In the debate over the best Chicago Bulls team of all time, the 1995-96 Bulls take the edge over the 1991-92 squad based on their regular season record and unmatched roster depth.
The Chicago Bulls are arguably the third biggest franchise in NBA history, alongside the undisputed greats of the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.
Not many franchises can boast 6 NBA titles, and definitely not many of them can say they won that in the one specific period where they held the league in their arms for a decade.
I'm diving deep into their history to answer the one question that sparks endless debate: which Bulls team was the greatest ever?
I'll pick my choice and elaborate on my selection, highlighting that you can hardly go wrong with whichever team you select as the best Bulls team of all time.
Which Bulls team was the best?
This simple question will probably give you an answer to the question of which team was the best Bulls team ever assembled.
As you can see, it really depends on what rosters people prefer. Do you want to see a team stacked with stars in their prime or maybe even aging stars surrounded by great bench pieces?
Hence the debate about this question, which, in my opinion, has only two valid answers: 1991-92 or 1995-96 as the best Chicago Bulls team?
The 1991-92 Bulls team was absolute cinema. It was very fun to watch Michael Jordan in his prime before the Dream Team formed at the 1992 Summer Olympics, and Scottie Pippen played the peak basketball of his life.
It also helped that Horace Grant and John Paxson contributed immensely to the Bulls' leading squad, with aging Bill Cartwright depleted by injuries and young BJ Armstrong as their 6th man.
And it's not just the way they won the title, knocking off the Lakers in five games after losing Game 1. It's the break of the curse that hunted them for years.
Many people thought during the time that Jordan didn't play "winning basketball", whatever that meant for them, and those Detroit Pistons looked unbeatable.
But this time, they avoided Detroit, beating the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers in the East to reach the Finals, showcasing they are capable of winning it all. And they refused to look back ever since.
The 1991-92 Chicago Bulls record:
| Regular season | Net rating | Playoffs | Total | Result |
| 67-15 | +10.4 | 15-7 | 82-22 | Championship |
I'd put them as the second-greatest Bulls team of all time.
1995-96 Bulls: the greatest team in NBA history
The 1995-96 season may not have showcased Jordan at his peak, as he was older and had recently returned from retirement, but the team's depth was such that virtually no one could defeat them.
72-10 in the regular season, Dennis Rodman playing like he's still a teenager, and Ron Harper and Luc Longley are strengthening the starting five.
Oh, and don't get me started on Toni Kukoc being their 6th man. They also possessed Steve Kerr in the rotation as a valuable piece.
That Bulls team really had it all. And they proved that with actions, not words.
"It don't mean anything without a ring," Steve Kerr said (which is quite ironic in hindsight as he was coach of the 73-9 Golden State Warriors, who failed to win a ring that year).
That Bulls team was too deep to allow themselves to lose against Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. It meant a thing as they won the ring.
The Bulls lost only 12 games in the whole season, including playoffs, as they lost one match versus the Knicks in the first round after sweeping the Heat and Orlando Magic earlier.
It all came down to the Finals against Seattle SuperSonics, the only team to win multiple times against them that season. Seattle also won once in the regular season. Eventually, the Bulls won the Finals series 4-2.
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record:
| Regular season | Net rating | Playoffs | Total | Result |
| 72-10 | +12.2 | 15-3 | 87-13 | Championship |
I firmly believe the 1995-96 squad was not only the Bulls' best team ever but also one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
Given their dominance and the era, it's worth noting that the Chicago Bulls, while considered one of the greatest, were also at times considered one of the most hated NBA teams due to their overwhelming success and the perception of their invincibility.
