What’s new with the Chicago Bulls? That’s what this page is all about.

The Team Spirit FAST BREAK website begins where the Team Spirit books end.

That’s because basketball never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!

Take a look at some of the Bulls collectibles I have in my home.

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Updates

2023-24 Season

October 28, 2023: Zach LaVine scored 51 points in a game against the Pistons to set a new personal record.

Season Preview: The bad news in Chicago is that Lonzo Ball’s knee injury will keep him off the court this season. The good news is the addition of Jevon Carter, a point guard who plays good defense and will help the Bulls become a better long-distance shooting team. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic will do the bulk of the scoring in 2023–24, with several talented role players getting important minutes for coach Billy Donovan.

2022-23 Season

May 9, 2023: Guard Alex Caruso was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his career.

Season Recap: Chicago fans enjoyed the high-scoring duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, who averaged more than 48 points a game. Veteran center Nikola Vucevic added 17 a game and was among the league leader in rebounds. The Bulls won 40 games and beat the Raptors in their first play-in game, but missed the playoffs after falling to the Miami Heat.

January 19, 2023: Zach LaVine scored 30 pints to lead the Bulls to a 126–108 win over the Pistons in a game played in Paris, France. The two teams gave youth clinics and visited the Eiffel Tower before the game. Among the 10,000-plus French fans who attended the game was 19-year-old Victor Wembanyama, who many predict will be the #1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

January 06, 2023: Zack Lavine nailed 11 three-pointers in a win over the 76ers.

Season Preview: DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine filled up the highlight reels for the Bulls last season, but the man who made them go was Lonzo Ball. Ball’s injured knee casts a shadow on the 2022–23 season. If Ball is not 100%, then more of the scoring will fall to Nikola Vucevic, a center with loads of talent who did not play consistently for the team after a good career with the Orlando Magic. They will also be hoping for improvement from young stars Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu.

2021-22 Season

Season Recap: The Bulls went 46-36 and Chicago fans were delighted to see their team make the playoffs after five years without a trip to the postseason. DeMar DeRozan, Zach Levine, and Nikola Vucevic were the club’s “big three” scorers, while young guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmo did a good job after a knee injury ended Lonzo Ball’s season. The Bulls won many games with clutch plays at both ends of the court, but their luck ran out in the playoffs against the powerhouse Milwaukee Bucks.

February 14, 2022: DeMar DeRozan was named Player of the Week for the third time during the season. During the month of February, he tied a record by scoring 35 or more points eight games in a row.

October 22, 2021: Lonzo Ball had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a victory over his old team, the New Orleans Pelicans. He became the first NBA player to have a “triple-double” for three different teams by the age of 24. Ball began his pro career with the Lakers.

Season Preview: The Bulls need more offensive-minded players and also must tighten up their defense in 2021–22. That’s a tall order but not impossible. DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball join Zach Lavine to give Chicago three awesome weapons, and Nikola Vucevic is a first-rate center. Bulls fans are hoping that forward Patrick Williams rounds into a plus player. That would solve problems on both sides of the ball.

2020-21 Season

Season Recap: The Bulls finished third in the Central Division but their 31 wins were not enough to earn a playoff spot. Zach LaVine and Coby White were Chicago’s leading scorers. LaVine was chosen for the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.

January 15, 2021: Zach LaVine set a team record by making at least seven three-pointers three games in a row.

Season Preview: New coach Billy Donovan has a team loaded with young talent. His job will be to make the Bulls run like a well-oiled machine. Guards Coby White and Zach LaVine lead a starting five that includes Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen—and possibly #1 draft pick Patrick Williams. If everyone stays healthy and the bench contributes, Chicago can get back on the winning track.

2019-20 Season

March 3, 2020: Coby White was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal in 9 February games. The last Chicago rookie to reach these numbers in one month was Michael Jordan, in 1985.

Season Recap: The Bulls did not qualify for the NBA’s summer restart, winning a mere 22 games. The good news was that their young stars played exciting ball in 2019–20. Zach LaVine, Wendell Carter, Coby White, and Lauri Markkanen combined to average over 60 points a game. LaVine, the oldest of the group at 24, finished in the league’s Top 20 in several stats, including points and steals per game.

