Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Chicago Bulls: Top 15 draft picks in franchise history

By Jason Patt

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 11: Michael Jordan #23 hugs teammate Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls following Game Five of the 1997 NBA Finals played against the Utah Jazz on June 11, 1997 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 90-88. Ahmad Rashad tries to get an interview for NBC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JUNE 11: Michael Jordan #23 hugs teammate Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls following Game Five of the 1997 NBA Finals played against the Utah Jazz on June 11, 1997 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 90-88. Ahmad Rashad tries to get an interview for NBC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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B.J. Armstrong, Chicago Bulls
(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

player. Scouting Report. PG. 13. Pick Analysis. Iowa. B.J. Armstrong. 24

The Bulls selected guard B.J. Armstrong out of Iowa with the No. 18 pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. Armstrong was immediately part of Chicago’s rotation as a rookie, playing 81 games on a 55-win squad that lost to the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Armstrong was then the Bulls’ key reserve on their first two championship teams in 1991 and 1992. The 6-foot-2 guard appeared in all 82 games in both seasons and was the team’s leading bench scorer.

In 1992-93, Armstrong transitioned into the starting point guard role that was previously held by John Paxson. Armstrong put up 12.3 points and four assists per game that season while shooting a league-best 45.3 percent on 3-pointers. He shot over 51 percent from 3-land in the postseason as the Bulls completed their three-peat.

Armstrong took on an even larger role the following season thanks to Michael Jordan’s retirement. The guard was voted into his only All-Star Game in 1994, though it was a rather dubious honor given he finished that year with good but not great averages of 14.8 points and 3.9 assists per game.

Armstrong left the Bulls in 1995 when the Toronto Raptors made him the first pick in the expansion draft, but he ultimately made his way to the Golden State Warriors after refusing to report to Toronto.

Armstrong returned to the Bulls for one final season in 1999-00, after which he joined the front office.  There was speculation that Armstrong may take over for Jerry Krause as general manager, but ironically enough, that gig went to Paxson after the two also competed against each other as players. There were rumors of a beef existing between the two thanks to these competitions, and the contentious Derrick Rose return situation in 2013 only added fuel to the fire (Armstrong is Rose’s agent).

Still, no matter what has happened after his playing days, Armstrong was a valuable member of three title teams, giving him a spot on this list.

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