The Chicago Bulls, founded in 1966, are a professional basketball team based in Chicago competing in the NBA. They achieved their greatest success in the 1990s, becoming a global phenomenon. The Bulls are celebrated for their dynasty, securing six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998, achieving two three-peats. Led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and coach Phil Jackson, the Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships without ever losing an NBA Finals series. They play their home games at the United Center.
On January 16, 1966, the Chicago Bulls were founded as an American professional basketball team based in Chicago.
On January 16, 1966, the Chicago Bulls were granted an NBA franchise, becoming the third NBA team in Chicago's history.
In 1966, the Chicago Bulls had their inaugural season and were coached by Johnny "Red" Kerr.
In 1966, the iconic logo, a red, charging bull's face, designed by Dean P. Wessel, was adopted.
In the 1967-68 season, the Chicago Bulls experienced a decline in fan interest and attendance.
For the 1969–70 season, the red uniforms were tweaked to include the city name.
In 1969, Benny the Bull, the main mascot of the Chicago Bulls, was first introduced.
In 1969, Pat Williams was hired by the Chicago Bulls as general manager to revitalize the franchise.
In 1970, the Cleveland Cavaliers joined the NBA as an expansion team and the Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry began.
For the 1973–74 season, the Bulls drastically changed their look, removing the side stripes and drop shadows while moving the front numbers to the left chest.
In 1975, the Chicago Bulls made their first appearance in the conference finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors.
In 1975, the Chicago Bulls' performance began to decline leading to the firing of Coach Motta.
In 1976, Artis Gilmore was acquired by the Chicago Bulls in the ABA dispersal draft.
In 1979, the Chicago Bulls lost a coin flip for the first pick in the NBA draft, missing the chance to draft Magic Johnson.
In 1982, rivalry between Ewing and Jordan started with Jordan hitting the deciding jumper of the final.
In 1984, the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan as the third pick in the NBA draft.
In 1985, Michael Jordan returned from a broken foot injury and recorded a playoff single-game record of 63 points against the Boston Celtics.
In 1985, the Boston Celtics set a home record of 40-1, surpassing the Bulls' record.
Starting with the 1985–86 season, the Bulls updated their uniform, with notable changes including centered uniform numbers and a vertically arched "Bulls" wordmark.
With a few tweaks in the lettering, these uniforms were used until 1985.
In the 1986-87 season, Michael Jordan led the league in scoring with 37.1 points per game and was named to the All-NBA First Team.
In 1987, Charles Oakley led the league in total rebounds.
In the 1987 draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, bolstering their roster.
In 1988, Charles Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks for Bill Cartwright.
In 1988, the Jordan-led Bulls met the "Bad Boy" Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals, marking the beginning of an intense rivalry.
The 1987-88 season would also mark the start of the Pistons-Bulls rivalry which was formed from 1988 to 1991.
In 1989, Doug Collins was replaced by Phil Jackson as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
In 1989, playoff series between Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks happened.
In 1989, the Bulls debuted the tradition of wearing black shoes (regardless of being home or away) during the playoffs. Then-Bulls backup center Brad Sellers suggested to wear black shoes as a way to show unity within the team.
In 1990, Ray Clay replaced Tommy Edwards as the announcer for the Bulls. Clay continued many of the traditional aspects of the Bulls introductions, including the music, The Alan Parsons Project's "Sirius", for all six championship runs.
In the 1990-91 season, the Chicago Bulls recorded a then-franchise record 61 wins.
In 1991, playoff series between Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks happened.
In 1991, the Chicago Bulls swept the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In 1991, the Chicago Bulls won one of their six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998.
The 1987-88 season would also mark the start of the Pistons-Bulls rivalry which was formed from 1988 to 1991.
In 1992, playoff series between Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks happened.
In 1992, the team began training at the Berto Center, located in Deerfield, Illinois.
On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from basketball.
In 1993, playoff series between Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks happened.
The Bulls acquired sharpshooter Steve Kerr via free agency before the 1993-94 season.
In 1994, Scottie Pippen established himself as one of the top players in the league by winning the All-Star MVP.
In 1994, playoff series between Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks happened.
In 1994, the Chicago Bulls lost key players like Grant, Cartwright, and Williams to free agency, while also picking up Ron Harper and Jud Buechler.
In 2008, the Bulls became the team with the lowest chance of winning to ever win the lottery since it was modified for the 1994 NBA draft.
On March 18, 1995, Michael Jordan announced his return to the Chicago Bulls.
In 1995, Da Bull, described as the high-flying cousin of Benny, was introduced.
