On Jan 12 2023, the Chicago Bulls decided it was past time they honored the “Greatest team in history”, the 95/96’ Chicago Bulls.
At halftime of an NBA regular season game between the Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors, veterans of the team, including players, coaches, and even general staff, walked out and sat in a row of chairs in the center of the court. The ceremony commenced with Ray Clay, announcer for the Bulls during the time, reading off a short introduction of the teams’ accomplishments, what they were celebrating, and why it was created; to honor what is considered to this day to be the greatest team in the history of the NBA.
Many basketball fans felt that this ceremony was a long time coming, and it was a great way for the franchise to honor the players who established a legacy for years to come.
“The Chicago Bulls teams during the 1990s are some of the best in NBA history,” College basketball player and basketball fan Liam Graham said. “Their greatness deserves to be appreciated for generations, and the Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony is a perfect way to do so.”
However, many would be quick to disagree after the event itself occurred. There were 13 player inductees in the class, including the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman; Unfortunately, none of the names just listed made it to the ceremony, sparking tons of controversy. However, even the opposing coach for the game Steve Kerr showed out for the ceremony, as he was a part of the Bulls dynasty, leaving his coaching staff to debrief the trailing Warriors in the locker room. Hall of Famer and former NBA star Charles Barkley even went so far as to say that it was “a complete disgrace to the legacy of the Chicago Bulls…That hurt my heart watching that thing”.
It wasn’t just the fact that the three players widely considered to be the most influential during the teams’ dominant era in the NBA couldn’t make it out, which is speculated to be due to a personal “beef” between some players. It was what happened during the ceremony itself that led people to believe that it was a complete disaster.
As the ceremony progressed, and it came turn to induct the late Jerry Krause, former general manager of the Bulls who was being represented by his widow Thelma, a shattering booing noise came from the crowd. This brought Thelma to tears, having to be comforted by players around her.
Sports personality Chris Mannix made a post on X, stating “This has to be one of the more embarrassing moments in Chicago sports. Jerry Krause, whatever you think of how the Bulls dynasty ended, built a six-time champion. Worthy of this honor tenfold. Disgraceful to boo while his distraught widow watches on”.
However, there were some positive moments during the ceremony. When it came turn for legendary coach Phil Jackson to be inducted, a deafening roar of cheers and applause erupted from the Bulls’ audience. The rest of the inductees received their applause and cheers, and the game commenced once again after halftime.
The game itself ended with a Warriors victory, with a final score of 140-131. Although forward DeMar DeRozan finished the game with 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, as well as 25 points from both Coby White and Zach Levine, it wouldn’t be enough for the Bulls to pull through, leaving their record to 17-21 on the season, which places them ninth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Although the ceremony was a great idea in theory, it turned out, for many, to be a failure. However, this officially set in stone how incredible of a franchise the Bulls were in the 90s, if that wasn’t established already. The Bulls franchise has, like all of the others, been riddled with controversy, but it is safe to say the holes have certainly been filled by their successes.
