1996 NBA Finals and Related Topics

Scottie Pippen accumulated 2 triple-doubles and 4 double-doubles in November 1995.

1995–96 Chicago Bulls season

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The Bulls' 30th season in the National Basketball Association.

They then defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 4–2 in the 1996 NBA Finals, winning their fourth NBA title in six seasons.

Michael Jordan

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American businessman and former professional basketball player.

Jordan in training with the Scottsdale Scorpions in 1994

Plaque at the United Center that chronicles Jordan's career achievements

Jordan as a member of the Washington Wizards, April 14, 2003

James Worthy, Jordan, and Dean Smith in 2007 at a North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball game honoring the 1957 and 1982 men's basketball teams

Jordan receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama at the White House

Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the 1993–94 NBA season to play Minor League Baseball but returned to the Bulls in March 1995 and led them to three more championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as a then-record 72 regular season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season.

1995–96 NBA season

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The 50th season of the National Basketball Association , though the 50th anniversary was not celebrated until the following season.

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals to win their fourth championship.

1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics season

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The 28th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association.

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they swept the 5th-seeded and reigning champions Houston Rockets in four straight games to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they defeated the Utah Jazz in seven games to reach their first NBA Finals since 1979.

Chicago Bulls

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American professional basketball team based in Chicago.

Michael Jordan was drafted third overall by the Bulls in 1984. He won six championships and six Finals MVPs for Chicago.

Michael Jordan v Los Angeles Lakers at the 1991 NBA Finals

Bulls head coach Phil Jackson consulting Michael Jordan in 1997

Luol Deng made his first All-Star appearance with the team in 2012 and his second in 2013.

Joakim Noah was drafted by the Bulls in 2007. He was named an All Star for the first time in 2013 and for the second time in 2014.

Derrick Rose was drafted first overall by the Bulls in 2008. He was the 2010–11 NBA MVP.

Tom Thibodeau coached the Bulls to 62 wins in his first season.

Fred Hoiberg was the 22nd head coach in the franchise's history.

The team triumphed over the Miami Heat in the first round, the New York Knicks in the second round, the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals and finally Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and the Seattle SuperSonics for their fourth title.

Dennis Rodman

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American former professional basketball player.

The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls. Rodman wrote history in the 1996 NBA Finals when he twice secured 11 offensive rebounds in this building, tying an all-time NBA record.

In 2005, Rodman played for Torpan Pojat of Finland's basketball league, the Korisliiga.

Rodman with Donald Trump for Celebrity Apprentice

In the 1996 playoffs, Rodman scored 7.5 points and grabbed 13.7 rebounds per game and had a large part in the six-game victory against the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals: in Game Two at home in the Bulls' United Center, he grabbed 20 rebounds, among them a record-tying 11 offensive boards, and in Game Six, again at the United Center, the power forward secured 19 rebounds and again 11 offensive boards, scored five points in a decisive 12–2 Bulls run, unnerved opposing power forward Shawn Kemp and caused Seattle coach George Karl to say: "As you evaluate the series, Dennis Rodman won two basketball games. We controlled Dennis Rodman for four games. But Game 2 and tonight, he was the reason they were successful."

Gary Payton

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American former professional basketball player who played the point guard position.

Payton (left) during his stint with the Lakers

Payton playing in the NBA Asia Challenge 2010 in the Philippines

In 1996, Payton and the SuperSonics, under coach George Karl, reached the NBA Finals after winning a franchise record 64 games and lost in six games to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.

Kerr coaching the Golden State Warriors in 2019

Steve Kerr

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American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

However, with Jordan back full-time for the 1995–96 season, the Bulls set a then-NBA record of 72–10 and defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals.

Karl coaching the Denver Nuggets in 2011

George Karl

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American former professional basketball coach and player.

While he never won an NBA championship, Karl made the postseason 22 times with five different teams, which included a trip to the 1996 NBA Finals with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Luc Longley

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Australian professional basketball coach and former player.

Longley most notably played for the Chicago Bulls, with whom he won three championships from 1996 to 1998.

A report on 1996 NBA Finals

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