In 1995, the Bulls achieved the all-time best start by a team with a 41-3 record.
In 1995, the Chicago Bulls had one of the best single-season improvements in league history, moving from a 47-35 record to 72-10.
In the 1995 playoffs against the Magic, Michael Jordan debuted his Air Jordan XI shoe, and he wore the white colorway during the Bulls' playoff games in Orlando. He was fined by the Bulls for not complying with their colorway policy.
In the 1995–96 season, the Bulls added a black uniform to their set, featuring red pinstripes and lacking the classic diamond on the shorts.
For the 1996 playoffs, the Bulls became the first team to wear black socks with the black shoes, similar to the University of Michigan and the Fab Five which started the trend in college earlier in the decade.
In 1996, playoff series between Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks happened.
In 1996, the Bulls won their fifth NBA championship, defeating the Utah Jazz.
From the 1997–98 season, the Bulls wore slightly modified black uniforms without pinstripes.
In 1997, Michael Jordan was named the league MVP for the fifth and final time.
In 1998, the Chicago Bulls won one of their six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998.
In 2004 the team made their first playoff appearance since 1998.
In 2006 the Bulls swept the defending champion Miami Heat, marking their first series victory since 1998.
In 2011, the Chicago Bulls reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1998.
Since 1998, the Chicago Bulls have struggled to regain their success from the 1990s.
On January 13, 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time, marking a significant moment in the Bulls' history.
In 1999, the Bulls won the draft lottery, allowing them to draft Elton Brand.
In the 1999–2000 season, the city name returned to the front of the black uniform.
In 2000, despite drafting Elton Brand, the Bulls struggled, finishing with a 17-65 record.
In the 1999–2000 season, the city name returned to the front of the black uniform.
In 2002, the Bulls added Jay Williams to their young, talented core, hoping for improvement.
In 2003, Jerry Krause retired, and John Paxson became the GM for the Bulls.
In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers picked LeBron James, reigniting the Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry.
This uniform set was later revived as a throwback uniform during the 2003–04 season.
In 2004, after the man who portrayed Da Bull was arrested for possession and selling marijuana from his car, Da Bull was retired.
In 2004, upon making their first playoff appearance after a six-year hiatus, the Bulls continued the tradition and wore black shoes.
In 2005 offseason, Eddy Curry was traded to the New York Knicks due to heart condition concerns.
Until the 2005–06 season, the Bulls wore slightly modified black uniforms without pinstripes.
In 2006, Tommy Edwards returned as the announcer for the Bulls, even though internal disputes eventually led to the dismissal of Clay.
In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Bulls traded for Tyrus Thomas and signed Ben Wallace to a four-year deal.
The 2006–07 season saw another change in the Bulls' black alternate uniform, now resembling the red and white uniform with the addition of a red diamond in the shorts.
In 2007, former Detroit cornerstone Ben Wallace met his former team in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, reigniting the Bulls-Pistons rivalry.
In the 2007 offseason, there was speculation of major trades involving players like Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, and Kobe Bryant for the Bulls.
On June 26, 2008, the Bulls drafted Chicago native Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis as the number 1 draft pick.
Between 2004 and 2008, the Chicago Bulls underwent notable roster transformations and fluctuating on-court results.
In 2008, the Chicago Bulls picked Derrick Rose, turning Chicago from a lottery team to a future contender and heating up the Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry.
In February 2009, the Bulls made multiple trades to strengthen the roster, including deals with the Sacramento Kings and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
During the 2009 playoffs, the Bulls broke the tradition when all of their players wore white shoes and socks in Game 3 of the first round against the Boston Celtics.
In 2008, the Bulls traded Sonny Weems to the Denver Nuggets for Denver's 2009 regular second-round draft pick.
In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Bulls selected James Johnson and Taj Gibson.
Starting in 2009–10, Univision Radio's WRTO (1200) has carried Spanish language game coverage.
In May 2010, the Bulls fired head coach Vinny Del Negro.
In early June 2010, Tom Thibodeau accepted the Bulls' head coaching position and was officially introduced on June 23.
In 2010, the Chicago Bulls showed promise, led by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
In 2011, Derrick Rose earned the NBA MVP Award, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to win it.
In 2011, the Bulls acquired Nikola Mirotić via a draft-day trade, a EuroLeague talent.
In 2011, the Bulls and Heat met in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Heat winning in 5 games.
In the 2011 NBA Draft, the Bulls selected Jimmy Butler with the 30th overall pick.
On June 13, 2012, the team announced that it would move its practice facility to a downtown location closer to the United Center.
