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1994–95 Chicago Bulls season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

(lost to Magic 2–4)

  • WGN-TV
  • SportsChannel Chicago

The 1994–95 Chicago Bulls season was the 29th season for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association. This was also the team's first season playing at the United Center. During the off-season, the Bulls signed free agents Ron Harper, and Jud Buechler. The Bulls struggled in the first half of the regular season, playing around .500 in winning percentage, as the team held a 23–25 record at the All-Star break.

However, there were rumors that retired All-Star guard Michael Jordan would come out of his retirement to rejoin the team, after an unsuccessful baseball career. The Bulls received a major boost upon Jordan's return, as he faxed a memo that simply said "I'm back." The Bulls won 24 of their final 34 games of the season, and finished in third place in the Central Division with a 47–35 record, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jordan averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 17 games, but only shot just .411 in field-goal percentage. One notable highlight of the regular season was Jordan scoring a season-high of 55 points, in a 113–111 road win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 1995. He also changed his jersey number to #45, but later on changed it back to #23 during the NBA playoffs.

In addition, Scottie Pippen led the team with 21.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, and also with 109 three-point field goals; he was named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Meanwhile, second-year forward Toni Kukoč provided the team with 15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, while B.J. Armstrong provided with 14.0 points per game and 108 three-point field goals, three-point specialist Steve Kerr contributed 8.2 points per game and shot .524 in three-point field goal percentage off the bench, and Will Perdue averaged 8.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Harper played a limited role and only contributed 6.9 points per game, and Luc Longley averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game off the bench.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, Pippen was selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, while Kerr participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the second consecutive year. Pippen finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Jordan finished in eleventh place; Pippen also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Dikembe Mutombo of the Denver Nuggets.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1995 NBA playoffs, the Bulls faced off against the 4th–seeded Charlotte Hornets, who were led by the trio of All-Star center Alonzo Mourning, All-Star forward Larry Johnson, and Muggsy Bogues. The Bulls won Game 1 over the Hornets on the road in overtime, 108–100 at the Charlotte Coliseum, but then lost Game 2 on the road, 106–89. However, the Bulls won the next two games at home, defeating the Hornets in Game 4 at the United Center, 85–84 to win the series in four games.

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion Orlando Magic, who were led by the All-Star trio of Shaquille O'Neal, second-year star Penny Hardaway, and former Bulls forward Horace Grant. With the series tied at 2–2, the Bulls lost Game 5 to the Magic on the road, 103–95 at the Orlando Arena, and then lost Game 6 at the United Center, 108–102, thus losing the series in six games. The Magic would reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but would lose to the 6th-seeded, and defending NBA champion Houston Rockets in a four-game sweep in the 1995 NBA Finals.

The Bulls finished second in the NBA in home-game attendance behind the Hornets, with an attendance of 926,218 at the United Center during the regular season. Following the season, Armstrong was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Toronto Raptors expansion team, while Perdue was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, and Pete Myers was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1994 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege / Team
121Dickey SimpkinsPFUnited StatesProvidence
249Kris BrutonSFUnited StatesBenedict

Roster

  • Phil Jackson
  • Jim Cleamons
  • Jimmy Rodgers
  • Tex Winter

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 1 | November 4 | Charlotte | W 89–83 | Scottie Pippen (22) | Will Perdue (12) | Ron Harper (6) | United Center 22,313 | 1–0 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 5 | Washington | L 100–99 (OT) | Scottie Pippen (29) | Scottie Pippen (14) | Scottie Pippen (6) | United Center 22,186 | 1–1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 3 | November 7 | Philadelphia | W 98–83 | Toni Kukoč (28) | Scottie Pippen (10) | Scottie Pippen (5) | United Center 22,122 | 2–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 9 | @ New Jersey | L 110–109 | Scottie Pippen (28) | Will Perdue (9) | Scottie Pippen (6) | Brendan Byrne Arena 20,049 | 2–2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 5 | November 11 | @ Minnesota | W 112–100 | Scottie Pippen (22) | Perdue, Pippen (8) | Kukoč, Pippen (5) | Target Center 15,109 | 3–2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 12 | Dallas | L 124–120 | Scottie Pippen (26) | Will Perdue (12) | Scottie Pippen (5) | United Center 22,195 | 3–3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 7 | November 16 | @ San Antonio | W 94–92 | Ron Harper (27) | Scottie Pippen (7) | Scottie Pippen (9) | Alamodome 16,059 | 4–3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 17 | @ Houston | L 106–83 | Scottie Pippen (15) | Pippen, Wennington (6) | Scottie Pippen (6) | The Summit 16,199 | 4–4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 9 | November 19 | @ Dallas | W 111–85 | Scottie Pippen (36) | Scottie Pippen (14) | Toni Kukoč (5) | Reunion Arena 17,502 | 5–4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 10 | November 22 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 105–93 | Ron Harper (21) | Scottie Pippen (8) | Scottie Pippen (10) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 9,080 | 6–4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 | November 23 | @ Denver | L 113–111 | Scottie Pippen (29) | Foster, Wennington (6) | B.J. Armstrong (5) | McNichols Sports Arena 17,171 | 6–5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 25 | @ Utah | L 124–94 | Scottie Pippen (15) | Dickey Simpkins (7) | Armstrong, Pippen (4) | Delta Center 19,911 | 6–6 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 13 | November 30 | @ Phoenix | W 118–105 | Scottie Pippen (35) | Scottie Pippen (9) | Myers, Pippen (6) | America West Arena 22,414 | 7–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 22 12 Noon CST | Houston | W 100–81 | Armstrong (20) | Perdue (11) | Pippen (6) | United Center 22,647 | 20–19 |- align="center" |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb"

