Chicago Bulls: 30 greatest players in franchise history

By Jason Patt | Jul 27, 2018

PHOENIX - JUNE 20: NBA Commissioner David Stern presents Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls the championship trophy after the Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game Six of the 1993 NBA Finals on June 20, 1993 at America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 1993 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) /

24. . Power Forward. Chicago Bulls. Dennis Rodman. 10. player

When the Bulls won their first three championships, they had an outstanding power forward in Horace Grant to rebound, defend and do a lot of the dirty work. They didn’t have that when Michael Jordan returned from retirement in 1995, so acquiring one was important in order for more championships runs.

Enter Dennis Rodman.

The Bulls traded Will Perdue for Rodman prior to the 1995-96 season. Rodman made a name for himself as a nasty defender with the Bad Boys Pistons, and he won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in Detroit. He blossomed into the league’s best rebounder at the tail end of his Pistons tenure.

While Rodman was on the downside of his career when he joined the Bulls, he was still an impact player. He made the All-Defensive first team in 1996 and led the league in rebounding in all three of his Bulls seasons, with his 15.3 rebounds per game as a Bull the best mark in franchise history by a lot. His rugged defense in the post was invaluable, and he developed a rivalry against Karl Malone:

Rodman was renowned for his antics on and off the court, and while they weren’t always positive, the Bulls needed his production and edge to get back to the top of the mountain.

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