The All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. The All-Time Chicago Bulls: Who Would Win In A 7-Game Series?

Throughout NBA history, there are different franchises that are more well-known because of the success they have earned. Two of these storied franchises are the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers are one of the oldest teams in NBA history, formerly playing in Minneapolis and moving to L.A. Chicago has seen basketball teams like the Chicago Stags, the Chicago Packers, and Zephyrs, but they wouldn’t see a team that they could truly call theirs until 1966 when the Bulls franchise was founded. These two teams have combined for 23 championships in their history, and some of the greatest players in NBA history have worn their colors proudly. 

Today, we will take some of the best players from each franchise’s history and put them against each other in an intense and hard-fought seven-game series. We will break down these incredible matchups individually, as well as each team’s advantages, to declare a winner in the end. The Bulls and Lakers matchup can nearly be seen as a rematch of the 1991 NBA Finals, with much more talent added around Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Will the Bulls come out on top once again, or will the Lakers take their crown back?

This is the all-time Los Angeles Lakers vs. the all-time Chicago Bulls in a seven-game series.

Magic Johnson vs. Derrick Rose

The matchup of Magic Johnson and Derrick Rose is an intriguing one, to say the least. Magic holds a clear advantage as both a playmaker and defender. Magic will simply be in this lineup to do both of these things will all-time great scorers around him. With a considerable size advantage over Rose, Magic will be able to pick apart any defense thrown at him on the perimeter. He will also be able to get Rose into the post and punish him as a scorer and playmaker. What the Lakers will want to do is run as often as possible and push the pace. Who better to have running the show than the greatest open-court point guard ever?

As for Rose, he does hold a slight advantage over Magic when he has the ball in his hands. Rose is about as explosive as any point guard we have ever seen in his prime, and we will see him use that to get around Magic. Off the dribble, Rose can get by almost anybody but Magic’s size and length will present an issue on the outside. If Rose can control his body and use his agility like we saw him do so many times as the youngest MVP in NBA history, he should be able to make this matchup a lot closer than when we look at it through a biased lens.

Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan

This is the matchup that the fans came to see and will put butts in the seats. Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan is a real-life student-teacher moment in NBA history. As time went on, the similarities in their game were clearly evident. Kobe Bryant mastered the art of the mid-range as well as posting players up to set up his signature fadeaway. He was lethal in the open court and never met a shot he didn’t think he could make no matter what the defense looked like across from him. Bryant was the ultimate competitor, scorer, and defender who presents a matchup issue in any lineup he was a part of.

Now picture all of that rolled into one and on a superhuman level and you have Michael Jordan. He was the much more physical and impactful defender on an individual as well as a team level. He was the more gifted scorer and the far more efficient one at that armed with his even more effective fadeaway that is easily the most deadly in basketball history. Jordan took the game over and is undisputedly the player you want with the ball and the game on the line but will also make a clutch defensive play and get a stop in crunch time as well. Jordan takes the advantage over Kobe in this matchup, but the team element makes it a closer contest.

LeBron James vs. Jimmy Butler

This matchup is the first one that truly favors the Lakers because of what it brings not only on an individual level but a team level as well. Adding LeBron James to Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, before we even get to the front court, pairs one of the most talented scorers ever with the two greatest playmakers in NBA history. James is a threat as a scorer, passer, and defender but it will be his scoring and playmaking that take center stage in this one. I mean, he is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, after all. James can dominate Butler in isolation but with the weapons he has around him, he will also find teammates for easy shots all night long.

Jimmy Butler will have his work cut out for him as he takes on a much bigger and faster James. The only hope for Butler will be the elite-level defense he plays on the ball against James and try to force him into making ill-advised passes. With James’ IQ and acumen, this will be a tall task for anyone to handle. Butler can get his shots off as well but isn’t exactly a threat from the perimeter. It would be interesting to see how he attacks the Lakers’ defense considering Kareem and Shaq’s presence in the frontcourt.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Scottie Pippen

This will be another matchup that heavily favors the Lakers just as the entire frontcourt matchup does. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored over 38,000 career points with only ever making one three-pointer in his career, so you know where he will want to bring the game. There isn’t much that Pippen can do at his size to try and stop Kareem’s lethal skyhook or even fight him on the boards. Kareem will not have to step out much for Pippen’s jumper, considering he only shot 32.6% from three for his career, so this matchup surely falls into Kareem’s favor quite easily.

However, Pippen will not be just camped out in the paint trying to post up Kareem. Pippen will serve as a point forward for the majority of this matchup, forcing the big man to perhaps get out of his comfort zone away from the basket. The last thing Kareem wants to do is let Pippen camp out and pick apart the Lakers. The Bulls also have a huge size disadvantage meaning they will want to get out and run as often as possible. Pippen will serve an important role in this effect both as a facilitator and finisher.

Shaquille O’Neal vs. Dennis Rodman

The matchup with Shaquille O’Neal and Dennis Rodman isn’t as runaway as it would seem at first glance. Remember, O’Neal is at his absolute peak here and the best version of almost any big man we have ever seen. However, Rodman will have no issues getting physical with O’Neal. We have seen it before. O’Neal dominates from three feet and in as an unstoppable scorer and rebounder. The main weapons for Shaq to use are the clear physical advantages he holds over Rodman to do just that, control the game around the basket.

