When a game is played the right way, it can be a form of art. Sports can be beautiful, they can be mesmerizing, and they can be inspiring. Few teams in history illustrate the power of sports better than the 1990s Bulls. They weren’t just a championship team; they were global icons and helped the sport of basketball reach new heights. It has been 31 years since Michael Jordan won the franchise its first title and 19 years since he played his final game in the NBA, yet the 1990s Bulls are still as iconic and revered as ever.
It’s hard to imagine that Michael Jordan’s ability was ever questioned, but after six playoff appearances without an NBA title, the Bulls had their share of doubters. Jordan’s talent was undeniable, but the question of if his play style could translate to a championship was still unknown. Head coach Phil Jackson and forward Scottie Pippen faced similar situations. The team was brimming with potential, but there was still so much to prove.
The 1990-91 season marked the start of Chicago’s legendary run. Even after finishing the regular season with a conference-best 61 wins, the Bulls had a lot to prove. To reach the finals, the Bulls would have to take down two-time reigning champion Detroit Pistons, the “Bad Boys” of the NBA, in the conference finals.
The Pistons and Bulls rivalry went beyond basketball; it was personal, and after Detroit had knocked Chicago out of the playoffs the past two seasons, the Bulls were out for revenge. The team that had stood in Chicago’s way for so long was no longer a match for Jordan and Pippen. The series signaled a changing of the guard. The Bulls won their first championship in franchise history against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the 1991 NBA Finals. They were finally on top of the basketball world.
From there, the dominance only grew. Jordan won his second consecutive MVP and led the Bulls to their second straight title, followed by a third straight championship in the 1992-93 season. The Bulls became an unstoppable force that seemed to only be getting better.
The Bulls team was unlike anything the league had ever seen, so it was fitting that their dynasty would be unlike anything the NBA had seen. There was an intermission between the Bulls’ first three-peat and their second. While Jordan stepped away from basketball to pursue a baseball career in 1994 and most of the 1995 season, the Bulls fell in the playoffs. But once he came back full time, the Bulls were as impressive as ever. The Bulls went on to win three more championships, and when Jordan retired for a second time following the 1997-98 season, there was no return in a Bulls uniform.
The Bulls entered the 1990s as an unproven team and left as one of the most accomplished and respected in the sport. Even without winning a single title before or after Michael Jordan’s time with the organization, the Bulls’ six total championships sits only behind the Lakers and Celtics.
The game of basketball has changed substantially since the 1990s, and many of the team’s records have since been broken. But no matter how much time passes and how much the game evolves, the 1990s Bulls will never be replaced. They transformed the sport and continue to inspire future players three decades later.
