded as the GOAT, Jordan did it all during his career: not only was he a 10x scoring champion with the highest scoring average in NBA history, but the 5x MVP was also Rookie of the Year, a 14x All-Star, 11x All-NBA, 9x All-Defensive, and Defensive Player of the Year while leading the Bulls to six championships.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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