Bulls take next step in appeasing fanbase with throwback jersey update

"I'm back," the infamous two-word phrase Michael Jordan used to make his announcement that he'd be returning to the NBA following a 17-month hiatus. Jordan returned in March 1995 to appear in Chicago's final 17 contests of the year.

Coinciding with Jordan's return came a new era of Bulls' basketball. For one, Jordan's return kick-started what would be the Bulls' second three-peat, winning titles in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Second, Dennis Rodman began his short yet impactful tenure with the Bulls upon Jordan's return to basketball.

Lastly, for the first time in franchise history, the Bulls opted to incorporate a different aesthetic to their already famed red and white jerseys—pinstripes. A trend other teams had already begun, while the Bulls had preferred to keep their uniforms classic. Moreover, instead of donning red or white, Chicago took a different direction, opting for black as an alternate color.

The Bulls have unveiled their Statement Edition uniforms

30 years later, coincidentally amid a new era of Bulls' basketball, the pinstripes are also back. Chicago revealed its 2025-26 statement jersey, and it's a breath of fresh air for a franchise rooted in history, yet desperately seeking an identity.

The Bulls drew inspiration from the jerseys worn briefly by Jordan, Rodman, and Scottie Pippen, embracing the trendy Y2K aesthetic. Like the jerseys donned 30 years ago, the upcoming statement edition will feature a black base, with red pinstripes. Both the numbering and lettering will follow suit: red, with a white outline.

However, instead of the white accents the late 90s jerseys incorporated, the newest iteration leans even more into the Bulls' notorious red. The armholes and the hems are outlined in red. The waistband is especially noticeable, as a red and white version of the Chicago flag is mimicked.

The Bulls tabbed sophomore sensation Matas Buzelis and leading scorer Coby White to model the jerseys ahead of a transformative season. Perhaps most importantly, the organization brought back a familiar face to intertwine the past with the present.

The Worm said it best: "Pinstripes are back, baby!" Rodman labeled the Bulls' statement edition as "more like Chicago" before reiterating that it's his personal favorite. Having Rodman preview Chicago's jerseys alongside Buzelis is a tantalizing mix of nostalgia and hope—the cherished past, coupled with the exciting future.

The Bulls are taking the right steps to usher in a new era of basketball, and no better place to start than with an appealing, yet nostalgic jersey.