Chicago Bulls All-Time Team: Starting Lineup, Bench, And Coach
Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Derrick Rose lead the Chicago Bulls All-Time team.
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The Chicago Bulls have a rich history in the NBA that spans a length of nearly six decades. The franchise has won a total of 6 NBA championships, all during two three-peats in the 90s. The Bulls are the only team in NBA history to win multiple championships without losing a single Finals series. As we create our all-time Chicago Bulls lineup today, many of the spots will be filled with members of those championship teams. As the home to the greatest player to ever live, Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls are one of the most recognizable franchises around the world today.
The coach of those championship teams, Phil Jackson will be at the helm of this squad that is sure to give the other all-time teams we have created a run for their money. Sprinkled in with this lineup will be another MVP award-winner and members of teams from every era of Bulls history. This lineup is jam-packed with all-time great scorers, defenders, rebounders, and playmakers. Strewn throughout this lineup are icons in every sense of the word so let us dive right in.
This is the Chicago Bulls' all-time starting lineup, bench, and coach.
Guard - Derrick Rose
Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 0
Career Stats (with Bulls): 19.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 1x MVP, 1x Rookie of the Year, 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection
Before a knee injury changed the direction of his career forever, Derrick Rose was on his way to one of the best careers for a point guard in NBA history. With his explosive athleticism and natural feel for the game of basketball, Rose became the youngest MVP in league history at just 22 years old. He could get to the rim among the best players in the league and was absolutely lethal in transition. He used his speed to blow by defenders regularly and burst to the hoop like he had rockets in his basketball shoes.
Rose was chosen first overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. He would go on to win the Rookie of the Year award for 2008-09 with 16.8 PPG and 6.3 APG 80 starts for the Bulls. The following season, he would be named an All-Star for the first time, and just one year later, he set the league on fire. He won the 2010-11 MVP award by averaging 25.0 PPG, 7.7 APG, and 1.0 SPG. He led the Bulls to 62 wins without his 2 best teammates there for over half the season. Rose brings speed and finishing to a team that is going to be in constant attack mode.
Guard - Michael Jordan
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 6
Career Stats (with Bulls): 31.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.4 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 5x MVP, 6x Finals MVP, 1x Rookie of the Year, 1x Defensive Player of the Year, 12x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 11x All-NBA Team Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection
With the most obvious pick in our entire series, Michael Jordan will start at shooting guard for the all-time Chicago Bulls lineup. Widely regarded as the greatest player to ever live, Jordan is about as complete a player as you can ask for. He was The game’s greatest scorer with 10 scoring titles and a career 30.1 PPG average. He was an elite defender, with his Defensive Player of the Year award and All-Defensive Team selections. If you needed him to run point guard and distribute as well as score, he could do it. Jordan mastered the art of controlling a game with his masterful mid-range display and high-flying finishes.
With Michael Jordan on the team, a shot at an NBA championship is more than likely. In his 6 NBA Finals appearances, Jordan won 6 championships while being the best player on the floor in every single one. MJ was the best player on the court most nights as once he hit his prime, he was virtually unstoppable. With the game on the line, there is no one else in NBA history whose hands the ball should be in when a team needs it the most than Michael Jeffrey Jordan. The presence of the G.O.A.T is really all this team needs to know they will be successful.
Forward - Scottie Pippen
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 6
Career Stats (with Bulls): 17.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 7x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 7x All-NBA Team Selection, 8x All-Defensive Team Selection
Speaking of the greatest two-way players to ever play the game, Scottie Pippen is our starting small forward. Pippen is the perfect swiss army knife to add to our lineup. Whatever role that you need him to fill, he can do it and do it on an elite level. If you need him to go out there and defend the opponent’s best wing player, he will shut them down while sparking many easy buckets in transitioning by causing turnovers. If you need him to be a playmaker, he can run the triangle offense as well as anybody. If Jordan is on the bench taking a breather, you have Scottie Pippen to be your No. 1 scorer. He really could do it all.
There was never more evidence of Scottie being able to lead on his own than in the 1993-94 season. In his first year without Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen was a Top 5 MVP candidate while leading the team to 55 wins and 1 win shy of a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals. He had them right back in position to contend the following season until Jordan came back with 17 games left in the regular season. Pippen was the embodiment of a player being a jack of all trades on the basketball court. Next to Michael Jordan, this lineup is in great hands as we all know from the magic they created together for an entire decade.
