Chicago Bulls: Building all-time one-year starting five

Bench and Sixth Man

Since the dynasty years feature so many great Bulls players, and great individual seasons, it gets really difficult to round out parts of the starting five. This makes the decision for the sixth man that much more difficult too. Keep in mind that each player in this all-time starting five can only have one top season from their run with the Bulls.

Here’s the bench for a theoretical 10-man roster and the sixth man for the all-time team.

Artis Gilmore, Center (1978-79)

As one of the most thoroughly accomplished Bulls players in franchise history, towering 7-foot-2 center Artis Gilmore had one of his best seasons in the NBA in 1978-79. He was an All-Star selection averaging 23.7 points per game, 12.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 blocks.

Steve Kerr, Guard (1995-96)

The per game stats of former Bulls sharpshooting guard Steve Kerr aren’t going to blow anyone away from his 1995-96 season. But it is one of the more efficient seasons in franchise history from any Bulls guard. He posted more than 8.0 win shares and a box plus/minus rating above 3.0.

We also have to put at least one other guard coming off the bench.

Bob Boozer, Forward (1967-68)

Advanced stats aren’t really filled out for the 1960’s in the NBA. But we do know that the former standout Bulls 6-foot-9 forward Bob Boozer had a sensational 1967-68 season (it was also his only career All-Star selection). He averaged 21.5 points per game, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.

Toni Kukoc, Forward (1995-96)

A common sense selection that would come to mind for most would be former Bulls standout forward Toni Kukoc from his efforts to help the team win a title in 1995-96. But he wasn’t even an All-Star selection in the 1995-96 campaign. He still posted a sparkling 5.4 box plus/minus rating and a whopping .231 win shares per 48 minutes.

Sixth Man: Horace Grant, Power Forward (1991-92)

The sixth man position goes to a player that had a season that was very challenging not to put in the starting five. Former Bulls star big man Horace Grant gets the sixth man spot from his 1991-92 campaign, where he came just shy of getting his first career All-Star selection while averaging 14.2 points per game, 10.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks.

Grant is an easy choice here as he had one of the most efficient regular seasons for any Bulls big man in franchise history.