The Michael Jordan era ended in 1998 with a sixth championship in eight years. In the decades since, the Bulls have turned to the NBA Draft to build teams with the aspiration to return to the glory years, making a number of excellent selections along the way.
That includes an MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, a future Hall of Famer, and a number of All-Stars, fan favorites, and productive players at virtually every position.
Living up to the Jordan standard was never going to be a realistic goal, of course. The greatest Bulls player of all time, if not the NBA’s GOAT, delivered six championship, five MVP awards, and a record 10 scoring titles. Even still, Chicago has drafted fairly well in the grand scheme of things, even if there have been misses along the way.
Caleb Wilson unfortunately won’t make the list just yet, but he could cause this article to be rewritten sooner than later.
10. Ayo Dosunmu
The No. 10 spot on this list came down to three players: Jamal Crawford, Ayo Dosunmu, and Lauri Markkanen. Crawford is arguably the best individual on that list, but he played more than 25.0 minutes per game in just one season with the Bulls. That ultimately ruled him out.
The debate then came down to two key factors: Dosunmu playing 103 more games in Chicago than Markkanen, and the value of a second-round pick versus a first-round pick. Markkanen took on a heavier offensive workload, of course, but Dosunmu had the longer tenure and was ultimately a great value addition relative to where he was selected.
This was a tough decision to make, as the Bulls gave up on both players too soon, but Dosunmu gets the nod for length of tenure and the unlikeliness of finding that type of quality in Round 2.
9. Coby White
There may be an inclination to debate this, but Coby White has a strong case. For instance: He played the fifth-most games for the Bulls of any player they drafted after Jordan's retirement. He also scored the fifth-most points. The only players ahead of him on either list are ranked ahead of him in this article.
White was the No. 7 overall selection in 2019 and played the better part of seven years for the Bulls. He played a significant role in Chicago making its only playoff appearance since 2017 and ultimately became a high-quality scorer and playmaker for a team that never truly gave him the tools to succeed.
The Bulls made a lot of questionable decisions during White's tenure, but providing 451 games, nearly 7,000 points, and a playoff appearance solidifies his place on this list.
8. Taj Gibson
Taj Gibson became one of the most beloved figures of his era of Bulls basketball. He became so popular with the franchise that he all but instantly went from retirement to Chicago’s coaching staff. With eight seasons of rugged and unselfish play, Gibson helped set the tone for a successful era.
Though not a star, Gibson was an essential figure on both ends of the floor. He was a force of nature on the offensive glass, as well as an excellent defender who refused to back down from challenges. That helped him finish as the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in 2013-14 and ultimately move into the starting lineup on a Bulls team that finished above .500—an unfortunate rarity in a post-Thibs Chicago.
At No. 10 in franchise history in games played as a Bull, Gibson left his mark and became one of the biggest fan favorites of his day.
7. Elton Brand
When it comes to Elton Brand, one can’t help but wonder what could’ve been. Selected by the Bulls at No. 1 in the 1999 NBA Draft, Brand quickly became a nightly 20-and-10 guy who could block shots at a high level and absolutely dominate the offensive glass. In many ways, Brand looked like a franchise cornerstone in the making during his first two seasons in the NBA.
Unfortunately, the Bulls traded him just two years after they drafted him. It’s a decision that still haunts Chicago and greatly influenced how a potentially fruitful post-Jordan era ultimately became a deeply flawed chapter that went another four years before it ultimately turned around.
Yes, the Bulls went 30-102 during Brand’s two seasons in Chicago, but he won Rookie of the Year and showcased clear potential as, at least, a franchise pillar. Unfortunately, Jerry Krause didn’t agree.
6. Ben Gordon
Few of the Bulls’ post-MJ draft picks have proven to be as transformative as the Bulls’ gamble on Ben Gordon. During his rookie season in 2004-05, he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and won the Sixth Man of the Year award. More importantly, Chicago went 47-35 and made its first postseason appearance since Jordan’s retirement.
