7
Jul
Team Profile
Chicago Bulls: Five things you need to know
Storied franchise Chicago Bulls looking to add another chapter to their Illustrious book.
- Two NBA Championship Threepeats in the 1990s
- Won 72 games in 1995-96
- Traded for Josh Giddey in 2024
The Chicago Bulls are a staple franchise of the NBA, with a rich history of Championship glory, legendary players and unforgettable teams. Celebrated for their dominance in the 1990s, the Chicago Bulls have become prominent pioneers of modern-day basketball culture and basketball philosophy.
The franchise's greatest player, Michael Jordan is known for raising the standards of basketball, fostering attitudes of competitiveness and accountability which became central pillars of the iconic Bulls championship teams.
Key Details
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Year Founded: 1966
- Home Arena: United Center
- Championships: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
- Major Rivals: Detroit Pistons; New York Knicks; and Cleveland Cavaliers
2024-25 NBA Season Summary
- Record: 39-43
- Finish: 10th seed
- All-Star Selections: None
In the 2024-25 season, the Chicago Bulls qualified for the play-in tournament, where they were eliminated by the Miami Heat. Finishing with identical records to their previous seasons, the Chicago Bulls have hit a plateau, constantly finishing as the 9th or 10th seed. Trading away All-Star players such as DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, the Chicago Bulls have initiated a moderate rebuild gaining several players and draft picks in return.
Offseason Moves
Re-signing: Tre Jones returns on 3-year deal
Ins: Isaac Okoro joins via trade with Cavs
Outs: Lonzo Ball departs via trade with Cavs
It's been an underwhelming offseason for the Chicago Bulls, who have been extremely quiet during free agency. The Bulls retained backup point guard Tre Jones and traded for 2020 lottery pick Isaac Okoro this offseason, boosting the team's bench unit.
Chicago also drafted French forward Noa Essengue with the 12th pick in the 2025 NBA draft. As a dynamic finisher and elite defensive big, Noa will challenge for minutes at power forward and is likely to be a part of the bench unit in his rookie season.
The Chicago Bulls boast a strong offence that ranked 6th in points per game, 3rd in rebounds per game and 5th in assists per game. The area lacking for the Bulls is on the defensive end, where they gave up 119.4 points per game in the 2024-25 season.
With a great offensive core led by the likes of Josh Giddey and Coby White, the Chicago Bulls will be looking to fortify their interior defence which conceded the most paint points in the NBA. If all pieces fall into place, the Chicago Bulls will be able to break out of this plateau and advance this team into playoff contenders. However, the team’s underwhelming offseason suggests that the team may continue on the path of being a play-in tournament team.
2025-26 Predicted Lineup
- Point Guard: Josh Giddey
- Shooting Guard: Coby White
- Small Forward: Ayo Dosunmu
- Power Forward: Matas Buzelis
- Centre: Nikola Vucevic
Australians who have played for the Chicago Bulls
Luc Longley: Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Longley was the first Australian to play in the NBA. He joined the Bulls in 1994 and was a key member of the team during their second three-peat, winning championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Longley served as the starting centre, providing a strong defensive presence and contributing to the team's success.
Chris Anstey: From Melbourne, Anstey played for the Bulls during the 1999–2000 season. He appeared in 73 games, averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Anstey was known for his versatility and shooting ability as a big man.
Luke Schenscher: From Hope Forest, South Australia, Schenscher had a brief stint with the Bulls during the 2005–2006 season. He played in 20 games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Schenscher provided depth at the centre position during his time with the team.
Cameron Bairstow: Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Bairstow was drafted by the Bulls in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft. He played for Chicago from 2014 to 2016, appearing in 36 games and averaging 1.2 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. Bairstow was known for his work ethic and physical style of play.
Josh Giddey: Victorian native Josh Giddey was traded to the Bulls in June 2024. In his first season with the franchise, Giddey was a mainstay in the starting lineup and became the Bulls most important playmaker. Giddey recorded seven triple doubles in his first season and is expected to be a cornerstone of the Bulls future.
