On June 13, 1997, the Chicago Bulls made history in more ways than one.
On that day 19 years ago, not only did the United Center host a team-record in fan attendance, but the Bulls also clinched their fifth NBA championship in a seven-year span.
Why is this fun fact significant?
The Golden State Warriors will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, June 13, in a game where they will have a shot at winning back-to-back titles.
But, that’s not the whole story.
More from Bulls History
- Revisiting the time Nate Robinson carried the Chicago Bulls in 2013
- Ranking Michael Jordan’s 11 most iconic commercials of all-time
- Ranking the 10 best sharpshooters in Chicago Bulls history
- 4 Historic NBA teams the Bulls have completely devastated
- Ranking the 13 Worst Bulls starters of the Derrick Rose era
If the returning champions win that game, the Warriors will have both superseded the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ single-season record and locked up the rights to the NBA championship, just as they did.
For the Bay Area, that’s good news.
For those in Chicago, it’s up to the individual fan to decide how they should feel about it.
It should go without question that Michael Jordan is the greatest to have ever played the game.
But, the way the Warriors are playing right now begs reason to have caution. Why?
First, the Warriors are trekking territory that hasn’t been crossed in more than a decade. They’re rewriting the history books, they’re turning the page and the rest just might be history.
Today’s Chicago Bulls fans may have to live with the idea of sharing a spot in history with the Warriors, and that’s a truth — and a rather hard truth — to swallow.
In some ways, it’s exciting knowing the way the Warriors are playing. In doing so, it brings attention back to a league that falls behind baseball and football as America’s favorite pastimes.
But, what negative impact, if any, might Golden State’s success have on the legacy of Michael Jordan and the Bulls?
The answer to that question is simpler than it may first appear.
There will never be another Michael Jordan, no matter how many prodigies grace the court. We’ve seen the Kobe Bryants, the LeBron James’ and the Kevin Durants of the world take center stage and no athlete thus far has even come close to knocking what Michael Jordan did for Chicagoans. He put the city on his back and he owned it. That’s not something Bryant, James or Durant have achieved.
Notice that I didn’t include Steph Curry in the all-time greatest conversation. This isn’t to say that the accolades of the two-time MVP are insignificant. It’s quite the contrary, actually.
Steph is well on his way to joining that crop of players. He’s been making the case over the last few years that he’s a force to be reckoned with and that’s a truth no one can refute.
Next: Bulls fans face weird conundrum with Cavaliers-Warriors II in the NBA Finals
It is my hope that when fans sit down to watch Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals on Monday night, they take a moment to revel in what we really have on our hands here: a problem letting history write itself and take new course.