This is Dennis Rodman at his defensive peak we are talking about here, though. Rodman will move Shaq. It is inevitable due to Rodman’s strength and defensive awareness of the spots he needs Shaq to get to to be ineffective. Rodman will also cause chaos on rebounds, fighting for every single one on both ends of the floor. If rodman can get Shaq even five feet away from the basket, he almost renders him useless in his role on this squad. However, prime Shaq ran bulldozed some of the greatest bigs ever with relative ease. Rodman is no ordinary man, but neither is O’Neal.

All-Time Los Angeles Lakers Advantages

The Lakers are clear favorites in this matchup as we break down each matchup, but the Bulls will surely be able to hold their own. The Lakers have a clear advantage in the frontcourt, with Kareem and Shaq going against Pippen and Rodman. The sheer size difference between the two duos is enough to give the advantage to the Lakers but all-around skill also heavily favors the Lakers. For Kareem and Shaq, their jobs may look easy when you consider the three other players on the perimeter will be executing plays.

This leads us to the next advantage that the Lakers hold, which is in the playmaking department. In Magic Johnson and LeBron James, the lakers are sending out the two greatest playmakers and passers in NBA history. James and Magic will pick apart the Bulls, whether it be in set offenses or transition situations. With scorers like Kobe, Kareem, and Shaq surrounding these two, the series may not last long against a Bulls team that will lack in certain areas. James and Johnson may be recording triple-doubles by halftime, surrounded by guys who can finish and score like those three.

All-Time Chicago Bulls Advantages

Make no mistake about it, the Bulls have a few advantages of their own. First, the presence of Michael Jordan in itself is an advantage. Jordan is the ultimate basketball player and star, making sure this series will go at least six or seven games on its own. As the ultimate offensive weapon, his abilities can carry a team as far as they want to go. The only thing stopping him is the same treatment he got in his early days against the Celtics in the playoffs. A team that is full of Hall of farmers with less superior teammates. If anyone can get the job done, it’s Jordan, though.

The other advantage that the Bulls hold is on the defensive side of the ball, especially on the perimeter. Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman are three of the greatest defenders ever at their respective positions. Not to mention former steals leader Jimmy Butler is no slouch, either. Between Jordan and Rodman, there are three Defensive Player of the Year awards between them and guys who will do whatever it takes to get a stop. The defensive matchups will hold some issues considering each player can guard multiple positions as well. This all-time offensive juggernaut up against a defensive machine will be a matchup for the ages.

Who Would Win This Matchup In A 7-Game Series?

In Game One of this matchup between two legendary squads, the Lakers came out and established their dominance early. Magic and Kareem’s chemistry transcended time and worked out perfectly, with Scottie Pippen drawing the short straw of trying to slow down Kareem. LeBron James had a masterful performance as well, with 29 points and 13 assists. Michael Jordan did his best to keep the Bulls in it with 43 points of his own, but in the end, Kareem’s 32 points and 15 rebounds lifted the Lakers to an easy 1-0 series lead.

The Chicago Bulls came storming back in Game Two, led by the offensive explosion from Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose and the defensive masterpiece turned in by Dennis Rodman. Shaquille O’Neal struggled from the field as Rodman pushed him outside his comfort zone and missed opportunities turned into transition bucks for Chicago. Jordan led the way with another 40-point game, while Derrick Rose had 29 points and 12 assists. The Bulls steal the second game of the series 112-98.

Game Three would be a back-and-forth battle as each team looked to gain the upper hand. In the first half, it was all Michael Jordan as he poured in 26 of his 38 total points on the night. This game would be all about revenge for Shaquille O’Neal, who did not take kindly to what the press had to say about him after Game Two. O’Neal would pull down 20 rebounds on top of 31 points as the second half belonged to the Lakers. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James would each add 22 points of their own as the Lakers take a 2-1 series lead.

In Game Four, the Bulls looked to send a message to the Lakers early on. Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose tried to match the intensity and physicality of Jordan, Rodman, and Pippen as they looked for anything to turn the series back in their favor. Jordan added 35 points on the night, and Pippen added 27 by taking the game to the perimeter, having his way with Kareem on the outside. The Bulls would once again steal Game Four and even up the series at two games apiece.

The next two games would both come down to the wire. In Game Five, the Bulls would get out to an early lead behind 20 first-half points from Jordan and 12 assists from Rose. Jimmy Butler would add some relief for Chicago as well. The Lakers would take control of this contest in the second half with Kobe Bryant going on a third-quarter tear. Bryant would finish the contest with 37 points and eight rebounds, while LeBron James added 26 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The Lakers would pull away in the end and take a 3-2 advantage in the series.

With Chicago on the brink of elimination, they would turn to one man to help them save their series. Michael Jordan would start out the game as hot as ever, going 12-13 from the floor through two quarters and finishing the first half with 24 points. Rodman once again did a tremendous job on Shaq, but on the other side, Pippen was no match for Kareem’s interior prowess. Abdul-Jabbar would pour in 34 points and grab 13 rebounds for the Lakers on the night, keeping this contest extra close in the end. Kobe Bryant would seal the deal for the Lakers in the fourth, scoring 12 of his 38 points to down the Bulls in six games.

Finals Result: All-Time Los Angeles Lakers vs. All-Time Chicago Bulls 4-2

Series MVP: Kobe Bryant

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