The ’96 Chicago Bulls Remain the Best Basketball Team of All Time
CHICAGO – 1996: The 1995-96 NBA Chicago Bulls pose for a team portrait in Chicago, IL. Front row (left to right): Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Ron Harper, Steve Kerr. Second row: Jud Buechler, Jason Caffey, James Edwards, Bill Wennington, Dickey Simpkins, Jack Haley, Randy Brown. Back Row: John Paxson, Jimmy Rodgers, Head coach Phil Jackson, Jim Cleamons, and Tex Winter. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 1996 (Photo by NBA Photo Library/ NBAE/ Getty Images)
In the year 1996, the Chicago Bulls did something no NBA team had ever done before. The legendary ‘96 Bulls team finished the season with a miraculous 72-10 record and went on the win an NBA championship. It was the greatest season in NBA history and many people believed no team could ever match that feat again.
Twenty years later, the Golden State Warriors started off their season better than any team in NBA history with a 24-0 record and now have the NBA’s best record of 55-5. The chase for 73 wins is in sight for the Warriors, and they are looking to accomplish what many people believed couldn’t be done. While the Warriors are in pursuit of the Bulls record, the talk around the league is, which team is better?
While both teams have been extremely successful, the ‘96 Bulls are the most impressive team and would win this matchup.
In 1996, the historic Bulls team included four future Hall of Famers. Three of them were all time greats Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, and the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. Jordan, a fourteen time All Star and five time MVP, was the leader of the ’96 Bulls team. The fourth Hall of Famer on that team was head coach Phil Jackson, arguably one of the greatest coaches of all time. Jackson is an eleven time NBA Champion and the 1996 NBA Coach of the Year.
The ‘96 bulls team had many individual accolades in the greatest season in NBA history. Michael Jordan took home a lot of hardware that year, including an MVP award, All NBA first team honor, and an All Star game appearance. These are just three of the many awards Jordan won that year. Scottie Pippen was also an All Star and an All NBA first team member. Last but not least, Phil Jackson was the NBA Coach of the Year.
The Chicago Bulls were untouchable in their historic 72-10 season. They led the league in scoring with an average of 105 points per game and were third in defense, only allowing 93 points per game on average. The Bulls offered a new meaning to the term “home court advantage” as they lost only two games at home that season. Few teams were able to even challenge them with this outstanding 72-10 record. In the playoffs, the Bulls continued their success as they only lost one game in pursuit of the NBA championship. In the Finals, the Bulls faced off against the Seattle SuperSonics and won the series in six games.
The ‘96 Bulls were one of the greatest sports teams of all time, and, without a doubt the greatest basketball team to ever step on the court. Led by some of the biggest icons in sports history, the Bulls were the first team to ever achieve that type of success. The Warriors are certainly a talented team, but they are only in pursuit of something that has already been accomplished. The Bulls set the standard of what a phenomenal season was and still is, and that is why they will forever be the greatest team of all time.
