Was the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls Team Led by Michael Jordan the Best in the Team’s 57 Year History?

Ever since the NBA was established 77 years ago, basketball fans across generations have witnessed the rise and fall of various prominent franchises. One team that stands out the most during such discussion is the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls team, led by basketball legend Michael Jordan. Composed of His Airness, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, the team seemingly had the best basketball players of its era.

The roster has recently made headlines again, after it was revealed that Jordan and Pippen are set to induct 13 men from the same team into the inaugural class of the Chicago Bulls’ Ring of Honor. With that in mind, it seems to be the best time to discuss fans whether that 28-year-old roster was the Bulls’ best ever collection of talent.

The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls broke all records and created some new ones during the regular season

The Bulls entered the 1995-96 as fan favorites. The team had three championship wins to their name, Michael Jordan made a comeback after his brief retirement and they had recently included former Pistons forward and ‘Bad Boy’ Dennis Rodman to their roster. Legendary coach Phil Jackson continued to hold the reins of the team and ensured that they were given the best advice.

With all these ingredients working together, the Bulls went on to win 37 games in a row. Their 33 road wins record would be left untouched for the next 20 seasons. The term “home court advantage” had a new meaning with the Bulls, since the team only lost two games on their turf during the season. The team progressed steadily and delivered on the faith of the fans by becoming the first team in the league’s history to win 70+ games in a single season.

In the end, the Bulls ended up posting a record-breaking tally of 72-10. With the exception of the next two seasons and the 2010–11 season, the Bulls never again came close to crossing the 70-game mark. Alas, they seldom managed to even cross the 50 win mark.

The main ingredient in the team’s accomplishment was Michael Jordan himself. He averaged an astonishing 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals during the 95-96 season. At the same time, Scottie Pippen helped contribute to the overall success as well, averaging 19.4 points and 6.9 rebounds while guarding the opposing team’s best scorers. The partnership established by the two icons helped the team reach new heights. Such a partnership was never seen in the Bulls history at that point, nor has it been replicated in any of their future rosters.

Along with their overall scores, the Bulls built up on their prior skills and led the NBA in terms of offensive and defensive capabilities. Much of it was thanks to Phil Jackson’s popular ‘Triangle Offense’, which allowed player movements and spacing to be maximized for more efficient gameplay. Using the same, the team created an offensive rating of a 115.2 and a defensive rating of 101.8.

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While the current Los Angeles Lakers roster has managed to surpass those ratings, it continues to remain the peak for the Bulls franchise. Furthermore, after Jackson’s exit from Chicago in 1998, the ‘Triangle Offense’ was allegedly abandoned by the next generation of Bulls.

Michael Jordan and the Bulls continued to deliver during the post-season

Having made history during the regular season, the focus was now on the playoffs. While many people had come to terms with the opinion that the Bulls would once again take home the championship title, they still wanted to see just how remarkable will their pursuit for the ring be. As it turned out, the Bulls didn’t disappoint in meeting the people’s expectations.

During the playoffs, Jordan & Co. continued their success as they only lost one game in pursuit of the NBA championship. The most eye-catching moment occurred when the Bulls faced off against the Orlando Magic during the Eastern Conference Finals. Michael Jordan was looking for redemption, as the Magic, led by a young Shaquille O’Neal had sent the Bulls packing during Jordan’s first year back from retirement.

In 1996 though, the Bulls won all four games by an average of 17 points. In the Finals , they defeated the Seattle Supersonics by 4-2 and won their fourth championship. The Bulls created a 15–3 postseason score, which continues to be the 10th highest record.

While Dennis Rodman didn’t score as well during the regular season, he still managed to win his fifth rebounding title and was named to his last ever All-Defensive First team. All of these achievements only helped to add to the already remarkable achievements of the 1995-96 roster. Never before had a team managed to accomplish so much in so little time. And no Bulls team has come close to overcoming them.

The eventual end of the Bulls dynasty

The 90s Bulls were already a force to be reckoned with. Their roster, however, became almost impenetrable by the presence of four future Hall of Famers (Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Jackson). The departure of the key players, coach and Jordan’s retirement left a void that became a challenge to fill. After the 1995-96 season, the competition became tougher, the roster began to change and a toll began to take place. As the 2000s began, the golden era of the Bulls came to a close.

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People who reportedly witnessed the 1995-96 season through their eyes remember the dominating presence of the Bulls. New records were established and new partnerships were formed. Michael Jordan’s return was a triumph. The 95-96 NBA season had everything that should be expected from a perfect basketball team. This is the reason why the author stands by the opinion that the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls team remains the Best in the franchise’s 57-year history.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.