Season Preview: Chicago fans will be chanting “Dee-Fense! Dee-Fense!” in 2019–20. Will the Bulls be able to respond? That is the big question. They have talented scorers, like Zach Lavine, Lauri Markkanen, and Thaddeus Young. None of them are known for their stellar defense. The team will need big years from Wendell Carter and Otto Porter to finish with a winning record.

2018-19 Season

Season Recap: Chicago fans saw a lot of players come and go during the season, as the Bulls finished with just 22 wins. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 23.7 points per game and made a lot of highlight dunks. Lauri Markkanen also improved during his second year in Chicago, leading the team in rebounding.

Season Preview: Chicago fans may be chanting “Dee-fense! Dee-fense!” a lot this season. Will they be cheering or begging? The Bulls have some good scorers on the roster, but it is difficult to know how healthy they will be or how hard they will play on the other end. The team’s emerging star, forward Lauri Markkanen, will be joined down low by rookie Wendell Carter. With a little help from the guards Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine, they could provide an awesome one-two punch.

2017-18 Season

Season Recap: The rebuilding Bulls lost 50 games for the first time in 14 years. A 1–11 start on the road doomed Chicago to a losing season. The good news was that the team’s young players got valuable experience. Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine and Bobby Portis (all 23 or younger) were among the team leaders in scoring, rebounding and assists.

January 15, 2018: Rookie Lauri Markkanen made his 100th career 3-pointer in just his 41st game. No one has ever reached 100 faster.

Season Preview: The Bulls said goodbye to their three best players after 2016–17 and are now set on rebuilding with young players. NBA fans may have a hard time recognizing the names on their uniforms when they come to town, but there is some talent in the lineup, including Zach LaVine, the winner of two Slam Dunk Contests, and rookie Lauri Markkanen.

2016-17 Season

Season Recap: The trio of Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo, and Dwyane Wade gave Chicago fans plenty to cheer about, but a so-so frontcourt limited the club to a .500 season. The Bulls fell to Boston in the playoffs after their point guard, Rondo, went down with a late-season injury.

2015-16 Season

Season Preview: Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, and Pau Gasol lead a talented group into battle. Their goal? To stay healthy and find a way to unseat LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The difference-maker could be two-time All-Star Joakim Noah, who will serve as Chicago’s 6th Man.

2014-15 Season

Season Recap: The Bulls won 50 games for the first time since 2012–13. Jimmy Butler was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. He led the club in scoring with over 20 points a game, while Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah handled the inside defense and rebounding. Derrick Rose missed 30 games to injuries, but returned in time for the playoffs. Chicago defeated the Bucks in the opening round but lost their next series to the Cavaliers 4 games to 2.

Season Preview: The Bulls will need Derrick Rose to return to MVP form if they hope to compete for the conference title. However, they still have a strong club thanks to Joakim Noah, Jimmy Butler, newcomer Pau Gasol and a deep bench. Chicago fans will be watching Rose’s tender knee very carefully all season long.

2013-14 Season

Season Recap: The Bulls needed Derrick Rose to return to health in 2013–14, and unfortunately this didn’t happen. Even so, the team won 48 games and got good years from young Jimmy Butler and backup point guard D.J. Augustin. The front line of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer could not prevent a first-round playoff loss to the Washington Wizards.

More Go-To Guys

Zero was a cool uniform number in the 1980s. You don’t see it that much anymore. (Topps, Inc.)

Dennis Rodman definitely knew how to “rock the house.” He was a game-changing rebounder and defender—and one of the true free spirits in basketball. (NBA Hoops)

  • Orlando Woolridge — 6′ 9″ Forward
    Born: 12/16/1959
    Died: 5/31/2012
    Played for Team: 1981–82 to 1985–86
    Orlando Woolridge was the last player before Michael Jordan to lead the Bulls in scoring. A great leaper and creative dunker, he averaged 16 points a game during his long NBA career.

