The Chicago B ulls are a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago , Illinois . The Bulls are a professional basketball team and one of eight teams in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball (NBA). The Bulls play in the United Center in Chicago , Illinois and wear jerseys of black and white. The Chicago Bulls are the third NBA team in Chicago , after the Packers, Zephyrs and the Stags. The Franchise began play for the 1966-67 seasons, and immediately posted the best record by an expansion team in NBA history, qualifying for the playoffs. From the 1975-76 season to 1983-84 season, the Bulls had limited success, recording only two winning marks, qualifying for the postseason only twice and winning only one playoff series. A 27-55 win-loss record during the 1983-84 season gave Chicago rights to the third pick 1984 NBA draft. The franchise selected Michael Jordan, who had an instant impact on the team. Michael Jordan won the NBA rookie of the year award, averaging 28.2 points per game and helping the Bulls reach the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
Michael Jordan would go on to redefine the game and rewrite its record books, establishing himself as arguably the greatest NBA player of all time. By th e 1990-91 season the Bulls recorded a franchise record 61 wins, and went into the playoffs where they swept the Pistons in the conference finals and won the Finals in five over the Magic Johnson-led Lakers on June 12, 1991 . Michael Jordan won regular season MVP and Finals MVP to go with his fifth straight scoring title. This marked the beginning of a new period of success for Chicago ; they culminated in three straight NBA titles (1991-1993). Jordan retired in 1993 after the death of his father, but after he returned to the Bulls in 1995, he team won three more NBA championships in 1996-1998. The Chicago has won six NBA championships, six Conference titles and seven Division titles. Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman are other notable players to play for the Bulls. During the 2004 0ff-season, John Paxson traded a 2005 draft pick to the Phoenix Suns in return for additional pick in the 2004 draft. He used the picks to select guard Ben Gordon and forward Luol Deng in the first round and Duke Point guard Chris Duhon in the second. The Bulls began to show signs of improvement, relying on solid performances by their four rookies and by Hinrich, Chandler, and Curry in the 2004-05 season. The Chicago Bulls finished the regular season with the 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference and clinched their first playoff berth since 1998 with a 110-97 win over the Toronto Raptors.
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