List of Chicago Bulls seasons

The United Center has been home to the Bulls since 1994.

The Chicago Bulls are a National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Chicago, Illinois. Dick Klein founded the Bulls in 1966 after a number of other professional basketball teams in Chicago had failed.^{[1][lower-alpha 1]} In their 50 seasons, the Bulls have achieved a winning record 25 times, and have appeared in the NBA playoffs 34 times.^[4] They received international recognition in the 1990s when All-Star shooting guard Michael Jordan led them to their six league championships.^[5] The only NBA franchises that have won more championships than the Bulls are the Boston Celtics (17 championships) and Los Angeles Lakers (16).^[6]

The Bulls initially competed in the NBA's Western Division. The Western Division was renamed the Western Conference in 1970, and was split into the Midwest and Pacific Divisions. The Bulls played in the Midwest Division until 1980, when they moved to the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.^[4]

History of the Bulls

Early years

During their inaugural season (1966–67), the Bulls compiled a 33–48 record under coach Johnny "Red" Kerr and reached the playoffs. This was the best record achieved by an NBA expansion team in its first year of play, a feat which earned Kerr the NBA Coach of the Year Award. Dick Motta replaced Kerr in 1969, and under his leadership, the Bulls appeared in the playoffs every year from 1970 to 1975. The team reached the Western Conference Finals in 1974 and 1975, but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors, respectively. Key players during the Motta era included Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Chet Walker, Norm Van Lier, and Tom Boerwinkle.^[7]

The Bulls qualified for the playoffs just twice between 1976 and 1984, a period in which the team used eight different head coaches, including former player Jerry Sloan.^[8] They had a chance to win the first pick of the 1979 NBA Draft, which would have allowed them to select future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. However, they lost a coin flip to the Los Angeles Lakers, and went on to choose David Greenwood with the second pick. Although Greenwood averaged 12.6 points over six seasons with the Bulls, he never became an NBA All-Star.^[9]

Jordan era

Michael Jordan led the Bulls to their six championships.

The Bulls' luck turned for the better after selecting Michael Jordan with the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.^[7] Now considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time,^[10] Jordan averaged 28.2 points per game during his first season and received the 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. From 1985 onwards, the Bulls reached the playoffs every season he was on the team's roster. However, Jordan could not lead the Bulls past the first round of the playoffs by himself, so in 1987, general manager Jerry Krause acquired Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant at that summer's draft. These two young forwards could complement Jordan with their scoring, defense, and rebounding. In 1989, the Bulls played in their first conference finals series since 1975, losing to the Detroit Pistons. Coach Phil Jackson joined the Bulls after that season, and in 1991, the team won their first of three consecutive NBA championships by defeating Magic Johnson and the Lakers.^[7]

Jordan suddenly retired from basketball in October 1993 and embarked upon a career in minor league baseball. Although the Bulls signed European standout Toni Kukoč to help alleviate the loss, they could not extend their championship streak, falling to the New York Knicks in the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Bulls then lost Horace Grant, who signed with the Orlando Magic as a free agent during the summer of 1994.^[7] However, Jordan returned to the Bulls in March 1995, and with the added help of rebounding specialist Dennis Rodman, the team won three more championships from 1996 to 1998.^[10] The 1995–96 Bulls won a then-record 72 regular season games (out of 82)^[11] and are widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NBA history.^[12]

Post-Jordan era

After the Bulls won their sixth championship, Phil Jackson decided to leave the team and spend some time away from basketball. Michael Jordan then announced his second retirement, which prompted general manager Jerry Krause to begin rebuilding the roster with younger athletes. Six players from the 1997–98 Bulls (Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, Jud Buechler,^[7] and Scott Burrell^[13]) joined other teams through free agency or sign-and-trade deals, and with few established players left on the roster, the Bulls missed the 1999 playoffs. This began a six-year playoff drought, the longest such drought in team history.^[7]

The Bulls showed signs of improvement after hiring coach Scott Skiles in 2003, reaching the playoffs in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Some of the primary contributors on those teams were Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich.^[7] The Bulls' new playoff streak ended in 2008, when the team finished fourth in their division with a 33–49 record. After the season, the team hired a new coach, Vinny Del Negro.^[14] The Bulls' poor record did help them win the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery, which allowed them to select Derrick Rose with the first pick in the NBA Draft.^[15][16] They made the 2009 NBA Playoffs, only to lose in a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics which included a record seven overtime periods.^[17] In 2010, Del Negro was replaced by Tom Thibodeau, and the Bulls reached the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the Miami Heat in five games.^[18]

Table key

Derrick Rose was drafted by the Bulls in 2008.

