When you think about the Chicago Bulls, your mind basically goes straight to one man. You know the one. Number 23. The tongue wagging. The six rings. It’s hard to blame anyone for that because Michael Jordan didn't just play for the Bulls; he turned the franchise into a global religion.
But honestly? Reducing the entire history of this team to a single person does a massive disservice to the guys who bled on the court before MJ ever arrived and the ones who had to keep the lights on after he left. Ranking the greatest Bulls players of all time isn't just about counting rings. It's about looking at who defined the culture in the gritty 70s, who did the "dirty work" during the dynasty years, and who gave the city hope when things looked bleak in the 2010s.
Let’s get into the weeds of who really built the United Center.
The Foundation: Jerry Sloan and Bob Love
Before the glitz and the Gatorade commercials, the Bulls were a team defined by bruises. Jerry Sloan was the original "Mr. Bull." Long before he was a Hall of Fame coach for the Jazz, he was a guy who would dive into the front row for a loose ball in the first quarter of a preseason game.
He played ten seasons in Chicago. He averaged 14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds, which is kind of wild for a 6'5" guard. He was a four-time All-Defensive First Team selection. Sloan’s No. 4 was the first jersey the team ever retired. You can't tell the story of this team without him.
Then you've got Bob Love. "Butterbean."
People forget how dominant Love was because the team never got over the hump in the playoffs during his era. From 1971 to 1973, he was a three-time All-Star. He led the team in scoring for seven straight seasons. He was a switch-hitter, basically. He could shoot with either hand, which made him a nightmare to guard in an era where scouting wasn't exactly high-tech. Love finished his Bulls career with 12,623 points. He’s third on the all-time list, only behind Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Greatest Bulls Players of All Time: The Dynasty Pillars
Look, we have to talk about Michael. But let’s look at the numbers that people usually gloss over. Jordan didn't just score; he took the ball away. He has 2,514 steals in a Bulls jersey. That’s a franchise record that will probably never be touched. He averaged 31.5 points per game over 930 games in Chicago. It’s a joke. It's video game stuff.
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But the "greatest" conversation usually misses the nuances of the support staff.
Scottie Pippen: The Point Forward Architect
Pippen is the most underrated "superstar" in NBA history. He was the first player from the NAIA to really make it huge. At 6'8" with arms that seemed to reach the rafters, he allowed Phil Jackson to run the triangle offense because he could handle the ball like a guard.
- Six NBA titles.
- Seven All-Star appearances.
- Eight All-Defensive First Team nods.
- 1995 Steals Leader.
When Jordan left to play baseball, Pippen proved he was a Tier-1 talent. In 1994, he led the Bulls in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Think about that for a second. He was the entire team.
The Enforcers: Grant and Rodman
The first three-peat happened because of Horace Grant. He was the 10th pick in '87 and became the primary interior presence. He wasn't a flashy scorer, but he was 18th in NBA history for offensive rebounds at one point. He gave them second chances.
Then came the "Worm." Dennis Rodman.
Rodman didn't care about scoring. Literally. He averaged 5.2 points per game in Chicago but grabbed 15.3 rebounds. He’d go a whole game without looking at the rim and still be the most impactful player on the floor. He won three rebounding titles while in Chicago. You don't win 72 games without a guy who is willing to get his nose broken every Tuesday night.
The A-Train and the High-Post Magic
Artis Gilmore is a name younger fans don't know well enough. 7'2". A mountain of a man. He holds the NBA record for the highest career field goal percentage at .599. In 1977, he blocked 11 shots in a single game against the Hawks.
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Gilmore was the bridge between the Sloan era and the Jordan era. He was a 4-time All-Star with Chicago and kept the team relevant when they were struggling to find an identity.
Then there is Toni Kukoc. The "Croatian Sensation."
He was 6'11" and played like a point guard. In 1996, he won Sixth Man of the Year. He was the ultimate "Swiss Army Knife." If the defense focused on MJ and Scottie, Kukoc would just pick them apart with passes or hit a cold-blooded three. He was the precursor to the modern "stretch big" we see today.
The Youngest MVP: Derrick Rose
We can't talk about the greatest Bulls players of all time without the "What If" king. Derrick Rose.
In 2011, at just 22 years old, Rose became the youngest MVP in history. He led the Bulls to a 62-20 record. He was explosive in a way that didn't seem physically possible. He averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists that year. The city finally felt like it had its next savior.
Even though injuries derailed what should have been a decade of dominance, Rose’s impact on Chicago was cultural. He was one of their own—a kid from Englewood. His No. 1 jersey is still everywhere in the city for a reason.
Ranking the Legends (The "Tier" View)
Rather than a simple list, you have to look at these guys in terms of what they provided.
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The Absolute Apex
Michael Jordan is in a tier of his own. Obviously. He is the franchise.
The Hall of Fame Anchors
Scottie Pippen and Jerry Sloan. These are the guys who stayed, who defended, and who defined what it meant to play "Bulls basketball."
The Specialists
Dennis Rodman (Rebounding/Defense), Artis Gilmore (Post Presence), and Toni Kukoc (Playmaking). These guys weren't the "main event," but the show doesn't happen without them.
The Brief Supernovas
Derrick Rose and maybe even Joakim Noah. Noah was the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year. For a two or three-year stretch, he was the heart and soul of a team that refused to quit.
What Most People Get Wrong About Bulls History
There’s this idea that the Bulls were nothing before 1984. That’s just not true. They were a perennial playoff team in the early 70s. They just had the misfortune of running into the Lakers and Bucks during their peak years.
Also, people think Scottie Pippen was just a "sidekick." If you watch the tape of the 1994 season, you see a guy who was arguably the best all-around player in the league not named Hakeem Olajuwon. He wasn't riding coattails; he was the engine.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of these players or start a collection, here is where to focus:
- Watch the 1994 Season: If you want to see Pippen at his peak, find highlights or full games from the 93-94 season. It’s the best evidence of his individual greatness.
- Look for Artis Gilmore’s ABA years: To truly appreciate the "A-Train," you have to see his dominance before he even got to the Bulls.
- Check the Bulls "Ring of Honor": The team recently established this to celebrate legends beyond just the retired jerseys. It includes guys like Chet Walker and even scouts/executives who built the roster.
- Study the 2011 MVP Race: Look at who Derrick Rose beat out (Prime LeBron, Dwight Howard). It puts into perspective how insane his season really was.
The Bulls are more than just a red jersey with a bull on it. They are a collection of eras, from the grit of the 70s to the flash of the 90s and the heart of the 2010s. Jordan might be the GOAT, but the "greatest" list is a lot more crowded than people think.
Next Steps for You:
- Research the 1974-75 Bulls season to see how Jerry Sloan and Bob Love almost made the Finals.
- Compare Joakim Noah's 2014 stats with other DPOY winners to see his unique impact as a "point center."
- Visit the United Center to see the retired banners in person—it gives a different perspective on the scale of these careers.