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 28 | @ Charlotte | W 108–100 (OT) | Michael Jordan (48) | Michael Jordan (9) | Toni Kukoč (9) | Charlotte Coliseum 23,859 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 30 | @ Charlotte | L 89–106 | Michael Jordan (32) | Scottie Pippen (8) | Michael Jordan (7) | Charlotte Coliseum 23,859 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 2 | Charlotte | W 103–80 | Michael Jordan (25) | Jordan, Perdue (6) | Scottie Pippen (9) | United Center 24,114 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 4 | Charlotte | W 85–84 | Jordan, Pippen (24) | Toni Kukoč (11) | Scottie Pippen (6) | United Center 24,221

3–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
1
May 7
@ Orlando
L 91–94
Michael Jordan (19)
Scottie Pippen (10)
Jordan, Pippen (7)
Orlando Arena
16,010
0–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
2
May 10
@ Orlando
W 104–94
Michael Jordan (38)
Kukoč, Perdue (8)
Scottie Pippen (5)
Orlando Arena
16,010
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
3
May 12
Orlando
L 101–110
Michael Jordan (40)
Scottie Pippen (12)
Toni Kukoč (7)
United Center
24,281
1–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
4
May 14
Orlando
W 106–95
Michael Jordan (26)
Jordan, Pippen (7)
Toni Kukoč (9)
United Center
24,358
2–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
5
May 16
@ Orlando
L 95–103
Michael Jordan (39)
Scottie Pippen (11)
Toni Kukoč (6)
Orlando Arena
16,010
2–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
6
May 18
Orlando
L 102–108
Scottie Pippen (26)
Scottie Pippen (12)
Michael Jordan (7)
United Center
24,322
2–4
-

Player statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
{{sort}}B.J. Armstrong**82****82**31.4.468.427.8842.33.01.00.1
Corie Blount68913.1.476.000.5673.50.90.40.53.5
Jud Buechler57010.6.492.313.5641.70.90.40.23.8
Jo Jo English8015.9.385.250.7690.40.90.90.15.4
Greg Foster17317.6.477.000.7103.20.90.10.56.1
Ron Harper775319.9.426.282.6182.32.01.30.46.9
Michael Jordan1717**39.3**.411.500.8016.9**5.3**1.80.8**26.9**
Steve Kerr**82**022.4.527**.524**.7781.51.80.50.08.2
Larry Krystkowiak191415.1.389.000**.900**3.11.40.50.14.4
Toni Kukoč815531.9.504.313.7485.44.61.30.215.7
Luc Longley55018.2.447.000.8224.81.30.40.86.5
Pete Myers711417.9.415.256.6142.02.10.80.24.5
Will Perdue787820.4**.553**.000.5826.71.20.30.78.0
Scottie Pippen797938.2.480.345.716**8.1**5.2**2.9****1.1**21.4
Dickey Simpkins5959.9.424.000.6942.60.60.20.13.5
Bill Wennington73113.1.492.000.8102.60.50.30.25.0

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
{{sort}}B.J. Armstrong**10****10**28.8.456.448.8181.82.70.60.0
Corie Blount802.5.000.000.0000.60.00.00.00.0
Jud Buechler**10**010.4.429.000.5002.00.50.40.32.0
Ron Harper606.7.429.000.0001.00.70.50.22.0
Michael Jordan**10****10****42.0**.484.367.8106.54.5**2.3****1.4****31.5**
Steve Kerr**10**019.3.475.421**1.000**0.61.50.10.05.1
Toni Kukoč**10****10**37.2.477.438.6926.85.71.00.213.8
Luc Longley**10**820.4.480.000.8003.21.10.70.55.6
Pete Myers908.8.357**.500**.3331.10.90.40.11.4
Will Perdue**10**217.6**.514**.000.5714.80.60.10.35.0
Scottie Pippen**10****10**39.6.443.368.676**8.6****5.8**1.41.017.8
Bill Wennington**10**013.3.412.000**1.000**2.80.30.30.34.8

Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

  • Scottie Pippen, All-NBA First Team
  • Scottie Pippen, NBA All-Defensive First Team