AMVP	All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
COY	Coach of the Year
DPOY	Defensive Player of the Year
Finish	Final position in league or division standings
GB	Games behind first-place team in division[lower-alpha 2]
Italics	Season in progress
Losses	Number of regular season losses
EOY	Executive of the Year
FMVP	Finals Most Valuable Player
MVP	Most Valuable Player
ROY	Rookie of the Year
SIX	Sixth Man of the Year
SPOR	Sportsmanship Award
Wins	Number of regular season wins

Seasons

Note: Statistics are correct as of April 16, 2016.

NBA champions

Conference champions

Division champions

Playoff berth

Season	Conference	Finish	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	GB	Playoffs	Awards	Head coach
1966–67	—	—	Western	4th	33	48	.407	11	Lost Division Semifinals (Hawks) 3–0[19]	Johnny Kerr (COY)[7]	Johnny Kerr
1967–68	—	—	Western	4th	29	53	.354	27	Lost Division Semifinals (Lakers) 4–1[20]	—	Johnny Kerr
1968–69	—	—	Western	5th	33	49	.402	22		—	Dick Motta
1969–70	—	—	Western	3rd[lower-alpha 3]	39	43	.476	9	Lost Division Semifinals (Hawks) 4–1[22]	—	Dick Motta
1970–71	Western	3rd	Midwest[lower-alpha 4]	2nd	51	31	.622	2	Lost Conference Semifinals (Lakers) 4–3[23]	Dick Motta (COY)[7]	Dick Motta
1971–72	Western	3rd	Midwest	2nd	57	25	.695	6	Lost Conference Semifinals (Lakers) 4–0[24]	—	Dick Motta
1972–73	Western	3rd	Midwest	2nd	51	31	.622	9	Lost Conference Semifinals (Lakers) 4–3[25]	—	Dick Motta
1973–74	Western	3rd	Midwest	2nd	54	28	.659	9	Won Conference Semifinals (Pistons) 4–3 Lost Conference Finals (Bucks) 4–0[26]	—	Dick Motta
1974–75	Western	2nd	Midwest	1st	47	35	.573	—	Won Conference Semifinals (Kings) 4–2 Lost Conference Finals (Warriors) 4–3[27]	—	Dick Motta
1975–76	Western	9th	Midwest	4th	24	58	.293	14		—	Dick Motta
1976–77	Western	6th	Midwest	3rd[lower-alpha 5]	44	38	.537	6	Lost First Round (Trail Blazers) 2–1[29]	—	Ed Badger
1977–78	Western	8th	Midwest	3rd	40	42	.488	8		—	Ed Badger
1978–79	Western	11th	Midwest	5th	31	51	.378	17		—	Larry Costello Scotty Robertson
1979–80	Western	9th	Midwest	4th[lower-alpha 6]	30	52	.366	19		—	Jerry Sloan
1980–81	Eastern	5th	Central[lower-alpha 7]	2nd	45	37	.549	15	Won First Round (Knicks) 2–0 Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–0[31]	—	Jerry Sloan
1981–82	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	34	48	.415	21		—	Jerry Sloan Phil Johnson Rod Thorn
1982–83	Eastern	9th	Central	4th	28	54	.341	23		—	Paul Westhead
1983–84	Eastern	10th	Central	5th	27	55	.329	23		—	Kevin Loughery
1984–85	Eastern	7th	Central	3rd	38	44	.463	21	Lost First Round (Bucks) 3–1[32]	Michael Jordan (ROY)[7]	Kevin Loughery
1985–86	Eastern	8th	Central	4th	30	52	.366	27	Lost First Round (Celtics) 3–0[33]	—	Stan Albeck
1986–87	Eastern	8th	Central	5th	40	42	.488	17	Lost First Round (Celtics) 3–0[34]	—	Doug Collins
1987–88	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd[lower-alpha 8]	50	32	.610	4	Won First Round (Cavaliers) 3–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Pistons) 4–1[36]	Michael Jordan (MVP, DPOY, AMVP)[7] Jerry Krause (EOY)	Doug Collins
1988–89	Eastern	6th	Central	5th	47	35	.573	16	Won First Round (Cavaliers) 3–2 Won Conference Semifinals (Knicks) 4–2 Lost Conference Finals (Pistons) 4–2[37]	—	Doug Collins
1989–90	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	55	27	.671	4	Won First Round (Bucks) 3–1 Won Conference Semifinals (76ers) 4–1 Lost Conference Finals (Pistons) 4–3[38]	—	Phil Jackson
1990–91	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	61	21	.744	—	Won First Round (Knicks) 3–0 Won Conference Semifinals (76ers) 4–1 Won Conference Finals (Pistons) 4–0 Won NBA Finals (Lakers) 4–1[39]	Michael Jordan (MVP, FMVP)[7]	Phil Jackson
