Ranking 10 Worst Bulls starters of the Michael Jordan era
By Tyler Watts
2. Caldwell Jones
Jones was an ABA All-Star in 1975 and one of the league’s premier centers. He averaged 4.0 blocks per game as a rookie along with being an all-around problem. The 6’11 big man translated that to the 76ers in 1976. He was not as dominant in the NBA, but Jones was still a force that spent eight years as a starter before arriving in Chicago in 1984.
Jordan was a rookie, and the Bulls were eager to snap a three-year playoff drought. Jones turned 34 years old just before training camp, but Chicago was hoping the veteran could make an impact on both ends of the floor. That did not happen as the big man averaged 3.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 21.1 minutes per game. He only played in 42 contests, but he started 32. The Bulls were hoping for more, but Jones was starting to decline.
Caldwell Jones played in just two of their four playoff games for a total of 18 minutes. He left in free agency following the summer, and the Chicago Bulls got a second-round compensatory pick from the Trail Blazers out of the deal. Jones played five more years in the league mostly as a backup big man before retiring in 1990.
He was past his prime before arriving in Chicago, which made him one of the worst starters of the Michael Jordan era.