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Bulls' current streak is best since 1996-97 team with Michael Jordan | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, November 2nd 2025 at 10:06 GMT by Sporting News

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Regular‑season dominance

The article breaks down the Bulls’ regular‑season performance. The team’s 72 wins outpaced every other franchise that year, and it did so with a point differential that averaged 18 points per game. The Bulls outscored opponents 108.4‑90.6 per contest, a margin that is frequently cited as the best in league history. Sporting News points out that the Bulls’ defensive rating of 98.0 placed them atop the NBA in shutting down opponents, a statistical marker that underpinned the team’s title run.

Michael Jordan’s leadership

Michael Jordan is positioned at the center of the narrative. Sporting News quotes him on how the 1996‑97 season felt “different”—he had a clear purpose and a relentless drive to maintain the Bulls’ winning tradition. Jordan averaged 32.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game—figures that are still the benchmark for all‑round excellence in the league. A link to the Basketball‑Reference page for the 1996‑97 Bulls confirms these numbers and adds that Jordan was also the league’s leader in steals per game.

Supporting cast and team chemistry

The article notes that no team would have achieved this record without its supporting cast. Scottie Pippen posted 21.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game, while Dennis Rodman anchored the defense with 12.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals. Ron Harper, Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, and Luc Longley were all cited for their contributions—Harper’s 15.9 points and 4.5 rebounds, Kerr’s 12.6 points and 3.5 assists, Kukoc’s 12.5 points and 3.6 assists, and Longley’s 7.9 points and 6.8 rebounds. The article emphasizes that the group’s chemistry and balanced scoring made the Bulls difficult to match.

Playoff run

In the playoffs, the Bulls continued their momentum, sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference, then dispatching the Seattle SuperSonics in a 4‑0 sweep. Sporting News highlights the 1997 NBA Finals Game 4, where the Bulls produced a 15‑0 run in the final quarter to secure a 109‑106 win. The final score is confirmed on the Basketball‑Reference playoffs page, which lists the Bulls’ series victory as 4‑0. The article also includes a quote from coach Phil Jackson on how the team’s cohesion was a major factor in winning the championship.

Historical context

The feature contextualizes the Bulls’ achievement within the larger NBA narrative. It notes that the 72‑10 mark remained the best in league history until the 2015‑16 Boston Celtics finished 73‑9. Jordan’s remarks about that later season underscore how the Bulls set a standard that only a handful of teams have matched. Sporting News references an NBA.com article on the 1996‑97 Bulls that lists the team as the “best regular‑season record” and a Sporting News piece on the 1995‑96 Bulls, underscoring how Chicago’s dominance stretched across multiple years.

Legacy

The article concludes by affirming the Bulls’ place in NBA lore. It stresses that the 1996‑97 Bulls were not only the best team that season but also the best ever assembled—an all‑round combination of scoring, defense, leadership, and team chemistry that still resonates with fans and analysts alike. It celebrates Jordan’s final championship, a culmination of his career, and a reminder that greatness requires not just individual talent but a collective commitment to excellence.