NBA
OTD in 1996: Chicago Bulls Capped Off the Greatest NBA Season Ever
June 16, 1996: Chicago Bulls defeated the Supersonics in the NBA Finals, capping off their historic 72-10 record-setting season
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Of all Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s accomplishments together, the most impressive may have been their 1995-96 72-10 season. At the time, it was the most regular-season wins ever recorded, an achievement surpassed 20 years later by Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, coached by former Bull Steve Kerr himself.
Those Warriors, however, were unable to win the championship, suffering a catastrophic Finals collapse against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers after the blowing the first 3-1 series lead in NBA Finals history. Chicago made no such blunder during their record-setting season. They lost only a single game on the way to the Finals where they would take on the George Karl-coached Seattle Supersonics.
THE 72-WIN CHICAGO BULLS CAPPED OFF THE GREATEST SEASON IN NBA HISTORY
In just his first full season after coming out of retirement, Michael Jordan provided the Bulls with an MVP season and led them to a historic record-setting 72 regular-season wins. This would not have been possible without his HOF teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, the latter of who had just joined the squad after a tumultuous time in San Antonio. Some doubted if the former Bad Boy Piston would be able to mesh with his old rivals, but such worries proved to be frivolous.
Together they tore through the regular season, dominated the playoffs, and showed out against an impressive Seattle Supersonics team. The Bulls set the tone in the Finals with a 17-point blowout in Game 1 and went on to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead without even needing any legendary performances from MJ (31 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.0 APG).
Shawn Kemp and Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton pushed the Supersonics to Game 4 and 5 victories to avoid the sweep, but no team ever took Jordan seven games in the Finals and Seattle would not be the first. The Bulls won Game 6 on their home floor, winning their fourth Championship in the last six seasons. Michael Jordan would be awarded his NBA record fourth Finals MVP, a total that would increase to six by his second retirement that still stands as the record today.
June 16, 1996: Led by Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, & Scottie Pippen, the #Bulls defeated Seattle 87-75 in Game 6 to clinch their 4th title in 6 years to cap off a historic 72-10 season. Jordan’s 4th Finals MVP award set a new record that stands today (6)https://t.co/RG3kSPB657
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 16, 2021
The best of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls who are largely considered the best NBA team of all-time pic.twitter.com/MfFNQJBi4l
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) June 16, 2021
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