Record 72–10 (.878) General manager Jerry Krause Owner Jerry Reinsdorf Radio WMAQ | Head coach Phil Jackson Arena United Center End date 1996 | |
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Place Division: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern) Playoff finish NBA Champions
(Defeated SuperSonics 4-2) Television SportsChannel Chicago, WGN Similar 1995–96 NBA season, 1997–98 Chicago Bulls sea, 1996–97 Chicago Bulls sea, 1990–91 Chicago Bulls sea, 1971–72 Los Angeles | ||
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Bulls' 30th season in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Bulls acquired rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman from the San Antonio Spurs and signed free agent Randy Brown. At midseason, they signed free agent John Salley, who won championships with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990. This season saw the Bulls set the record for most wins in an NBA regular season, finishing with 72 wins and 10 losses, which would be left unbroken for twenty years until the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors won 73 games and lost 9.
Contents
- Off season
- November
- December
- January
- February
- March
- April
- First round
- Conference semifinals
- Conference finals
- NBA Finals
- Playoff Leaders
- Award winners
- NBA All Star Game
- References
The team started 37–0 at home, part of a then-NBA-record 44-game winning streak that included games from the 1994–95 regular-season. Their 33 road wins were the most in NBA history until the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors won 34 road games. The season was the best 3-loss start in NBA history at 41–3 (.932), which included an 18-game winning streak for the team. The Bulls became the first NBA team to ever win 70 regular season games, finishing first overall in their division, conference, and the entire NBA. They are also the only team in NBA history to win more than 70 games and an NBA title in the same season. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were both selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, as Jordan led the league in scoring with 30.4 points per game.
The Bulls swept the Miami Heat 3–0 in the first round of the playoffs, defeated the New York Knicks 4–1 in five games of the semifinals, then swept the Orlando Magic 4–0 in the Conference Finals. They then defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 4–2 in the 1996 NBA Finals, winning their fourth NBA title in six seasons. The Bulls have the best combined regular and postseason record in NBA history 87–13 (.870). For the season, the Bulls added black pinstripe alternate road uniforms. They would remove the pinstripes from the jerseys in 1997.
The team's season roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17.
Off-season
Before the 1995–96 NBA season, the Bulls acquired Dennis Rodman and Jack Haley from the Spurs in exchange for Will Perdue and cash considerations to fill a void at power forward left by Horace Grant, who left the Bulls before the 1994–95 NBA season.
In his book Bad as I Wanna Be, Rodman wrote that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had to approve the trade. Rodman chose the number 91 (9+1=10 according to Rodman for why he chose that number) for his jersey since #10 was retired by the Bulls in 1995 in honor of Bob Love.
Haley played in one game, the final game of the regular season, and didn't participate in the playoffs. He was best known for his friendship with the enigmatic Rodman.
November
The Bulls began the 1995–96 season on November 3 against the Charlotte Hornets and defeated them, 105–91, with Michael Jordan scoring 42 points. The next day, Chicago defeated the Boston Celtics in a 22-point blowout. On November 7, the Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors behind Jordan's 38 points. In Gund Arena, Chicago defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 9, where Scottie Pippen accumulated a triple-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists. After defeating the Portland Trail Blazers on November 11, the Bulls reached a 5–0 start for the season. On November 14, Chicago's undefeated streak ended with a loss to the Orlando Magic, despite a double-double performance by Pippen. Following their first loss of the season, Chicago bounced back to defeat Cleveland on November 15. The Bulls would continue their winning ways by defeating the New Jersey Nets on November 17.
From November 21–December 2, the Bulls went on a road trip to play against Western Conference teams. On November 21, Chicago played in its first overtime game of the season in a win against the Dallas Mavericks, backed by a double-double performance by Pippen and 36 points from Jordan. On the next day, the Bulls defeated the San Antonio Spurs behind another triple-double by Pippen and Jordan's 38 points. Chicago then went to Delta Center to play against the Utah Jazz on November 24. In the game, the Bulls defeated the Jazz, 90–85. On November 26, the Bulls headed to Seattle and were dealt their second loss of the season after losing by five points. Heading south into Portland, Chicago would defeat the Trail Blazers by three points on November 27. In their last game of the month, the Bulls went to Canada to play against the Vancouver Grizzlies and defeated them.
December
Chicago's road trip ended in Los Angeles on December 2 after defeating the Clippers. On December 6, the Bulls headed back to the United Center to play the New York Knicks and had defeated them despite Jordan's struggle that night. The Bulls won their fifth straight game on December 8 against the Spurs. On the next day, Chicago defeated the Milwaukee Bucks behind Jordan's 45-point performance.
January
The Bulls went undefeated in January.
February
The Bulls continued their success in February winning 11 of 14.
March
The Bulls added 2 of their final 10 losses in March:
On Sunday, March 10, they were blown out 104-72 in Madison Square Garden by Ewing's Knicks – their largest margin of defeat on the season.
Two weeks later, they dropped a game at the hands of the expansion Raptors, 109-108. Damon Stoudamire posted an efficient 30-point, 11-assist effort to lead Toronto.
April
The Bulls lost two home games in the final month losing to the Charlotte Hornets, then their final home game of the season to the Indiana Pacers. Those were their only home losses of the entire season, including the playoffs, as Chicago finished with an overall 39-2 record at the United Center.
First round
The Bulls' playoff run began on April 26. Their First Round opponent was the Miami Heat, whom they defeated 3–1 in the regular season. In Game 1, the Bulls defeated Miami in a blowout victory behind Jordan's 35 points. Winning in a 31-point blowout, Chicago once again defeated the Heat. To reach the Conference Semifinals, the Bulls defeated the Heat in Miami in a game where Pippen accumulated a triple-double with 22 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Conference semifinals
The Bulls met rival New York Knicks in the Conference Semifinals. In the regular season, Chicago won the season series, 4–1. In Game 1 on May 5, the Bulls defeated the Knicks behind Jordan's 44 points. Chicago would defeat New York again on May 7 to take a 2–0 series lead. Playing at Madison Square Garden, the Bulls lost Game 3 in overtime, despite a 46-point offensive performance by Jordan. In Game 4, Chicago defeated the Knicks by three points to take a 3–1 series lead. To close out the series, the Bulls defeated New York at home behind double-double performances by Pippen and Rodman.
Conference finals
In the Conference Finals, the Bulls met the Atlantic Division champions, Orlando Magic, a team led by Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee Hardaway, who had reached the finals the previous year and were swept by Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. The Bulls won the regular-season series against the Magic, 3–1. To start the series, the Bulls took Game 1 in a 38-point blowout on May 19. Behind Jordan's 35 points, Chicago defeated Orlando on May 21. In Game 3, the Bulls continued their winning ways by taking a 3–0 series lead against the Magic. Completing the series sweep, the Bulls won Game 4 by five points behind a 45-point performance by Jordan.
NBA Finals
Chicago took on the Seattle SuperSonics, whose 64–18 franchise-best regular season record was overshadowed by the Bulls' 72–10 record. In the regular season, the two teams split the season series, 1–1. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Chicago defeated Seattle by 17 points. The Bulls took a 2–0 series lead against the Sonics in the second game where Rodman accumulated 20 rebounds. In KeyArena, Chicago won Game 3 behind Jordan's 36 points. The Bulls lost Game 4 in a 21-point blowout on June 12. On June 14, the Bulls lost against Seattle in Game 5. Back in the United Center, Chicago defeated Seattle in Game 6 to win the NBA championship four games to two.
Playoff Leaders
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