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.
Chicago Bulls all-time starting shooting guard: Michael Jordan
Runner up: Jerry Sloan
Let’s just get this one out of the way since it’s the most obvious on the list, no offense to Jerry Sloan, who was great in his own right and has his number retired for the Bulls.
Not only is MJ the first name mentioned on the all-time NBA starting five, but he is arguably the GOAT of the league.
LeBron certainly has a case, as does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but Jordan is still considered the guy you have to topple if you want to be the GOAT.
It’s a discussion I grow bored of quickly, but having watched all of the Jordan era in person, I can say there hasn’t been anyone like him since when it comes to pure competitive fire on the court other than maybe Kobe Bryant.
We all know Jordan’s accolades by now, but people tend to forget that he was just as good defensively as offensively and barely ever missed games, something you can’t say about many of today’s stars.
Chicago Bulls all-time starting small forward: Scottie Pippen
Runner up: Jimmy Butler
Even though Pippen is the clear choice, there was a lot more competition for this one, as you have Butler, DeMar DeRozan, George Gervin and Luol Deng.
I am ruling out Gervin, who only played one season with the Bulls at the tail end of his career.
Butler and DeRozan were both great for the Bulls, and if we are going by best person, Luol Deng wins in a landslide and Pippen might be dead last.
But no one has the resume on the court of Scottie Pippen, who was the prototype for the modern playmaking and 3-and-D wing and is a guy who might be even better suited for the modern game given his two-way ability is what every team is looking for in a wing player.
Pippen was one of the best defenders of all-time but could also make plays, set up teammates and score efficiently on the offensive end.
Chicago Bulls all-time starting power forward: Dennis Rodman
Runner up: Horace Grant
This was probably the toughest choice and the most controversial, as Rodman only played three seasons with the Bulls and Grant was in Chicago for seven years.
Both players were key parts of multiple titles that the Bulls wouldn’t have won without them. Both were very good defenders.
Grant was the better scorer, but Rodman led the NBA in rebounding all three years with Chicago and his versatility on defense is one of the reasons they were able to overcome their lack of dominant center in an era loaded with them.
Rodman was also the emotional spark plug for a Bulls team that needed it (going overboard at times) and the perfect counter to Jordan’s stoic and somewhat psychotic leadership style.
It’s the intangibles that give Rodman the edge, though you can’t take anything away from Horace Grant and can certainly make an argument in his favor.
Chicago Bulls all-time starting point guard: Derrick Rose
Runner up: Steve Kerr
The Bulls didn’t use a traditional point guard during the Jordan era, instead using Jordan, Pippen and Ron Harper in that role.
Their “point guards” were really off the ball shooters like Steve Kerr and John Paxson, and the fact that Kerr was the runner up shows this isn’t the Bulls’ strongest position.
Which makes Rose an easy call as a guy who won an MVP and had some very good seasons in Chicago.
Unfortunately, we all know that Rose’s career will always be one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NBA history, as he had horrible injury luck during his prime and was never the same guy.
You could match this Bulls starting five against any other team’s all-time squad and make a case that they are one of the best starting lineups of all time.