1992–93 Chicago Bulls season

Updated on Nov 13, 2023

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Record 57–25 (.695) Arena Chicago Stadium General manager Jerry Krause Radio WMAQ		Head coach Phil Jackson Date 1993 Owner Jerry Reinsdorf
Place Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 2nd (Eastern) Playoff finish NBA Champions (Defeated Suns 4-2) Television SportsChannel Chicago, WGN Similar 1990–91 Chicago Bulls sea, 1997–98 Chicago Bulls sea, 1995–96 Chicago Bulls sea, 1996–97 Chicago Bulls sea, 1992–93 NBA season

The 1992–93 NBA season was the Bulls' 27th season in the National Basketball Association. After two straight championships, the Bulls would yet again have another successful season winning ten of their twelve games in February, finishing in first place in the Central Division, and second overall in the Eastern Conference with a 57–25 record. They also advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive season, becoming the first team since the 1987–88 Boston Celtics to do so. Michael Jordan once again led the league in scoring with 32.6 points per game, and was selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game along with Scottie Pippen.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls swept the Atlanta Hawks in three straight games. In the semifinals, they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four straight games. Then after losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals to the top-seeded New York Knicks, the Bulls would win the next four games of the series. Then they would then go on to win their third consecutive NBA championship, defeating regular season MVP Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals. This was the last title the Bulls won while playing at Chicago Stadium. Chicago's offseason was also marked by Jordan's sudden retirement.

The team's season roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17.

East First Round

(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks: Bulls win series 3-0

Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 30): Chicago 114, Atlanta 90

Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 2): Chicago 117, Atlanta 102

Game 3 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 4): Chicago 98, Atlanta 88

Last Playoff Meeting: 1970 Western Division Semifinals (Atlanta won 4-1)

East Conference Semifinals

(2) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers: Bulls win series 4-0

Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 11): Chicago 91, Cleveland 84

Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 13): Chicago 104, Cleveland 85

Game 3 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 15): Chicago 96, Cleveland 90

Game 4 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 17): Chicago 103, Cleveland 101

Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Eastern Conference Finals (Chicago won 4-2)

East Conference Finals

(1) New York Knicks vs. (2) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4-2 (after trailing 2-0 to Knicks)

Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 23): New York 98, Chicago 90

Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 25): New York 96, Chicago 91

Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 29): Chicago 103, New York 83

Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 31): Chicago 105, New York 95

Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (June 2): Chicago 97, New York 94

Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 4): Chicago 96, New York 88

Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Chicago won 4-3)

NBA Finals

The 1993 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1992–93 NBA season, featuring the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, and the Phoenix Suns, winners of 62 games and led by regular season MVP Charles Barkley. The Bulls became the first team since the legendary Boston Celtics of the 1960s to win three consecutive championship titles, clinching the "three-peat" with John Paxson's game-winning 3-pointer that gave them a 99–98 victory in Game 6. This series was also notable in that the road team won each game, with the exception of Chicago in game 4.

The Phoenix Suns won game 3 in 3OT, 129–121. Suns Head Coach Paul Westphal became the only person to appear in both triple-overtime finals games. The first was the classic 1976 contest against Boston, in Game 5 as a player. Ironically, his Suns also appeared in that year's finals, thus becoming the only team to appear in two triple-overtime finals games. Back in 1976, the Suns lost 126–128 against Boston.

The Bulls got off to a good start in Game 6 but struggled in the fourth quarter, wasting a double-digit lead to trail 98–94. Michael Jordan made a layup to cut the margin to 2 points, and the Suns missed a shot on their next possession. Trailing 98–96 and facing a Game 7 on the road if they lost that day, John Paxson took a pass from Horace Grant and buried a three-point shot with 3.9 seconds left, giving the Bulls a 99–98 lead. The victory was secured by a last-second block from Horace Grant.

Michael Jordan, who averaged a Finals-record 41.0 points per game during the six-game series, became the first player in NBA history to win three straight Finals MVP Awards. He joined Magic Johnson as the only other player to win the award three times. The NBA started awarding the Finals MVP in 1969.

(W1) Phoenix Suns vs. (E2) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4–2

Game 1 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 9): Chicago 100, Phoenix 92

Game 2 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 11): Chicago 111, Phoenix 108

Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 13): Phoenix 129, Chicago 121 (3OT)

Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 16): Chicago 111, Phoenix 105

Game 5 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 18): Phoenix 108, Chicago 98

Game 6 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (June 20): Chicago 99, Phoenix 98

1993 Chicago Bulls

1993 Phoenix Suns

Series summary

Bulls win series 4-2

Award winners

Michael Jordan, Associated Press Athlete of the Year

Michael Jordan, All-NBA First Team

Scottie Pippen, All-NBA Third Team

Michael Jordan, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award

Michael Jordan, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Scottie Pippen, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Horace Grant, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

NBA All-Star Game

Michael Jordan, Guard

Scottie Pippen, Forward

References

1992–93 Chicago Bulls season Wikipedia

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