Fansided

Power ranking Michael Jordan’s Bulls teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images
Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images /
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Michael Jordan
Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP/Getty Images /

5. 1997-98 Chicago Bulls

  • 62-20 record (.756)
  • +7.1 point differential
  • 107.7 offensive rating
  • 99.8 defensive rating
  • +7.9 net rating
  • 15-6 playoff record (.714)

One of MJ’s most legendary moments came from this season, but the reason there’s so much great material here for a docuseries like The Last Dance is that it was also quite a tumultuous campaign — even for a 62-win team that went on to win it all.

Between the speculation over Jordan playing his final season, Phil Jackson‘s future looking uncertain due to his relationship with owner Jerry Krause, Scottie Pippen not getting the contract extension he wanted and the sheer amount of ego and personality on hand, it was honestly impressive what this Bulls squad accomplished.

In MJ’s age-34 season, he won his fifth and final MVP award, and although many believed Karl Malone‘s superior individual numbers on a Utah Jazz team that also won 62 games made him more deserving, the GOAT backed it up in the Finals, most notably with his Game 6 steal on the Mailman that led to “The Shot” (Part 2) to close the series out.

Capping off a second three-peat is no easy feat for a dynasty on its last legs, which is why these Bulls’ metrics are on the lower side compared to their other championship seasons. But even with a more mundane 15-6 playoff record, it’s hard not to be nostalgic about this group, especially with the way it fought through so much adversity to come out on top … and the fact that Pippen didn’t even play his first game of the season until January due to a foot injury.

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