The Top Ten Chicago Bulls of All-Time

August 5, 2024

Eleazar Gonzales discusses the top ten NBA players who ever played for the Chicago Bulls.

Making a list of the top ten players of all time of a franchise such as the Chicago Bulls is easy and difficult. It's easy because you already have an idea regarding who should make the list. It's difficult because the Bulls also have other great players outside their championship-winning years.

Since 1966, the Bulls have won nine division titles, six conference titles, and six NBA championships. They have also retired four jersey numbers of four players who contributed to the team's success.

In this article, we'll discuss the top ten players who wore the Chicago Bulls jersey.

Michael Jordan

Let's start with the man responsible for all of the Bulls' NBA championships: Michael Jordan.

Chicago fans consider His Airness the greatest bull of all time and it is for a good reason. Jordan is the most decorated Bull just by looking at the accolades he collected. He is a six-time Finals MVP, five-time regular-season MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, and earned nine selections to the all-NBA Defensive Teams, among other accomplishments in his 13-season run as a Bull.

He averaged 31.5 points in his Chicago career including 33.4 points in the playoffs. Just GOAT things, right?

Michael Jordan’s 1993 #NBA Finals Averages:

41.0 PPG
8.5 RPG
6.3 APG
50.8 FG%
40.0 3P%#Bulls won in 6. pic.twitter.com/5LSPIzYZU9

— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) May 12, 2023

Scottie Pippen

We can't have an all-time Chicago Bulls list and not include Scottie Pippen. Without Pippen, Michael Jordan and the Bulls wouldn't have gotten over the hump.

Scottie Pippen served as Robin to Jordan's Batman as the latter's dominance was already there Pippen's arrival in 1987 pushed the Bulls to a whole new level. It may have taken a few years but when Pippen found his grove as the Bulls' second-leading scorer, that was when Chicago started winning championships.

In 12 seasons with the Bulls, he earned seven selections to the All-NBA Teams and ten selections to the All-Defensive Teams. It's safe to say Michael Jordan wouldn't have won those rings if Pippen didn't come to Chicago.

30 Years Ago Today: #Bulls Scottie Pippen absolutely destroyed #Knicks Patrick Ewing pic.twitter.com/VeDi7WwvDR

— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) May 20, 2024

Horace Grant

While he only averaged 13 points and nine rebounds in six seasons with the Bulls, Horace Grant anchored Chicago's defense which became vital in the Bulls' first three-peat.

As the Bulls' third-best player during that time and primary defender, Grant did his job defensively. His block on the Phoenix Suns' Kevin Johnson after John Paxson's three completed the Bulls' first three-peat in 1993.  

Grant is a one-time All-Star and earned four selections to the All-Defensive Second Team as a Bull. He later added another championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001.

Join Bulls Nation in wishing Horace Grant a happy 55th birthday! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/JUQl5CILV0

— Bulls Nation (@BullsNationCP) July 4, 2020

Dennis Rodman

Dennis Rodman used to be one of the enforcers of the Jordan Rules by the Detroit Pistons during the Pistons' back-to-back championship runs.

So when Horace Grant left the Bulls, Rodman filled the role of primary defender and rebounder. And as we know, Dennis Rodman succeded in both and more. In 198 games with the Bulls, The Worm may have only averaged 5.2 points per game, but his rebounding average was massive -- 15.3 rebounds per game. He led the league in rebounds seven times -- three of those happened when he was in Chicago.

Many believe Dennis Rodman was the key that allowed Chicago to win a second three-peat.

Rodman’s jumper was cash 😂 pic.twitter.com/5e9hbf9inY

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 21, 2020

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose is one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history. Had it not for that injury, he would have taken down the Miami Heat of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

Rose became the youngest MVP in league history at 22 in 2011. He just carried the Bulls to a 62-win regular-season campaign that earned the Bulls the best record in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds during his MVP season.

After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2008, Derrick Rose was already an All-Star by his second season.

