Chicago Bulls All-Time starting lineup: Controversy at two positions

Some of the greatest players of all time have worn the red and black of the Chicago Bulls, including arguably the greatest player to ever touch a basketball. 

With six titles in eight seasons, the Jordan-era Bulls would figure to populate most of the Bulls’ all-time starting lineup, but there is plenty of debate around a couple of positions, with some non-Jordan era guys making their cases. 

Let’s start with one of the more debatable choices, which is the starting center. 

Chicago Bulls all-time starting center: Artis Gilmore 

Runner up: Joakim Noah 

This was one of the toughest ones to call, as the Bulls never had a dominant center in the Jordan era and it’s been one of their weaker positions overall. 

A strong case can be made for Joakim Noah, who won Defensive Player of the Year for the Bulls, made the All-Star team twice and the All-Defensive team three times in his nine seasons in Chicago. 

Noah was never the prototypical back-to-the-basket scorer from the center position, but he was a great rebounder, defender and passer. 

But it’s hard to take it away from Artis Gilmore, who I ranked as the Bulls’ best second-round pick of all time for good reason. 

Gilmore averaged 19.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two blocks per game for the Bulls, making the All-Star game four times in six seasons. 

It’s hard to compare eras, but if you include Gilmore’s ABA numbers, he has the argument to be in the top-10 centers of all time discussion, as he was an MVP once and made the All-Star team five times before joining the NBA.