The NBA has witnessed the rise of many legendary teams, but none quite match the dominance of Michael Jordan's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Widely regarded as the greatest team in NBA history, their remarkable achievements have only grown in stature since their 72-win season.
With the release of The Last Dance documentary in 2020, the debate over the greatest NBA team was reignited. Here are five reasons why the 1995-96 Bulls are still the undisputed champions of NBA greatness.
Best Combined Regular Season and Playoff Record in History
The 1995-96 Bulls had an incredible record of 87-13, which is the combination of both their regular season and playoffs. Their 72 wins in the regular season stood as a record at the time, but their reign didn't end there.
Chicago clinched the NBA title by sweeping the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic and then finally defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the Finals. Their combined 870-win percentage is unmatched in the history of the NBA.
In contrast, the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who broke the Bulls' record for most regular-season wins with 73 victories, failed to produce in the playoffs, where they only managed a 15-9 postseason record. What makes the Bulls truly exceptional is their ability to deliver in both the regular season and playoffs.
Historic Home and Road Records
The Bulls remained supreme both in terms of home and away games. Winning 39-2 games at home, this side was virtually unbeatable in their house. Winning 33 on the road, the side happened to be the record-breaking win in the history of the National Basketball Association until then.
They opened the season with a 41-3 record, the best in NBA history, and established a new standard in wins with the fewest losses at 50-6. Though the Warriors ultimately outpaced them with a 50-5 start in the 2015-16 season, there was nothing like the Bulls' sustained excellence across all venues.
Beating Teams Both Offensively and Defensively
The Bulls were not only a high-powered offense; they were a defensive powerhouse. They led the league in both offensive (105.2 points per game) and defensive (92.9 points allowed) categories. Their offense was powered by the triangle offense, but their defense, anchored by Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, was stifling throughout the season.
Their +12.24 differential is one of the top in NBA history and put them in a category, where they could simply have their stars sit while having a commanding lead that even the best opponents may hardly recover from.
Individual and Team Achievements
The 1995-96 Bulls were the best team in the league, with Michael Jordan his eighth scoring title and his first MVP award since he came back from baseball.
Scottie Pippen made his third First Team All-NBA and All-Defensive selection, while Dennis Rodman took his fifth rebounding title. In an amazing demonstration of team depth, Toni Kukoc was named Sixth Man of the Year, and the team's coach, Phil Jackson, was named Coach of the Year.
Their combined effort produced not only individual accolades but an unstoppable team performance that dominated the NBA all season long.
70+ Wins and an NBA Championship
The 1995-96 Bulls won something no team had ever done before: win 70+ games and bring home the championship. In contrast to the 2015-16 Warriors, who lost in the Finals despite their record-breaking regular season, the Bulls etched themselves into history with a victory in the Finals. They proved their mettle in the Finals, holding off a brief challenge from the Sonics to take the series 4-2, with Steve Kerr's iconic shot in Game 6 sealing the championship.
Nobody, not even Michael Jordan himself, challenged people and said, 'You bring me a better team.' It was clear then no team could match the legend of the 1995-96 Bulls. That's it, debate; that was the greatest of all.".
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