Sadly, injuries got in the way and Derrick Rose was never the same player he once was when he returned from injuries. But yes, Derrick Rose remains one of the most beloved players in Chicago.

Throwback to MVP Derrick Rose…What a Special time in the NBA. 🔥🌹

pic.twitter.com/sodMFmuu0L

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 31, 2023

Artis Gilmore

The Bulls drafted Artis Gilmore as the top pick of the ABA dispersal draft. Gilmore won the MVP award and the Rookie of the Year in the same season in the ABA as a member of the Kentucky Colonels. In that season, he averaged 23.8 points, 17.8 rebounds, and five blocks in 84 games.

Artis Gilmore's Bull career lasted for six seasons where he averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks. He even led the NBA in points, rebounds, and blocks in his first season. He earned four All-Star selections while averaging 19.3 points and 11.1 rebounds in a Chicago uniform.

One of the best big men in Chicago Bulls history.

11x All-Star
Franchise leader in Blocks
Franchise leader in FG%
3rd-most REBs in franchise history
9th-most PPG in franchise history

HBD, Artis Gilmore. pic.twitter.com/o5rRpDO9iP

— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) September 21, 2021

Bob Love

Bob Love spent nine seasons in Chicago where he averaged 23.1 points per game. He averaged 25 points per game in two of the nine seasons as a Bull and made the All-Star team thrice. He also earned two selections to the All-Defensive Team.

His jersey number ten is among the four retired jerseys hanging in the rafters of the United Center.

A True Community Legend!

After 30 amazing years, Bob Love is officially retiring as one of our outstanding community ambassadors.

Thank you Bob for all the smiles, hugs, and most importantly Love ❤️🤘 pic.twitter.com/xQNrvdx7bJ

— Bulls Community (@bullscommunity) February 15, 2022

Jerry Sloan

The late Jerry Sloan spent 23 seasons as the head coach of the Utah Jazz. He even coached the Jazz in their two NBA Finals trip against the Jordan-led Bulls. Not many know Jerry Sloan was among the first players to play for the Chicago Bulls through the expansion draft in 1966.

In short, Sloan was the Original Bull.

Sloan is a two-time All-Star and earned six selections to the All-Defensive Teams. His jersey number four was the first to be retired by the Bulls. He later worked as head coach of the team before moving to Utah.

Happy Birthday to #4 Jerry Sloan! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/RVZa4h03vp

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 28, 2020

Bill Cartwright

While Horace Grant was the team's starting power forward in the first three-peat, Bill Cartwright was the Bulls' starting center in that run. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 396 games as a Bull. Not eye-popping numbers but they were impactful.

He later worked as head coach of the Bulls in the post-Jordan years but the team struggled to find talented players to get them going.

Happy Birthday to Bulls legend Bill Cartwright! #Bulls pic.twitter.com/iVazZJrqV5

— Bulls On Tap (@BullsOnTap) July 30, 2024

Toni Kukoc

When Michael Jordan returned to Chicago from his first retirement, Toni Kukoc was already a Bull as he debuted in 1993 -- the same year MJ first retired.

Kukoc had a terrific rookie season that earned him a selection to the All-Rookie Second Team.

While he moved to the starting line-up after Horace Grant's departure, Kukoc blossomed into one of the best bench players of his time -- becoming the Bulls' leading scorer off the bench.

In 1996, Kukoc won the Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 13.1 points, four rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He remains the most recent player to win the award and an NBA championship in the same season.

🎂 Happy 52nd birthday to Toni Kukoc!

📊 846 GP, 11.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG
🎯 44.7 FG%, 33.5 3P%, 72.9 FT%
🏆 1996 SMOY
💍 3x (1996-1998)

Kukoc is one of four players to win the Sixth Man of the Year Award and an NBA title in the same season. No one has done so since him. pic.twitter.com/5lFDkOTwP9

— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) September 18, 2020