Chicago Bulls History
In 1966, the Chicago Bulls were established. The Bulls enjoyed early success, becoming the only expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. In 1975 the Bulls made their first Conference Finals appearance against the Golden State Warriors under the guidance of coach Dick Motta.
The Bulls' greatest era from 1991-1998 yielded six championships in eight years, including two three-peats. This run of dominance, powered by the transcendent talents of Jordan and Pippen, elevated the Bulls to global prominence and helped propel the NBA to unprecedented popularity worldwide.
The 1995-96 Bulls, who went 72-10 in the regular season, are widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Their record stood for 20 years until the Golden State Warriors won 73 games in 2015-16.
Beyond their on-court success, the Bulls became a cultural touchstone. Their iconic red jersey and bull logo achieved universal recognition, while players like Jordan and Dennis Rodman became larger-than-life figures who transcended sports.
Post dynasty, the Chicago Bulls have struggled to emulate their extraordinary playoff success. The franchise wouldn't experience a playoff series win until the 2006/07 season, when they swept the defending champions the Miami Heat.
2009 was a memorable year that brings Bulls fans an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. The Bulls selected Chicago native, Derrick Rose with the number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, initiating a new era of Chicago basketball. With Tom Thibodeau at the helm in 2011, Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP in the league's history, leading the team to a 62-win season. For the first time in over 20 years, the Bulls clinched the first seed and made the Eastern Conference Finals, where they faced the Miami Heat who would beat the Bulls in five games.
After sustaining multiple serious injuries in the following seasons, Derrick Rose was unable to reproduce the form demonstrated in his MVP season. The franchise was boosted by the rise of second round pick Jimmy Butler, who took reigns as the team's primary scorer in the 2015 season and led the Bulls to a 50-32 record.
In the past decade, the Chicago Bulls have struggled to build a team that has the quality to make noise in the East. In this time the franchise had the services of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, two perennial All-Stars who were eventually traded away for assets and role players. Heading into the next season, Australian Josh Giddey spearheads a hopeful Bulls side, hungry to break their monotonous spell of play-in qualifications and qualify for that 6th seed in the East.
Identity
The Bulls' identity was forged in the crucible of the 1990s, when they became the NBA's preeminent dynasty. Under the leadership of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and coach Phil Jackson, the Bulls developed a team philosophy centred on unselfish play, stifling defence, and clutch performances. Their "Triangle Offense" revolutionised NBA strategy, while their "Iron Five" lineup epitomised positional versatility.
The Bulls cultivated a winning culture predicated on relentless work ethic, mental toughness, and an unquenchable competitive drive. This mindset, personified by Jordan's legendary intensity, became the franchise's defining trait. Even in leaner years, the Bulls have strived to embody this championship ethos.
Five Fast Facts
- The Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships without ever losing in the NBA Finals.
- Michael Jordan won all six of his NBA Finals MVP awards with the Bulls.
- The Bulls' 72 wins in 1995-96 set an NBA record that stood for 20 years.
- Chicago won an NBA-record 44 consecutive home games from 1995-1996.
- The Bulls led the NBA in attendance for 17 consecutive seasons from 1987 to 2003.
Club Timeline
- 1966: Bulls founded as an NBA expansion team
- 1984: Draft Michael Jordan with 3rd overall pick
- 1987: Draft Scottie Pippen, acquire Dennis Rodman in 1995
- 1991: Win first NBA championship
- 1996: Win NBA record 72 games, capture 4th title
- 1996: Australian Luc Longley wins his first of three NBA Championships
- 1998: Complete second three-peat with 6th championship
- 2008: Draft Derrick Rose 1st overall
- 2011: Rose becomes youngest MVP in NBA history
- 2017: Trade Jimmy Butler, begin rebuilding around Zach LaVine
- 2024: Trade for Australian point guard Josh Giddey
The modern Bulls are searching for ways to recapture the success of the 90s and find players who can engrain attitudes reminiscent of their glory days. As a team on the outskirts of playoff contention, the Bulls will need to find a way to elevate their defence and preserve their top six offence.
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