Forward - Dennis Rodman
Championships: 3
Career Stats (with Bulls): 5.2 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 1x All-Defensive Team Selection
Dennis Rodman had two jobs during his days with the Chicago Bulls. Frustrate the offensive player in front of him whoever it may be and grab every rebound he possibly could. After Michael Jordan convinced Phil Jackson to give Rodman a chance, he became exactly what the Bulls needed to solidify a second three-peat as champions. He was their most versatile defender, able to take on the biggest challenges in the paint while being able to stick with smaller and faster players on the perimeter. He studied the trajectory of rebounds for hours before games so he could compete for them all. The heart and hustle he showed on the court was the cherry on top.
Dennis Rodman was never going to wow you with his offensive stats It actually turned into quite a spectacle if he got a few shots to go in a game. No, Rodman brought the energy that sometimes the team could be lacking on any given night. He would dive on the floor for the loose balls and chase after errant rebounds into the stands. The Bulls sometimes fed off of the heart he showed and his willingness to compete every second he was out there for the Bulls. He was tough, he was frustrating, and he could be a loose cannon, but he is also one of the most important players in Chicago Bulls' history.
Center - Artis Gilmore
Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 0
Career Stats (with Bulls): 19.3 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.1 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 4x All-Star, 1x All-Defensive Team Selection
Our big anchor in the middle is none other than Artis Gilmore. Gilmore came over to the Bulls in 1977 after spending some time in the ABA. He spent 7 seasons with the team and in that time became known as the greatest center in team history. He possessed a smooth offensive game in the paint armed with a deadly hook shot and a propensity for grabbing and fighting for offensive rebounds. On defense, he was as talented of a shot-blocker as anyone in his era. He could give guys like Kareem and Wilt nightmares because of his speed and footwork in the post.
By 1978 and 1979, Gilmore had become a consistent 20.0 PPG and 12.0 RPG player at the minimum. In 5 out of 7 seasons with the Bulls, he ranked Top 5 in blocked shots with at least 2.0 BPG. He was an efficient finisher at the rim and never wasted the opportunities afforded to him by a teammate making a play or him fighting for a rebound. He led the league twice in true shooting percentage with the Bulls as well. As one of the more physically imposing bigs in Bulls history, Gilmore is a no-brainer start for our lineup.
Bench
Guard - Norm Van Lier
Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 0
Career Stats (with Bulls): 12.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection, 7x All-Defensive Team Selection
Kicking off things on our bench is a defensive guru of the 70s, Norm Van Lier. He led the Bulls, along with Jerry Sloan, to 2 different Western Conference Finals berths during the 70s (yes, the Bulls were in the West back then). He led them to a total of 5 playoff berths in his career as a member of the Bulls. He was physical and tough as a defender who often left the opposition bruised and battered after a game where they squared off with Van Lier.
Van Lier was a stocky 6’1’’, 173-pound point guard who was just above average on offense but amongst the best guard defenders at the time. He earned 3 All-Defensive First Team selections and 4 Second Team selections in a 6 and a-half-year stretch with the Bulls. In his 3 All-Star seasons with the Bulls, Van Lier recorded at least 10.0 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 2.0 SPG. His and Sloan’s 70s Bulls teams are often referred to as the greatest teams in franchise history right after the 90s dynasty.
Guard - Jerry Sloan
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 0
Career Stats (with Bulls): 14.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 2x All-Star, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection
Before Michael Jordan existed and before he was a legendary coach for the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan was the best shooting guard in Bulls history. Who better to team up with Norm Van Lier in the backcourt than Jerry Sloan, his teammate with whom they achieved so much? He gave the Bulls in the 70s the identity of being the rough and tough team from Chicago that everyone feared to play. If Sloan didn’t leave the game with at least a bruise or a cut, then he was off of his game.
Whatever it took to win games and impose his will on opponents, Jerry Sloan was willing to do. When the Bulls were looking to rebuild their franchise in the late 60s, Sloan was the first name on their radar to acquire. He brought exactly what you wanted to build a team around back then. He was a defensive mastermind with a nose for the ball and a chip on his shoulder. He was one of the first real rebounding guards in the NBA as he was the team leader for Chicago on more than one occasion, adding to the legend of being willing to do whatever it takes to win. Sloan off of the bench for this team gives it a heart and tenacity at the guard position that only rivals MJ in our lineup.
Forward - Bob Love
Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 0
Career Stats (with Bulls): 21.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection
Our first forward off of the bench is another player who had a case for the greatest Chicago Bull of all time before Michael Jordan came around, Bob Love. He was a scoring machine for the Bulls in the late 60s and 70s. He was the first true scoring power forward with the size of a true forward and the speed and skill of a shooting guard or point guard. He was quick and provided elite play at both ends of the floor.
