Chicago Bulls

Founded by Dick Klein, the Chicago Bulls received an NBA franchise in 1966, becoming the third NBA team in Chicago’s history. The Chicago Stags had folded after the 1949–50 season, while the Chicago Packers, subsequently renamed the Zephyrs, had moved to Baltimore. Klein is the only owner in Bulls history to have played professional basketball.⁠[1][2][1][3][2][3]

On October 15, 1966, the Bulls recorded their first victory, defeating the St. Louis Hawks 104–97 under head coach Johnny “Red” Kerr. Chicago finished its inaugural season 33–48, the best first-season record by an expansion team, and reached the playoffs. Kerr was named NBA Coach of the Year.⁠[4][5][5][6]

The Bulls held the third pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. After the Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an NBA basketball team playing at Toyota Center in Houston. Founded in San Diego in 1967, the franchise moved to Houston in 1971.Open the full entry selected Hakeem Olajuwon and the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers are an American NBA basketball team whose home arena is Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.Open the full entry chose Sam Bowie, Chicago selected University of North Carolina guard Michael Jordan.⁠[7][7][8][8]

In February 1985, Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a professional baseball team based in Chicago, competing in MLB’s American League Central and playing at Rate Field.Open the full entry co-owner Jerry Reinsdorf announced that his group would acquire a 56.8% stake in the Bulls and become the club’s controlling owner by March 1. The purchase included 26% of the team from Arthur Wirtz’s estate. Klein had previously sold the Bulls to the Wirtz family, the longtime owners of the Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL), competing in the Central Division of the Western Conference and playing home games at Chicago’s United Center. The franchise was admitted to the NHL on September 25, 1926, with Frederic McLaughlin credited as its founder. One of the NHL’s Original Six teams, it used the two-word spelling Black Hawks until 1986. The club has won six Stanley Cups, in 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Wirtz family has held sole control since 1966, and Danny Wirtz has served as chairman since 2023.Open the full entry.⁠[9][9][2][2]

In the 1987 draft, Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause selected Horace Grant tenth overall. He also traded eighth pick Olden Polynice to the Seattle SuperSonicsOklahoma City ThunderThe Oklahoma City Thunder are an American NBA basketball team based at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.Open the full entry for fifth pick Scottie Pippen. Grant and Pippen subsequently became important members of Chicago’s championship teams.⁠[10][4]

Former assistant Phil Jackson replaced Doug Collins as head coach for the 1989–90 season.⁠[4][4]

The Bulls won their first NBA championship in 1991 and retained the title in 1992 and 1993, becoming the third franchise in NBA history to win three consecutive championships.⁠[11][12]

Beginning with the 1994–95 season, the Bulls left Chicago Stadium after 27 years and moved into the newly built United Center, sharing the arena with the NHLNHLThe National Hockey League (NHL) is a men’s professional ice hockey league with clubs in the United States and Canada. Founded in Montreal in 1917, it comprises 32 teams and awards the Stanley Cup to its playoff champion.Open the full entry’s Chicago Blackhawks.⁠[2][13]

Following Jordan’s return, the Bulls finished the 1995–96 regular season 72–10, becoming the first NBA team to win at least 70 regular-season games, and won the championship. They defended the title in 1997 and 1998, completing a second three-peat and bringing their total to six NBA championships.⁠[12][4][14][12]

On December 12, 2023, the Bulls announced the inaugural class of their Ring of Honor. It comprised 13 individuals, including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson, Jerry Krause and Dick Klein, as well as the 1995–96 team.⁠[14][14][14]

After the 2025–26 season, Billy Donovan stepped down as head coach in April 2026 following six seasons in the role. On May 4, the Bulls appointed Bryson Graham, previously the Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, competing in the Southeast Division of the NBA’s Eastern Conference.Open the full entry’ Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, with responsibility for all decisions in the department. Tiago Splitter became head coach that June.⁠[15][16][17][17][18]

The Bulls compete in the NBA’s Central Division of the Eastern Conference. A group led by Jerry Reinsdorf controls the team, with Michael Reinsdorf serving as President and Chief Executive Officer. As of September 2026, Bryson Graham was Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and Tiago Splitter was head coach. After missing the playoffs in eight of the preceding nine seasons, management described the upcoming season as part of a rebuild.⁠[19][2][15][20][2][21]

Chicago Bulls: Official website: https://www.nba.com/bulls/ (opens in a new window)⁠[22]

X: @chicagobulls: https://x.com/chicagobulls (opens in a new window)⁠[23]

YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: @chicagobulls: https://www.youtube.com/@chicagobulls (opens in a new window)⁠[24]

LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-bulls/ (opens in a new window)⁠[22]