NBA All-Star Game

  • Scottie Pippen, Forward

References

References

  1. "1994-95 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats".
  2. (September 7, 1994). "A Closer Look Inside the United Center". Chicago Tribune.
  3. Araton, Harvey. (November 2, 1994). "Sports of the Times; Air Time, Live from Chicago". The New York Times.
  4. Farber, Michael. (November 7, 1994). "CENTRAL: Believe It or Not, Larry Brown Is Getting Comfortable in Indiana; Which Means the Pacers Will Settle in Atop the Division Standings".
  5. (September 18, 1994). "PRO BASKETBALL; Harper Slips Past Knicks to Join Bulls". The New York Times.
  6. Baker, Chris. (September 17, 1994). "Clippers Beaten Again as Harper Joins the Bulls: Pro Basketball: Chicago Signs Free-Agent Guard for Estimated $2 Million Per Season". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Smith, Sam. (September 17, 1994). "Bulls Sign Harper". Chicago Tribune.
  8. (September 30, 1994). "Transactions". The New York Times.
  9. "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference.
  10. Araton, Harvey. (March 10, 1995). "BASKETBALL; Jordan Keeping the Basketball World in Suspense". The New York Times.
  11. Berkow, Ira. (March 19, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Jordan Show Is Returning to the Air Today". The New York Times.
  12. Heisler, Mark. (March 19, 1995). "Air Jordan's Return Flight Home: "I'm Back": Sports: Fans Cheer as Chicago Bulls Announce End to Superstar's Retirement. Nike, Other Stocks Rose in What Was Dubbed "$2-Billion Rumor"". Los Angeles Times.
  13. Aldridge, David. (March 19, 1995). ""I'm Back"". The Washington Post.
  14. "1994–95 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  15. "1994–95 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  16. Brown, Clifton. (March 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking Like Mike Again, Jordan Beats Knicks". The New York Times.
  17. Steele, David. (March 29, 1995). "In Game 5, Jordan In Gear, Scoring 55 Against Knicks". Los Angeles Times.
  18. "Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks Box Score, March 28, 1995". Basketball-Reference.
  19. Heisler, Mark. (May 11, 1995). "Look, Up in the Sky, It's No. 23 Getting Even with Magic: NBA Playoffs: Jordan Changes Uniforms and Scores 38 Points to Lead Bulls to 104-94 Victory". Los Angeles Times.
  20. Wise, Mike. (May 12, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Cost of Jordan Switch Is $25,000 and on Rise". The New York Times.
  21. Justice, Richard. (May 12, 1995). "Numbers Cruncher: Jordan, Bulls Fined". The Washington Post.
  22. Cotton, Anthony. (February 12, 1995). "New-Age NBA Reaches for the Stars". The Washington Post.
  23. (September 13, 2021). "1995 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
  24. "1995 NBA All-Star Game: West 139, East 112". Basketball-Reference.
  25. (February 11, 1995). "Basketball". The Tuscaloosa News.
  26. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  27. Howard-Cooper, Scott. (May 24, 1995). "It's a Slam Dunk: Robinson Wins MVP: Pro Basketball: Spurs' Center Receives 73 First-Place Votes to 12 for Magic's O'Neal". Los Angeles Times.
  28. "1994–95 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  29. (May 2, 1995). "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Mutombo Honored". The New York Times.
  30. Wise, Mike. (May 5, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Bulls Gain as Hornets Miss Twice at the End". The New York Times.
  31. Dillman, Lisa. (May 5, 1995). "Hornets Can't Catch the Bulls at Four and Bow Out: NBA Playoffs: Charlotte Misses Two Last-Second Shots, and Chicago Advances with 85-84 Victory". Los Angeles Times.
  32. "1995 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Bulls vs. Hornets". Basketball-Reference.
  33. Wise, Mike. (May 19, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Bulls Burst in the Air as Magic Moves On". The New York Times.
  34. Heisler, Mark. (May 19, 1995). "NBA PLAYOFFS: Orlando Walking on Air: Eastern Conference: Magic Scores Last 14 Points to Eliminate Bulls, 108-102. Flu-Bitten Jordan Can't Rally Team". Los Angeles Times.
  35. "1995 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Bulls vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference.
  36. Brown, Clifton. (June 15, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Sweep to 2d Straight Championship". The New York Times.
  37. Howard-Cooper, Scott. (June 15, 1995). "NBA FINALS: Two-Ring Circus Hits Houston: Pro Basketball: Olajuwon (who else?) Is MVP Again After Leading Rockets to Sweep of Magic". Los Angeles Times.
  38. "1995 NBA Finals: Rockets vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference.
  39. "1994–95 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
  40. Wise, Mike. (June 25, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27". The New York Times.
  41. Heisler, Mark. (June 25, 1995). "Armstrong Becomes Top Expansion Pick: NBA: Raptors Take Guard from Bulls. Massenburg Also Headed to Toronto, While Lakers Lose Harvey to Vancouver". Los Angeles Times.
  42. "1995 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  43. Brown, Clifton. (October 3, 1995). "Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt from Spurs to the Bulls". The New York Times.
  44. (October 3, 1995). "Bulls Take a Chance on Rodman: Pro Basketball: Controversial Forward Is Traded from San Antonio for Will Perdue". Los Angeles Times.
  45. Gano, Rick. (October 3, 1995). "Bulls Acquire Rodman from Spurs". The Washington Post.
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