The Chicago Bulls have had a rich history of NBA success. They may not possess the number of titles the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics have, but the Bulls are still NBA royalty. Much of their success stems from Michael Jordan of course, but they have also had many other greats throughout the years. Some of these names may surprise you. Without further adieu, let’s delve into the all-time starting five for the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago Bulls’ All-Time Starting Five
Chicago Bulls All-Time Starting Point Guard- Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose may not be what he used to be, but when before the injuries, he was in the same conversation as Russell Westbrook in terms of athletic point guards. Rose is the youngest player in NBA history to win an MVP and looked to be the heir to Michael Jordan in his prime. Unfortunately, a devastating injury followed by another slew of injuries slowed down Rose’s development. He is still a very effective point guard to this day, but the Chicago Bulls’ version of Rose is still a whole different animal.
During his Bulls’ tenure, Rose would average 19.7 points, 6.2 assists, and an effective field goal percentage of 47.4%. Not to mention, he would make his three All-Star appearances during this time to go along with the aforementioned MVP. The cherry on top is that he would be the Rookie of the Year in the 2008-09 season and also make the All-NBA Team one time as well. Rose is truly beloved in the city of Chicago and for good reason.
Chicago Bulls All-Time Starting Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan
This is one is a clear no-brainer. You cannot have a Cleveland Cavaliers All-Time Team without LeBron James and you cannot have an All-Time Chicago Bulls Team without Michael Jordan. Jordan is the GOAT (greatest of all time) and delivered the windy city six NBA championships. The Bulls’ dynasty in the 1990s is arguably the greatest in NBA history and the man spearheading the effort was Jordan. Not to mention, his NBA resume is absolutely insane as one could imagine.
With the Bulls, Jordan would tally 31.5 points, 5.4 assists per game, and an effective field goal percentage of 51.8%. To top it off, he would win the MVP five times and make the All-Star Game 12 times while in a Bulls uniform. Not to mention, Jordan also would become a Defensive Player of the Year and make the All-NBA Team multiple times as well. This is just scratching the surface of his resume, but it is safe to say it already speaks for itself in terms of Jordan’s greatness.
Chicago Bulls All-Time Starting Small Forward: Scottie Pippen
Often times dubbed the sidekick of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen’s importance should not go unrecognized. Pippen is arguably one of, if not, the greatest co-star in NBA history. Many want to say Pippen was a product of Jordan’s greatness, but that is far from the truth. Without Scottie Pippen coming into his own, the Bulls may not have gotten those six titles. While they are not like Jordan’s, Pippen had great numbers and accomplishments.
During his Chicago tenure, Pippen would come away with 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. He would also make the All-Star Game seven times to go along with the steals title in the 1994-95 season. Pippen would also win one All-Star Game MVP during his time as a Bull and even make the All-Defensive Team multiple times. The man is far from overrated and his numbers and accolades prove this sentiment.
Power Forward: Dennis Rodman
Rodman was already an All-Star during his time with the Detroit Pistons. After a short stint with the San Antonio Spurs, he found his way again with the Chicago Bulls. Rodman would help the Bulls win their last three titles. Rodman was a defensive stalwart in the frontcourt throughout his career and he did just that in his three seasons with the Bulls. He was never a scorer, but he put his blueprint on other categories.
Rodman would average an insane 15.3 rebounds, a defensive rating of 98, and a defensive win share of 14.5 during his time in Chicago. Not to mention, Rodman would win multiple rebounding titles as one could imagine. On top of this, he would be instrumental in solidifying their frontcourt during their second championship three-peat. Dennis Rodman is certainly a character and he made his mark for both the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.
Center: Artis Gilmore
When it comes to forgotten NBA superstars, Artis Gilmore has to be in the conversation. One look at his resume and one may be asking how he is rarely mentioned in terms of NBA greats. He played from the 1971-72 season and was in the ABA to the 1987-88 season. His timeline did not quite correlate with Michael Jordan’s prime, but if it did, he would easily have a few rings. Gilmore is one of the most overlooked legends and his numbers and awards show this fact.
In seven seasons with the Bulls, Gilmore would tally 19.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. To top it off, he would also make the All-Star Game four times as a Bull and even made the All-Defensive Second Team once. Gilmore may have had a lot of success during his ABA career, but he also was one of the best Chicago Bulls of all time. He shores up the frontcourt of this impressive all-time Chicago Bulls starting five.
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