You know, there is a weird kind of pressure that comes with wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey. It’s not just about the game; it’s about the ghosts. When you walk into the United Center, those six championship banners are hanging there, staring you down. And if you’re one of the bulls all time players, you aren’t just competing against the guy across from you—you’re competing against a legacy that basically redefined what the NBA even is.
Honestly, most people think Chicago basketball starts and ends with number 23. While Michael Jordan is the sun that everything else orbits around, the actual history is way more cluttered and fascinating than just a highlight reel of dunks. From the grit of the 70s to the "Heart, Hustle, and Muscle" of the 2010s, the list of greats is long and, frankly, a bit surprising in its diversity.
The Mount Rushmore (And Why It’s Not Just One Guy)
We have to start with the obvious, but let’s look at it differently. Michael Jordan didn't just score points; he sucked the air out of the room for every other team in the league. His stats are borderline stupid: 31.5 points per game in a Bulls uniform. He won ten scoring titles. Ten! That’s a decade of being the most unguardable human on the planet. But you've probably heard that a million times.
What's more interesting is how Scottie Pippen became the ultimate blueprint for the modern NBA wing. Without Scottie, those six rings probably don't happen. Period. He was the one who could guard the other team's best player, bring the ball up the court, and then flush a dunk over a 7-footer. Scottie led the Bulls in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals in the 1994-95 season—a feat so rare it’s only been touched by guys like LeBron.
The Original Bull: Jerry Sloan
Before the flashy dunks, there was Jerry Sloan. People forget he was the first jersey ever retired by the franchise. He wasn't a "star" in the way we think of them now with TikTok highlights. Sloan was a nightmare. He played defense like he was trying to start a fight. He made four All-Defensive First Teams and basically built the "tough guy" identity that Chicago fans still crave today.
The Scoring Machine: Bob Love
"Butterbean" Love was something else. He was a two-way force before that was a trendy term. He averaged 25.8 points in 1971-72 and did it while being a relentless defender. Love spent nine years in Chicago and led the team in scoring for seven of them. If you’re talking about bulls all time players, you can’t skip the man who kept the lights on in the 70s.
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The Artis Gilmore Discrepancy
If you look at the record books, Artis Gilmore is all over them. He’s the all-time leader in blocks for the franchise (1,029) and shot a mind-blowing 59.9% from the field during his career. He was a mountain. But there’s a catch. Gilmore played during a bit of a "lost era" for the Bulls. Because they didn't win a title with him, his name often gets pushed to the background.
It’s kinda unfair.
He was an 11-time All-Star across the ABA and NBA. In Chicago, he was the defensive anchor they desperately needed. He averaged nearly 20 points and 11 rebounds. If he had played ten years earlier or ten years later, we’d be talking about him like he was Shaq-lite.
The MVP That Changed Everything: Derrick Rose
Then came 2008. The Bulls had a 1.7% chance to get the number one pick. They got it. They took the kid from Englewood.
Derrick Rose was different. He was a blur. Watching him in 2011 was like watching a glitch in a video game. He became the youngest MVP in history at 22 years old, leading the Bulls to 62 wins.
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- 2010-11 Season: 25.0 PPG, 7.7 APG, 4.1 RPG.
- The Impact: He made Chicago basketball "cool" again after a decade of post-Jordan misery.
Even though injuries robbed us of his full peak, D-Rose is arguably the most beloved player in the city’s history. You can see it every time he returns to the United Center; the "MVP" chants start before he even checks in. He wasn't just a player; he was hope.
The Modern Warriors: Noah and Butler
After the Rose era got sidelined by injuries, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler carried the torch.
Noah was the soul of the team. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and finished fourth in MVP voting. Let that sink in: a center who barely had a jump shot was the fourth-best player in the world because he worked harder than everyone else. He was a passing wizard from the high post, leading all centers in assists during his prime.
Then there’s Jimmy. Jimmy Butler was the 30th pick. He wasn't supposed to be a star. He was supposed to be a defensive specialist who sat on the bench. Instead, he forced his way into the All-Star conversation through sheer, stubborn will. He averaged 23.9 points in his final year with the Bulls before the front office decided to rebuild. A lot of fans still haven't forgiven them for that trade.
Hidden Gems in the Stat Sheet
- Kirk Hinrich: He’s the franchise leader in three-pointers made (1,049). Not Jordan. Not Pippen. Captain Kirk.
- Toni Kukoč: The "Waiters" was the ultimate European pioneer. He won Sixth Man of the Year in 1996 and was the perfect bridge between the starters and the bench.
- Horace Grant: The goggles. The rebounding. The third-best player on the first three-peat. Without his 1888 offensive rebounds, a lot of MJ’s missed shots don't turn into second-chance points.
Why the All-Time List Matters Now
Looking at bulls all time players isn't just a trip down memory lane. It’s a roadmap. When you see guys like Zach LaVine or Coby White climbing the charts—Coby is already top 3 in three-pointers—it gives you perspective on how the game has changed.
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The Bulls are a franchise defined by eras. You have the "Hard-Nosed 70s," the "Dominant 90s," and the "Gritty 2010s." Every player who cracks the top ten in a category has had to deal with the weight of that history.
Honestly, the biggest misconception is that the Bulls were always great. They weren't. There were long stretches of "meh." But the players who stood out were always the ones who matched the city's personality: tough, slightly chip-on-the-shoulder, and relentlessly hard-working.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of these legends, here is where you should start:
- Watch the 1994-95 season film: See what Scottie Pippen did when Michael wasn't there. It proves he was a superstar in his own right.
- Check the blocks leaderboards: Artis Gilmore and Joakim Noah are the kings here. It shows that while Chicago loves scorers, they respect rim protectors even more.
- Look at the retired jerseys: Study the careers of Sloan and Love. They are the foundation that made the 90s dynasty possible.
- Follow the current climb: Keep an eye on Coby White's three-point trajectory. He’s on pace to shatter every shooting record in the book.
The history of the Bulls is a long, winding story of icons and "what ifs." Whether it's the air-defying antics of Jordan or the floor-slapping intensity of Joakim Noah, these players built a brand that is recognized in every corner of the globe. Knowing who they are is part of being a fan. It’s what makes every game at the United Center feel like you’re watching part of something much bigger than just a basketball game.
To really understand the current team, you have to know the guys who came before. Dig into the box scores of the 70s and the defensive highlights of the 2010s. You'll see the same DNA in every era.