1991–92 Chicago Bulls season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Bulls' 26th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Bulls entered the season as defending NBA champions, having defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals in five games, and winning their first NBA championship in franchise history. The 1991-92 Bulls team are widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time. Early into the season, the Bulls traded Dennis Hopson to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Bob Hansen after the first two games.[2][3] Coming off their first ever championship, the Bulls had a very successful season winning 14 consecutive games after a 1–2 start to the season.[4] They later on posted a 13-game winning streak in January, which led them to a 37–5 start,[5] and held a 39–9 record at the All-Star break.[6] The Bulls finished in first place in the Central Division, along with having the best record in the league at 67–15.[7]

Michael Jordan captured his second straight Most Valuable Player of the Year award,[8][9][10][11] and sixth straight scoring title, averaging 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while being named to the All-NBA First Team. In addition, Scottie Pippen averaged 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and was selected to the All-NBA Second Team, while Horace Grant provided the team with 14.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and B.J. Armstrong contributed 9.9 points and 3.2 assists per game off the bench.[12] Jordan and Pippen were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, with head coach Phil Jackson coaching the Eastern Conference.[13][14] Pippen also finished in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Jordan and Pippen both finished tied in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[15] Jackson finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting,[16] and three-point specialist Craig Hodges won the Three-Point Shootout for the third consecutive year during the All-Star Weekend in Orlando.[17][18]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bulls swept the Miami Heat in three straight games after Jordan scored 56 points in a 119–114 road win in Game 3.[19][20][21] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they faced the New York Knicks, who were led by Patrick Ewing and coached by Pat Riley. The Bulls would lose Game 1 at home, 94–89,[22][23] but managed to win the next two games, then take a 3–2 series lead until the Knicks won Game 6 at home, 100–86.[24][25] The Bulls won Game 7 at home, 110–81 to win the series in seven games.[26][27][28][29] As they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, they faced the 3rd-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite a 26-point home loss in Game 2, 107–81,[30][31] the Bulls would win the series in six games,[32][33][34][35] and make their second straight trip to the Finals.

In the 1992 NBA Finals, they would go on to beat Clyde Drexler, and the Portland Trail Blazers four games to two to win their second consecutive championship, and second of three straight.[36][37][38][39][40] Following the season, Hodges and Hansen were both released to free agency.[41]