Gordon finished third on the team in scoring behind Eddy Curry and Kirk Hinrich, who averaged 1.0 and 0.6 more points than him respectively. He then led Chicago in scoring in each of the next four seasons, helping it make the playoffs three out of four times.
From irrelevant after MJ to a virtual postseason mainstay, Gordon was a driving force behind Chicago's reemergence as a postseason factor.
5. Kirk Hinrich
Chicago selected Kirk Hinrich at No. 7 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. He went on to play 11 seasons across two tenures with the Bulls. During that time, he earned All-Defense recognition, helped the team make eight separate postseason appearances, and thrived on both ends of the floor. More importantly, Hinrich became a fan favorite.
Captain Kirk epitomized the toughness that Bulls fans have come to expect from their teams. He was just as willing to defend a player much bigger than he is as he was open to chasing shooters around screens and staying as close as possible to his man.
In the end, Hinrich recorded more games played, assists, and steals than any Bulls player in history except Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Enough said.
4. Luol Deng
The Bulls agreed to a trade that saw the Phoenix Suns draft Luol Deng at No. 7 overall in 2004 for them. In other words: Deng was drafted by Chicago. Any other interpretation is just a matter of semantics, as Phoenix only “made the pick” for the Bulls. Moving on.
Luol Deng was one of the key pillars of multiple successful chapters in Bulls history. Alongside Gordon and Hinrich, he helped revitalize Chicago by making an instant impact on both ends of the floor. He then co-starred alongside Derrick Rose when the team finished the 2010-11 season at 62-20. Deng’s scoring, defensive versatility, and timely contributions never stopped being essential.
To date, Deng ranks No. 4 in franchise history in scoring, No. 6 in games played, and No. 5 in steals and minutes played. Suffice it to say: He was worth the No. 7 pick.
3. Jimmy Butler
The Bulls landed Jimmy Butler with the final pick of the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. They took a chance on a 22-year-old rookie who had a supposedly limited ceiling and proved that he could be a franchise-altering addition at No. 30. In the end, he became an all-time pick for Chicago.
Butler played six seasons for the Bulls, receiving three of his six career All-Star Game selections during that time. He also earned an All-NBA nod and three of his five All-Defense appearances in Chicago. Throw in the 2014-15 Most Improved Player award and Butler’s evolution was a sight to behold.
What makes him a top-three lock here is that he played for five Bulls playoff teams, including four that he started for. In the process, Butler proved that even the last pick of the first round can produce star-caliber talent.
2. Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah may or may not be a better player than some of those listed behind him, but he’s the clear-cut choice for No. 2. Even putting individual accolades aside, he helped anchor the Bulls’ only Conference Finals run during the post-MJ decades and later kept Chicago afloat while Derrick Rose battled injuries.
Including his accolades, Noah joined Jordan as the only players in franchise history to win Defensive Player of the Year. Noah also earned All-NBA First Team recognition in 2013-14, finishing fourth in MVP voting. More importantly, he helped the Bulls make three more playoff appearances and even record a 50-win campaign after Rose tore his ACL.
A franchise cornerstone and the epitome of the type of mentality that defines Bulls basketball, Noah was more than worth the No. 9 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
1. Derrick Rose
There truthfully wasn’t an option for No. 1 other than Derrick Rose. Rose not only led the Bulls to their highest peak since Jordan retired, but joins the incomparable MJ as the only players in franchise history to win NBA MVP. That alone makes this a fairly easy argument to make.
Yes, questions of what could’ve been will always be prevalent. Even isolating the conversation to what was, however, creates quite a conversation. He led the Bulls to the playoffs as a rookie, winning Rookie of the Year along the way. He guided the team to a 62-win season when he won MVP and a 50-16 record the following year—an even better winning percentage than the 62-win campaign.
Even with the injuries, Rose was a full-time starter for the Bulls during five different trips to the playoffs. That includes their only run to the Conference Finals since Jordan retired.
There’s no debate necessary: Rose is the best draft pick the Bulls have made since Jordan.
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