The Chicago Bulls have one of the biggest and most heartfelt fan bases in all of the sports world, mostly, because of what Michael Jordan did for the team, the NBA and basketball as a whole a couple of decades ago.
Even though they haven’t been able to find any kind of Championship success following the Michael Jordan era, the Bulls still have 6 Larry O’Brien trophies to brag about and are one of the most winning franchises in NBA history.
Throughout their history, they’ve had some outstanding ballers that have brought hope and joy to Windy City, and today, we’re going to let you know about the top 10 basketball players to ever wear the Chicago Bulls jersey.
10. Bob Love
Bob Love spent 8 seasons with the Chicago Bulls between 1969 and 1977 and up to this date, he’s still a part of the team’s staff and one of the most beloved players in the Chicago community.
Love was one of the most offensively versatile wings in the league during his prime, mostly because of his ability to finish with both hands, while also being a lockdown defender. Averaging 17.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 dimes a contest, he made 3 All-Defensive squads and 3 All-Stars.
9. Jerry Sloan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUtSuGMjE3I
Before being one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, Jerry Sloan played as a guard/forward for the Chicago Bulls between 1966 and 1976, following a short tenure with the Baltimore Bullets.
Dubbed “the Original Bull”, Sloan was known for his tenacity in the defensive end of the hardwood, making it to 6 All-Defensive squads and a couple of All-Stars while averaging 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.2 steals per game throughout his career.
8. Toni Kukoc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brB0H63so7E
Long before Manu Ginobili and those kinds of foreign studs, the NBA found one of the best 6th men in the history of the league; Toni Kukoc, a roundup talent that could’ve had an amazing career had he played elsewhere.
He embraced a lesser role in the Bulls but was one of the most skilled foreign players this league has ever seen, recording career averages of 11.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game, Kukoc won 3 Championships and the 6th Man of the Year award.
7. Horace Grant
Horace Grant didn’t have the flashiest stats or wasn’t the most gifted or light-footed player in the league, but he was a lockdown defender and dominant rebounder who really embraced the role the team needed out of him.
Grant made an almost immediate impact for the Bulls frontcourt next to Pippen and Cartwright, and his durability helped him have a very successful 17-year career in this league, posting averages of 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.2 dimes a game with 4 All-Defensive squads and 4 NBA Championships.
6. Artis Gilmore
Dubbed “The A-Train”, Artis Gilmore was one of the most durable players of his generation, making 670 straight appearances and playing for 17 seasons from 1971 to 1988 before trying his luck overseas.
Gilmore was a physical big man who dominated both ends of the glass, and even though his best years came in the ABA and before his Bulls stint, his career averages of 18.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.3 dimes and 2.4 blocks a game are still pretty impressive.
5. Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler is still a rising star in this league and his determination to win and lead the Bulls to success, even overtaking Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose as the team’s leader earned him a spot in Chi-town fans’ hearts forever.
Even though Butler is still yet to prove that he can single-handedly lead a team to success, his two-way expertise makes him one of the most promising players in the league right now, posting career averages of 16.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game en route to winning the Most Improved Player award, as well as making it to 4 All-Defensive teams and 4 All-Stars.
4. Dennis Rodman
Even though Dennis Rodman wasn’t the youngest guy when he joined the Chicago Bulls, he proved that he was exactly the missing piece to keep on dominating the NBA for an already impressive core.
The Worm is arguably the most defensively dominant big man and rebounder this game has ever seen and he never hesitated to put his body on the line on every loose ball. Throughout his career, he led the league in boards 7 times, won 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards, made 8 All-Defensive teams, 2 All-Stars, and won 5 NBA Championships.
3. Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose has to be one of the biggest “what ifs’ in NBA history, and sadly, we never got to see him fulfill his true potential due to his injury-plagued career that up to this day still has him struggling to establish himself as an elite player.
Rose is never going to go back to his former self and there have been a lot of questions regarding his true desire to play, but he was by far the most exciting player to watch in the league during his prime and the only guy that could stop James’ dominance in the East. Hopefully, the former MVP can turn things around.
2. Scottie Pippen
Before LeBron James, people seriously thought of Scottie Pippen as the best small forward in the history of the game, being a lockdown defender that could guard 1 through 5 and also light it up in the offensive end.
Pippen is one of the main reasons why the almighty Bulls were so able to succeed, having a tremendous impact on both ends of the hardwood. Throughout his career, he won 6 NBA Championships, led the league in steals once, made 10 All-Defensive teams, and recorded 7 All-Star appearances.
1. Michael Jordan
What can we say about Michael Jordan that somebody hasn’t told before? Jordan is simply the greatest player in the history of the game and comparing every player to him is pure blasphemy. Period.
Jordan was as dominant on defense as he was on offense, and his career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game are just ridiculous. Throughout his career, he won 6 Championships, the Rookie of the Year award, the Defensive Player of the Year ,award, 10 Scoring titles, 6 Finals MVPs, led the league in steals 3 times, made 9 All-Defensive teams, and 14 All-Star appearances.
