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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Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls
(Photo by Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune/MCT via Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Kirk Hinrich. 11. player. 24. PG. Kansas

The Bulls wanted Dwyane Wade in the 2003 NBA Draft, but they weren’t able to work a deal to move up from No. 7 to get the future Hall of Famer. After Wade went fifth, Chicago took guard Kirk Hinrich after a terrific college career at Kansas. With 2002 No. 2 pick Jay Williams effectively done for his career due to a severe motorcycle accident, the Bulls expected Hinrich to be their new point guard of the future.

Hinrich was certainly no Wade, but he became one of the most productive Bulls of all time. Captain Kirk almost immediately became a fan favorite thanks to his gritty style of play, ability to run the offense and outside shooting.

Hinrich was named to the All-Rookie first team along with Wade, LeBron, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony. The 6-foot-3 guard posted 12 points and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 39 percent from 3 that year.

Over the next couple of seasons, Hinrich was a key member of the Baby Bulls that led the franchise back into relevancy. While Chicago lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2005 and 2006, the guard scored over 20 points per game in both series.

In 2006-07, he enjoyed his most productive regular season as a pro, going for 16.6 points and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 41.5 percent from deep. His scoring dipped in the playoffs, but his harassing defense against Wade and the Miami Heat helped the Bulls to a four-game sweep of the defending champs. Pat Riley called Hinrich one of the best defenders in the league that year.

Hinrich’s scrappiness came to the forefront again in the Bulls’ seven-game thriller against the Boston Celtics, this time against fellow irritant Rajon Rondo:

The Bulls traded Hinrich in 2010 in order to make a run at LeBron, Wade and Bosh, but Kirk returned in 2012 to run the show in the wake of Derrick Rose’s knee injury. Hinrich’s second stint with the Bulls wasn’t particularly good, though he still had his moments.

Hinrich wound up playing 10-plus seasons with the Bulls, and he currently sits atop the franchise’s 3-point shooting list with 1,049 made triples on 2,792 attempts. He’s also third in assists, third in steals and eighth in points.

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