In his first full 6 seasons with Chicago, Love averaged at least 21.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG. He led the Bulls to 2 different Western Conference Finals appearances in 1974 and 1975 but fell short both times. At 6’8’’, he posed a serious problem for defenders as small players were too small to contain him and bigger defenders were too slow for him in the paint. With his scoring off of the bench, Love gives our lineup much-needed offensive depth.
Forward - Horace Grant
Championships: 3
Career Stats (with Bulls): 11.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 1x All-Star, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection
Our last power forward we will inject into this lineup will be a key component for 3 championship Bulls teams, Horace Grant. Horace was the quintessential power forward and at times, the glue that held the Bulls together on the defensive end of the ball. He possessed great speed for his size combined with agility and lateral movement that covered the most ground for those swarming Chicago defenses. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to see Grant pick up a guard full-court on a press by the Bulls and in sets, he would often blitz the pick-and-roll ball handler to be as disruptive as possible.
Grant played a pivotal role in 3 Bulls championship teams in the 90s. He did a terrific job in 91 and 92 on the bigs for the Lakers and Trail Blazers. In 1993, he did an exceptional job in the Finals on then MVP, Charles Barkley. Aside from being a super aggressive presence in the paint, he also was key at stopping entry passes from being any sort of easy for players to catch or make. Grant provides yet another defensive presence off of our bench that is sure to be a recipe for success.
Center - Joakim Noah
Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Championships: 0
Career Stats (with Bulls): 9.3 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Career Achievements (with Bulls): 1x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection
In his first 9 professional seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah established himself as one of the better interior defenders in team history. Noah also became an elite rebounder who did all he could to provide second chances for his teammates on the offensive boards and he succeeded. Despite a lackluster offensive game and one of the ugliest jump shots you will ever see, Noah was one of the more impactful Bulls of the 2010s.
Noah became a double-digit scorer and rebounder by the time his 3rd season with Chicago had hit. It would remain that way for the next 5 seasons. He provided spark after spark for contending Bulls teams with his incredible defensive play and the energy he showed on the court. Noah took home the 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year when he averaged over 1,0 SPG and 1.0 BPG. In 2013, he averaged 1.2 SPG and 2.1 BPG as a member of one of his 3 All-Defensive Team Selections. Noah brings a fire off of the bench that cannot be taught with the ability to make game-changing plays at the drop of a hat.
Coach - Phil Jackson
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Of all the coaches in NBA history, there is no other you would want at the helm of your team than Phil Jackson. He was always a smart basketball mind but once he implemented the triangle offense around Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, he became a legend. Jackson would coach the Bulls to 6 championships in the 90s with a team that bought into every word he uttered. As ‘The Zen Master”, he brought a calming aura to the locker room but once the clock started, he was all about winning. Jackson would then go on to coach the Lakers to 5 championships in the 200s as well, giving him 11 total titles as a coach. Again I say, there is no one better than Phil Jackson to coach your basketball team.
How Would This Team Perform In A 7-Game Series?
The all-time Chicago Bulls lineup that we have created today presents a matchup nightmare for any team opposing them in a 7-game series. The starting lineup on offense can hit you every which way and the opponent will not know what hit them. They will be in full-on attack mode and pushing the pace with Rose, Jordan, and Pippen leading the charge. There will be not a shortage of scoring as 4 out of 5 starters are capable of going off on scoring bursts. This includes the greatest scorer ever, Michael Jordan. Playmaking and rebounding are at a distinct advantage as well with Gilmore and Rodman in the paint making plays on both ends.
The starting lineup for the Bulls is also a juggernaut on defense. The only real “weakness” for them is Derrick Rose and even he can hold his own enough to let the other 4 do their jobs. Jordan and Pippen are an elite perimeter defensive duo with either capable of making an opponent’s best player irrelevant. Rodman’s focus will be on the interior but obviously displays the ability to take on perimeter assignments if need be. Then you have Gilmore who is a strong interior presence and is going to block or alter shots at an alarming rate.
The bench for this team is the perfect blend for our starters. Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier provide some punch and tenacity off of the bench that could be a great relief for the starting backcourt. Love is the best scorer off of the bench by far and is a perfect fill-in for either Pippen or Rodman if they need a rest. Then, you have 2 incredible interior defenders in Horace Grant and Joakim Noah to round it out. From the starters down to the end of the bench, this team would make some serious noise in an all-time lineup tournament and no doubt compete for an NBA championship.
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