1991–92	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	67	15	.817	—	Won First Round (Heat) 3–0 Won Conference Semifinals (Knicks) 4–3 Won Conference Finals (Cavaliers) 4–2 Won NBA Finals (Trail Blazers) 4–2[40]	Michael Jordan (MVP, FMVP)[7]	Phil Jackson
1992–93	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	57	25	.695	—	Won First Round (Hawks) 3–0 Won Conference Semifinals (Cavaliers) 4–0 Won Conference Finals (Knicks) 4–2 Won NBA Finals (Suns) 4–2[41]	Michael Jordan (FMVP)[7]	Phil Jackson
1993–94	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	55	27	.671	2	Won First Round (Cavaliers) 3–0 Lost Conference Semifinals (Knicks) 4–3[42]	Scottie Pippen (AMVP)[7]	Phil Jackson
1994–95	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	47	35	.573	5	Won First Round (Hornets) 3–1 Lost Conference Semifinals (Magic) 4–2[43]	—	Phil Jackson
1995–96	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	72	10	.878	—	Won First Round (Heat) 3–0 Won Conference Semifinals (Knicks) 4–1 Won Conference Finals (Magic) 4–0 Won NBA Finals (SuperSonics) 4–2[44]	Michael Jordan (MVP, FMVP, AMVP) Phil Jackson (COY) Jerry Krause (EOY) Toni Kukoč (SIX) [7][45]	Phil Jackson
1996–97	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	69	13	.841	—	Won First Round (Bullets) 3–0 Won Conference Semifinals (Hawks) 4–1 Won Conference Finals (Heat) 4–1 Won NBA Finals (Jazz) 4–2[46]	Michael Jordan (FMVP)[7]	Phil Jackson
1997–98	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	62	20	.756	—	Won First Round (Nets) 3–0 Won Conference Semifinals (Hornets) 4–1 Won Conference Finals (Pacers) 4–3 Won NBA Finals (Jazz) 4–2[47]	Michael Jordan (MVP, FMVP, AMVP)[7]	Phil Jackson
1998–99[lower-alpha 9]	Eastern	15th	Central	8th	13	37	.260	20		—	Tim Floyd
1999–00	Eastern	15th	Central	8th	17	65	.207	39		Elton Brand[lower-alpha 10] (ROY)[7]	Tim Floyd
2000–01	Eastern	15th	Central	8th	15	67	.183	37		—	Tim Floyd
2001–02	Eastern	15th	Central	8th	21	61	.256	29		—	Tim Floyd Bill Berry Bill Cartwright
2002–03	Eastern	12th	Central	6th	30	52	.366	20		—	Bill Cartwright
2003–04	Eastern	14th	Central	8th	23	59	.280	38		—	Bill Cartwright Pete Myers Scott Skiles
2004–05	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	47	35	.573	7	Lost First Round (Wizards) 4–2[49]	Ben Gordon (SIX)[7]	Scott Skiles
2005–06	Eastern	7th	Central	4th[lower-alpha 11]	41	41	.500	23	Lost First Round (Heat) 4–2[51]	—	Scott Skiles
2006–07	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	49	33	.598	4	Won First Round (Heat) 4–0 Lost Conference Semifinals (Pistons) 4–2[52]	Luol Deng (SPOR)[7]	Scott Skiles
2007–08	Eastern	11th	Central	4th	33	49	.402	26		—	Scott Skiles Pete Myers Jim Boylan
2008–09	Eastern	7th	Central	2nd	41	41	.500	25	Lost First Round (Celtics) 4–3	Derrick Rose (ROY)[53]	Vinny Del Negro
2009–10	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	41	41	.500	20	Lost First Round (Cavaliers) 4–1	—	Vinny Del Negro
2010–11	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	62	20	.756	—	Won First Round (Pacers) 4–1 Won Conference Semifinals (Hawks) 4–2 Lost Conference Finals (Heat) 4–1	Derrick Rose (MVP)[54] Tom Thibodeau (COY)[55] Gar Forman (EOY)	Tom Thibodeau
2011–12[lower-alpha 12]	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	50	16	.758	—	Lost First Round (76ers) 4–2	—	Tom Thibodeau
2012–13	Eastern	5th	Central	2nd	45	37	.549	4	Won First Round (Nets) 4–3 Lost Conference Semifinals (Heat) 4–1	—	Tom Thibodeau
2013–14	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	48	34	.585	8	Lost First Round (Wizards) 4–1	Joakim Noah (DPOY)	Tom Thibodeau
2014–15	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	50	32	.610	3	Won First Round (Bucks) 4–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Cavaliers) 4–2	Jimmy Butler (MIP) Joakim Noah (JWKC)	Tom Thibodeau
2015–16	Eastern	9th	Central	4th	42	40	.512	15			Fred Hoiberg

