

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Motta was fired and replaced by Ed Badger. The Bulls ended up declining, winning only 24 games in the 1975–76 season. The team made the conference finals in 1975 but lost to the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors, 4 games to 3.Īfter four 50-win seasons, Williams returned to Philadelphia, and Motta decided to take on the role of general manager as well. During the 1970s, the Bulls relied on Jerry Sloan, forwards Bob Love and Chet Walker, point guard Norm Van Lier, and centers Clifford Ray and Tom Boerwinkle. In 1972, the Bulls set a franchise win–loss record at 57 wins and 25 losses. The Bulls under Williams and head coach Dick Motta qualified for four straight playoffs and had attendances grow to over 10,000. Williams revamped the team roster, acquiring Chet Walker from Philadelphia in exchange for Jim Washington and drafting Norm Van Lier – who was traded to the Cincinnati Royals and only joined the Bulls in 1971 – while also investing in promotion, with actions such as creating mascot Benny the Bull. In 1969, Klein dropped out of the general manager job and hired Pat Williams, who as the Philadelphia 76ers' business manager created promotions that helped the team become third in attendance the previous season. In their first season, the Bulls played their home games at the International Amphitheatre, before moving to Chicago Stadium.įan interest was diminishing after four seasons, with one game in the 1967–68 season having an official attendance of 891 and some games being played in Kansas City. Coached by Chicagoan and former NBA star Johnny "Red" Kerr, and led by former NBA assist leader Guy Rodgers, guard Jerry Sloan and forward Bob Boozer, the Bulls qualified for the playoffs, the only NBA team to do so in their inaugural season. The team started during the 1966–67 season, and posted a 33–48 record, the best by an expansion team in NBA history.

He served as the Bulls' general manager and president in their initial years.Īfter the 1966 NBA Expansion Draft, the newly founded Chicago Bulls were allowed to acquire players from the previously established teams in the league for the upcoming 1966–67 season.
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The Bulls' founder, Dick Klein, was the Bulls' only owner to ever play professional basketball (for the Chicago American Gears). The Chicago Bulls became the third NBA franchise in the city, after the Chicago Stags (1946–1950) and the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs (1961–1963, now the Washington Wizards). On January 16, 1966, Chicago was granted an NBA franchise to be called the Bulls. Outside of basketball, the Chicago Bulls are also known for their community work through their charity department which provides youth and not-for-profit organizations with tickets to games and merchandise.įranchise history 1966–1975: Team creation and early success The Bulls' rivalry with the Pistons was highlighted heavily during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Bulls share rivalries with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, and the New York Knicks. Jordan and Rose have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award while playing for the Bulls, for a total of six MVP awards. An ACL tear suffered by Rose and subsequent trades of key players triggered a rebuild, culminating in the current lineup built around All-Stars Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević. The franchise struggled throughout the 2000s, but showed promise in the early 2010s led by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, culminating in back-to-back seasons above. Since 1998, the Bulls have failed to regain their former success. The Bulls were the first team in NBA history to win 70 games or more in a single season, and the only NBA franchise to do so until the 2015–16 Warriors. The Bulls won 72 games during the 1995–96 season, setting an NBA record that stood until the Golden State Warriors won 73 games during the 2015–16 season.
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The Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships while never losing an NBA Finals series in their history. All six of their championship teams were led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and coach Phil Jackson. They are known for having one of the NBA's greatest dynasties, winning six NBA championships between 19 with two three-peats. The Bulls saw their greatest success during the 1990s when they played a major part in popularizing the NBA worldwide. The Bulls play their home games at the United Center, an arena on Chicago's West Side.


The team was founded on January 16, 1966, and played its first game during the 1966–67 NBA season. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago.
