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1994–95 Chicago Bulls season

The 1994–95 NBA season was the Bulls' 29th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] This was also the team's first season playing at the United Center.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the Bulls signed free agents Ron Harper,[5][6][7] and Jud Buechler.[8] The Bulls struggled in the first half of the season with a 23–25 record at the All-Star break.[9] 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.[10] The Bulls received a major boost upon Jordan's return, as he faxed a memo that simply said "I'm back."[11][12][13][14][15] The Bulls won 24 of their final 34 games, and finished the season with a 47–35 record, going 13–4 with Jordan back in the lineup. The Bulls finished third in the Central Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference.[16]

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.[17] One notable highlight of the season was Jordan scoring a season-high of 55 points in a 113–111 road win over the New York Knicks on March 28, 1995.[18][19][20][21][22] He also changed his jersey number to #45, but later on changed it back to #23 during the playoffs.[23][24][25][26][27]

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. He was named to the All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game.[28][29][30][31] 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, 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, who usually averaged around 20 points per game with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers, only averaged just 6.9 points per game with the Bulls this season.[17] Pippen also finished in seventh place in Most Valuable Player voting,[32] and in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[33][34][35]

The Bulls defeated the 4th-seeded Charlotte Hornets three games to one in the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1995 NBA Playoffs,[36][37][38][39] but would eventually lose in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals to the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic in six games.[40][41][42][43] The Magic eventually went to the NBA Finals, but were unable to stop the 6th-seeded and eventual two-time NBA Champion Houston Rockets, as they were swept in four straight hard-fought games.[44][45][46][47][48]

Following the season, Armstrong was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Toronto Raptors,[49][50][51][52][53] while Perdue was traded to the San Antonio Spurs,[54][55][56] and Pete Myers was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player statistics

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Regular Season

Playoffs

[17]

Awards and records

NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

References

  1. ^ "1994-95 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats".
  2. ^ "A Closer Look Inside the United Center". Chicago Tribune. September 7, 1994. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  3. ^ Araton, Harvey (November 2, 1994). "Sports of the Times; Air Time, Live from Chicago". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  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". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Harper Slips Past Knicks to Join Bulls". The New York Times. September 18, 1994. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  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. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  7. ^ Smith, Sam (September 17, 1994). "Bulls Sign Harper". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. September 30, 1994. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  10. ^ Araton, Harvey (March 10, 1995). "BASKETBALL; Jordan Keeping the Basketball World in Suspense". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  11. ^ Berkow, Ira (March 19, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; The Jordan Show Is Returning to the Air Today". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  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. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  13. ^ Papajohn, George (March 19, 1995). "Fans Roused from What Was, at Times, a Hoop Nightmare". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  14. ^ Aldridge, David (March 19, 1995). "'I'm Back'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  15. ^ ""I'm Back": His Airness Makes It Official: He's Returning for Today's Game VS. Pacers". Deseret News. Associated Press. March 19, 1995. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "1994–95 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "1994–95 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Brown, Clifton (March 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking Like Mike Again, Jordan Beats Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  19. ^ Steele, David (March 29, 1995). "In Game 5, Jordan In Gear, Scoring 55 Against Knicks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Wilbon, Michael (March 29, 1995). "At the Garden, Jordan Comes Into Full Bloom". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (March 29, 1995). "For MJ, the Past Is Now". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  22. ^ "Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks Box Score, March 28, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  23. ^ 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. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  24. ^ Wise, Mike (May 12, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Cost of Jordan Switch Is $25,000 and on Rise". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  25. ^ Justice, Richard (May 12, 1995). "Numbers Cruncher: Jordan, Bulls Fined". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  26. ^ Hutton, Mike (May 12, 1995). "Numbers Game Stirs Chaos in Jersey Game". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  27. ^ Thomas, Mike (May 10, 2020). "Nick Anderson: "Michael Jordan in No. 45 Isn't the Same Michael Jordan in No. 23"". Sportscasting. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  28. ^ Landman, Brian (February 11, 1995). "Will Shaq's Return Bring Double Trouble?". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  29. ^ Cotton, Anthony (February 12, 1995). "New-Age NBA Reaches for the Stars". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "1995 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  31. ^ "1995 NBA All-Star Game: West 139, East 112". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  32. ^ 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. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  33. ^ "1994–95 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  34. ^ "Mutombo Named NBA Defensive Player of the Year". United Press International. May 1, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  35. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Mutombo Honored". The New York Times. May 2, 1995. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  36. ^ Wise, Mike (May 5, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Bulls Gain as Hornets Miss Twice at the End". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  37. ^ 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. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  38. ^ Deardorff, Julie (May 5, 1995). "Charlotte Looks Back to Future". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  39. ^ "1995 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Bulls vs. Hornets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  40. ^ Wise, Mike (May 19, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Bulls Burst in the Air as Magic Moves On". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  41. ^ 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. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  42. ^ Smith, Sam (May 19, 1995). "Bulls Vanish with a Whimper". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  43. ^ "1995 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals: Bulls vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  44. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Sweep to 2d Straight Championship". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  45. ^ 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. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  46. ^ Justice, Richard (June 15, 1995). "Rockets' Sweep Finishes Magic Season". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  47. ^ Guest, Larry (June 15, 1995). "Magic Are the Main Entree at This Friendly Texas Barbecue". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  48. ^ "1995 NBA Finals: Rockets vs. Magic". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  49. ^ Wise, Mike (June 25, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  50. ^ 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. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  51. ^ Smith, Sam (June 25, 1995). "Toronto Picks Armstrong; May Not Trade Him". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  52. ^ "NBA Expansion Draft -- Point Guards Are Top Priority for Young Raptors, Grizzlies". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1995. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  53. ^ "1995 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  54. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 3, 1995). "Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt from Spurs to the Bulls". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  55. ^ "Bulls Take a Chance on Rodman: Pro Basketball: Controversial Forward Is Traded from San Antonio for Will Perdue". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. October 3, 1995. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  56. ^ Gano, Rick (October 3, 1995). "Bulls Acquire Rodman from Spurs". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 3, 2022.