All-time records

Note: Statistics are correct through April 16, 2016

Statistic	Wins	Losses	Win%
Chicago Bulls regular season record (1966–2016)	2115	1936	.522
Chicago Bulls postseason record (1966–2016)	184	154	.544
All-time regular and postseason record	2299	2090	.524

Notes

1. The Bulls' predecessors included the Chicago Bruins, the Chicago Studebaker Flyers, the Chicago American Gears, the Chicago Stags, the Chicago Majors, and the Chicago Packers (later renamed the Zephyrs). The Zephyrs moved to Baltimore and then Washington, D.C., and are now known as the Washington Wizards.^[2][3]
2. The formula is as followed: ${\mathrm {Games}}\ {\mathrm {behind}}={\frac {({\mathrm {TeamA's}}\ {\mathrm {wins}}-{\mathrm {TeamB's}}\ {\mathrm {wins}})+({\mathrm {TeamB's}}\ {\mathrm {losses}}-{\mathrm {TeamA's}}\ {\mathrm {losses}})}{{\mathrm {2}}}}$
3. Though the Bulls had the same record as the Phoenix Suns in the Western Division, the Bulls lost the tiebreaker and finished third.^[21]
4. The Western Division was renamed the Western Conference and split into the Midwest and Pacific divisions.
5. Though the Bulls had the same record as the Detroit Pistons in the Midwest Division, the Bulls lost the tiebreaker and finished third.^[28]
6. Though the Bulls had the same record as the Denver Nuggets in the Midwest Division, the Bulls lost the tiebreaker and finished fourth.^[30]
7. In 1980, the Dallas Mavericks entered the NBA as an expansion team and joined the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. The Bulls then moved to the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.^[7]
8. Though the Bulls had the same record as the Atlanta Hawks in the Central Division, the Bulls won the tiebreaker and finished second.^[35]
9. Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50 game regular season schedule.^[48]
10. Brand shared Rookie of the Year honors with Steve Francis of the Houston Rockets.^[7]
11. Though the Bulls had the same record as the Indiana Pacers in the Central Division, the Bulls lost the tiebreaker and finished fourth.^[50]
12. Due to a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011 and all 30 teams played a shortened 66 game regular season schedule.^[56]

Sources

• Sachare, Alex (1999). The Chicago Bulls Encyclopedia. Contemporary Books. ISBN 0-8092-2515-8.
• "Chicago Bulls". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 4, 2008.
• "Playoff Index". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 4, 2008.

References

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2. Rude, Jeff (November 4, 1990). "Bulls 25: Ultimate Saga of Success". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 16.
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7. "Chicago Bulls History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Retrieved September 4, 2008.
8. Sachare, pp. 123–131.
9. Sachare, pp. 26–27.
10. "Michael Jordan". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
11. "Bulls Set Record With 70th Win". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
12. "Top 10 Teams in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
13. "Scott Burrell Player Info". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
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48. Donovan, John (February 4, 1999). "Let the semi-season begin: Expect injuries, intensity and a new champion in '99". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
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55. "Chicago's Tom Thibodeau named 2010-11 NBA Coach of the Year". NBA.com. May 1, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
56. Beck, Howard (November 28, 2011). "Two Exhibition Games for N.B.A. Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2011.