Pippen Ain't Easy
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Chicago Bulls: 30 greatest players in franchise history

By Jason Patt

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)
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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Bill Cartwright, Chicago Bulls
(Photo by Lou Capozzola/NBAE via Getty Images) /

. Center. Chicago Bulls. Bill Cartwright. 22. player. 24

When the Bulls were looking to build a championship roster around Michael Jordan, they knew they needed a tough veteran presence in the middle. With Charles Oakley expendable thanks to the arrival of Horace Grant, the Bulls used Oakley to get that presence by trading for New York Knicks center Bill Cartwright.

Cartwright was a prolific contributor for the Knicks, even scoring over 20 points per game in each of his first two seasons in the NBA. The 7-foot-1 center never scored more than 12.4 points per game with the Bulls and was near the end of the line when they won their first three championships, but he was still a very important piece. Don’t let the 7.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in Chicago fool you.

Cartwright took over as the Bulls’ starting center immediately upon arrival, and he kept that role throughout his six seasons in Chicago. He didn’t miss any playoff games over his first five seasons as a Bull, making him a reliable linchpin down low.

Cartwright left the Bulls after the 1993-94 season and signed with the Seattle SuperSonics. He only played 29 games that year and retired after a successful 15-year career.

Cartwright returned to the Bulls as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson in 1996 and won two more championships on the bench. Cartwright stuck around when Tim Floyd took over for Jackson, and the former Bulls big man became head coach in 2001. It wasn’t a successful run, though, as he went 51-100.

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