  • David Greenwood — 6′ 9″ Forward
    Born: 5/27/1957
    Played for Team: 1979–90 to 1984–85
    David Greenwood was a talented big man who could rebound, score and play solid defense. The Bulls drafted him after losing a coin flip to the Lakers (who got Magic Johnson) and later traded him for another Hall of Famer, George Gervin.

  • Steve Kerr — 6′ 3″ Guard
    Born: 9/27/1965
    Played for Team: 1993–94 to 1997–98
    Steve Kerr was Chicago’s sharpshooting super sub during three championship seasons. He hit the winning shot in Game 6 of the 1997 Finals against the Utah Jazz. Earlier that season, Kerr won the 3-Point Shootout at the NBA All-Star Game.

  • Dennis Rodman — 6′ 7″ Forward
    Born: 5/13/1961
    Played for Team: 1995–96 to 1997–98
    The Bulls won NBA titles in each of Dennis Rodman’s three seasons with the team. A superb rebounder, he led the league three times with the Bulls. In 1996, he joined Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on the NBA All-Defensive Team.

  • Carlos Boozer — 6′ 9″ Forward
    Born: 11/20/1981
    First Season with Team: 2010–11
    The Bulls could count on Carlos Boozer for 15 points and 10 rebounds a night, making him one of the most valuable power forwards in the NBA. He also brought experience to a young Bulls team.

More Fun Facts

This card shows Phil Jackson right at the start of his coaching career. No one had any idea how many championships he would win. (NBA Hoops)

  • A HELPING HAND
    When Jimmy Butler was a teenager, he found himself abandoned by both parents and homeless. A high-school friend invited him to live with his family—even though they already were struggling with six kids. With this boost of love and confidence, Butler went on to have a great college career and become the #1 draft pick of the Bulls in 2011.our Content Goes Here

  • DYNAMIC DUO
    The Michael Jordan–Phil Jackson combination ranks among the most successful in sports history. With Jordan playing and Jackson coaching, the Bulls won six championships in eight seasons.

  • PUT DOWN THE CLIPBOARD, KID
    Scottie Pippen played point guard in high school and stood just 6’1″ when he graduated. Not a single college offered him a scholarship. He paid for his college education by working as the basketball team’s manager…until the coach realized how good he was. Pippen grew to 6’8″ in college and was the fifth player taken in the 1987 NBA Draft.

League Leaders

After nearly 50 seasons, Guy Rodgers is still the only Bull to lead the NBA in assists. (Fleer Corp.)

Not only was MJ the best player in the league in the 1990s, he was named the greatest athlete of the decade by SI for Kids. (Sports Illustrated for Kids)

  • SCORING
    1986–87 — Michael Jordan — 37.1
    1987–88 — Michael Jordan — 35.0
    1988–89 — Michael Jordan — 32.5
    1989–90 — Michael Jordan — 33.6
    1990–91 — Michael Jordan — 31.5
    1991–92 — Michael Jordan — 30.1
    1992–93 — Michael Jordan — 32.6

  • REBOUNDING
    1995–96 — Dennis Rodman — 14.9
    1996–97 — Dennis Rodman — 16.1
    1997–98 — Dennis Rodman — 15.0

  • ASSISTS
    1966–67 — Guy Rodgers — 11.2

  • STEALS
    1987–88 — Michael Jordan — 3.2
    1989–90 — Michael Jordan — 2.8
    1992–93 — Michael Jordan — 2.8
    1994–95 — Scottie Pippen — 2.9

    Steals did not become an official statistic until 1973–74.

  • BLOCKED SHOTS

    No member of the team has led the league in blocks; blocks did not become an official statistic until 1973–74.

Playing for the Championship

This ticket stub is from the team’s fourth championship. It was Michael Jordan’s first full year back from playing pro baseball. (Author’s Collection)

BULLS in the FINALS

SEASON OPPONENT SCORE
1990–91 Los Angeles Lakers Won 4–1
1991–92 Portland Trail Blazers Won 4–2
1992–93 Phoenix Suns Won 4–2
1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics Won 4–2
1996–97 Utah Jazz Won 4–2
1997–98 Utah Jazz Won 4–2

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