MJ is indisputably a top-2 player in NBA history, but who joins him among the greatest Bulls legends is a different conversation.
Michael Jordan is not only the historical face of the Chicago Bulls, but he is the face of the NBA in several respects. That much is obvious.
Jordan was the centerpiece of the Bulls’ dynasty of the 1990s, still one of the mightiest and most dominant squads ever built, but he was far from the only player to establish the Bulls’ fearsome nature that decade.
How does one go about building a Mount Rushmore for such a storied franchise?
One player from that Jordan-era run comes to mind, and is indisputable. For the sake of this list, the carvings of the legacy of this franchise will not include greats like Derrick Rose and Artis Gilmore.
Rose was the most electric player in basketball from 2009 to 2012, and his storied career was never the same after his first torn ACL in the playoffs, an injury he could not control. Gilmore will always be a legend, but the brevity of his time in Chicago (just seven seasons total) and overall strength of this list force him to be the short straw.
The Honorable Mentions
- Derrick Rose (2008-2016)
- Phil Jackson (six-time champion head coach; 1989-1998)
- Jerry Reinsdorf (six-time champion owner; 1985-present)
- Artis Gilmore (1976-1982, 1987-88)
- Bob Love (1968-1977)
- Jerry Sloan (1966-1976, head coach from 1979-1982)
4. Dennis Rodman (1995-1998)
While Rodman is typically known more for his time with the Detroit Pistons or his off-court hijinks, his time as one of the three main pieces of the Bulls’ three-peat from 1996 to 1998 cannot be discounted.
Rodman found his stride on the notoriously stingy Pistons teams of the late 1980s that gave Jordan and head coach Phil Jackson fits, but was traded to the Bulls later in his career.
What a four years it was for Rodman, who won three rings and won the rebounding title all four years in Chicago (in addition to the three years prior to his trade from San Antonio).
For all his personal shenanigans, like his time wrestling with Hulk Hogan before Game 4 of the 1998 NBA Finals or his six-game suspension for head-butting a referee, Rodman had a tremendous impact on the Bulls’ later dominance.
3. Horace Grant (1987-1994)
Grant was the 10th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft and became the starting power forward for Chicago by his second year. His last-second block on the Suns’ Kevin Johnson was the linchpin for the Bulls’ third ring, and he settled into his time with Chicago even further after Jordan left to play Minor League Baseball with the White Sox.
That season, Grant averaged career highs in points (15.1), rebounds (11.0), and assists (3.4) as he had his strongest season yet. Grant and Scottie Pippen were a tandem to be reckoned with, and Grant made All-Defensive teams each of his final two seasons with the Bulls.