NBA: Chicago Bulls' All-Time starting 5
The Chicago Bulls are one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA. They have won six NBA championships in their history, all of those during the era of Michael Jordan, who is arguably the greatest basketball player that ever lived.
Founded in 1966, the Bulls were very successful during their early years with nine playoff appearances in their first 11 seasons. During that era, the team was led by Jerry Sloan, who is considered one of the best players in Bulls history and one of the greatest coaches ever.
The Bulls had a rough stretch in the early 80s but it all changed when they selected Jordan third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft. The appointment of Phil Jackson helped Jordan realise his full potential, as well as the team’s potential.
Even though the Bulls have been bad in recent years, they have produced a lot of great players throughout their history. Without further ado, here are the Chicago Bulls’ all-time starting five.
Centre – Artis Gilmore
Averaging 19.3 points and 11.1 rebounds during his two stints with the Bulls, Artis Gilmore arrived in Chicago via the ABA-NBA merger. He was drafted first overall in the 1976 dispersal draft and he spent six seasons with the Bulls, wherein he was a four-time All-Star.
Gilmore only led the Bulls to the playoffs twice during his first stint with the team but it’s enough for him to be included in the team’s all-time starting five. He ranks seventh scoring, sixth in rebounds, and first in blocks in the Bulls’ all-time leaderboard.
Honourable Mention: Joakim Noah
The heart and soul of the Bulls for nine seasons, Joakim Noah was never a scorer but a tenacious defender and energy player. Noah was a two-time All-Star while with the Bulls, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014. He ranks ninth in total games and minutes played, fourth in rebounds, and third in blocks in franchise history.