In 2012, despite Derrick Rose missing the entire season, the Chicago Bulls finished with a 45-37 record and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
This set was revived as throwback uniforms in the 2012–13 seasons.
On March 27, 2013, the Chicago Bulls snapped the Miami Heat's 27-game winning streak.
In 2013, Derrick Rose tore his medial meniscus just 10 games into the season, sidelining him once again.
In 2013, Detroit Red Wings moved to the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.
On September 12, 2014, the Bulls officially opened their new training facility, the Advocate Center.
Between the 2011-2014 seasons, the Chicago Bulls underwent significant roster changes and faced challenges, navigating injuries to star players.
For the 2014–15 season, the uniforms were tweaked a bit to include sleeves and a modernized diamond treatment in black with red and white borders.
In 2014, Derrick Rose returned to the Chicago Bulls, and Pau Gasol joined the team.
In 2014, the Bulls acquired 2014 Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
On May 28, 2015, the Chicago Bulls fired head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Beginning in October 2015, the Bulls' games were carried on Cumulus Media's WLS (890).
In 2015, the Chicago Bulls finished with a 42–40 record but were eliminated from playoff contention.
This uniform set was later revived as a throwback uniform during the 2015–16 season.
On June 22, 2016, the Chicago Bulls traded Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks.
In 2016, Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz, who co-owns the United Center with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, let the contract lapse after the circus' run.
In June 2017, the Chicago Bulls traded Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On October 17, 2017, Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotić were involved in a fight during practice.
In 2017, Nike became the NBA's uniform provider and the Bulls' red "Icon" uniforms became their home uniforms, and the white "Association" uniforms became their away uniforms.
In 2017, Nike introduced the Bulls' "City" uniforms, which pay homage to Chicago’s flag, architecture, and cultural symbols.
In 2017, the Bulls traded 2017 second-round pick to the New York Knicks.
In 2017, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was discontinued.
In the middle of the 2017-18 season the contract with Cumulus Media was nullified.
In January 2018, the Bulls' games were carried on Cumulus Media's WLS (890).
As of February 3, 2018, the Bulls' games are broadcast on Entercom's WSCR (670).
Effective February 2018, the formerly two-week local run of Feld's Disney on Ice was condensed to a week-long period.
In February 2018, Nikola Mirotić was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans following an earlier altercation with Bobby Portis.
In 2018, the Bulls agreed to an exclusive multi-year deal with NBC Sports Chicago, ending the team's broadcasts on WGN-TV.
In 2018, the Chicago Bulls drafted Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison, and re-signed Zach LaVine.
On January 2, 2019, the Bulls agreed to an exclusive multi-year deal with NBC Sports Chicago, ending the team's broadcasts on WGN-TV.
In February 2019, Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker were traded by the Chicago Bulls for Otto Porter.
In 2019, the Chicago Bulls drafted Coby White and signed veterans Tomáš Satoranský and Thaddeus Young.
The 2019–20 season marked the return of pinstripes to the Bulls' "Statement" uniform, albeit in dark gray, with other tweaks as well.
In 2020, The Bulls missed the playoffs.
In 2020, Tim Sinclair replaced Tommy Edwards as the announcer for the Bulls.
The Bulls would continue to wear red "Icon" uniforms in home games until the 2020–21 season.
In March 2021, the Chicago Bulls traded for Nikola Vučević and Al-Farouq Aminu.
In late December 2021, DeMar DeRozan hit back-to-back buzzer-beaters against the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards.
In 2021, the Chicago Bulls acquired Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan.
In the 2021–22 season, the Bulls returned to wearing the white "Association" uniforms in home games.
In 2022, the Chicago Bulls re-signed Zach LaVine to a five-year, $215.2 million contract and drafted Dalen Terry.
In 2023, the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference play-in game.
In the 2023 offseason, the Chicago Bulls traded for the 35th pick in the draft and selected Julian Philips, while also re-signing Vucevic and Coby White.
The Bulls left NBC Sports Chicago at the end of the 2023–2024 season.
On January 12, 2024, the Bulls introduced the Ring of Honor, which honors former players and other personnel.
As of the 2024–2025 season, the Bulls' television broadcasts are televised by Chicago Sports Network, which broadcasts all of the games that are not televised nationally.
The Bulls moved to the new Chicago Sports Network in 2024.
On February 2, 2025, the team traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings for Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and their own 2025 first round pick from San Antonio Spurs.
February 3, 2025, a roster update was issued.
As of the 2024–2025 season, the Bulls' television broadcasts are televised by Chicago Sports Network, which broadcasts all of the games that are not televised nationally.