How the Greatest NBA Franchise Became the Worst (Chicago Bulls)

[TMC]

The once greatest franchise in the NBA has now become the worst.

Chapters:

• 00:00 - From Respect to Pity
• 03:13 - Derrick Rose Era
• 13:47 - Jimmy Butler Era
• 18:56 - Zach Lavine Era
• 25:41 - Self Inflicted Problems

The Chicago Bulls acquired Zach LaVine back in 2017...from the Jimmy Butler trade. He quickly developed into an All-Star, but the franchise has failed to build around him successfully - with bad trades, draft prospects not panning out, and an incompetent front office.

The last NBA Finals appearance and championship of the Chicago Bulls happened more than 25 years ago during the Michael Jordan era. A combination of bad front-office hiring and lousy player evaluations contributed to the once-legendary franchise being mediocre these days. But the reason why the most heralded team of the 90s is relegated to poor and average finishes nowadays is due to upper management's past actions and inactions.

When the game's best player and best coach leave you in the same offseason, the only way to go is down. Fast.

In 1998, the Chicago Bulls won yet another championship: an incredible SECOND three-peat for the team built by Jerry Krause, coached by Phil Jackson, and led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. But for all their glory, the team was in disarray. When the deeply disgruntled Jackson left town, Jordan followed him, and Krause was left to pick up the pieces.

... and by "pick up the pieces," we mean swiftly hurl all the pieces into the abyss and start rebuilding from scratch. But rebuilding, it turns out, isn't always easy.

This is the story of how the Bulls followed one of the NBA's most impressive peaks with a valley just as impressive in its steepness and depth. This is the rapid collapse of one of history's greatest teams.

Who do you think was the most to blame for the Chicago Bulls dynasty coming to an end in 1998?

Chicago Bulls were dismantled systematically to satisfy a couple of raging egos. A decade's worth of domination purposely, coldly disassembled in a handful of days.

[AMackII]

The Chicago Bulls have not been the same elite after the 6th NBA Championship back in 1998 but their slow start of the 2023-24 season doesn’t made sense.