1997–98 Chicago Bulls season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Bulls' 32nd season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Bulls entered the season as the two-time defending NBA champions, where they defeated the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals in six games, winning their fifth NBA championship. During the offseason, the Bulls acquired Scott Burrell from the Golden State Warriors. Without All-Star forward Scottie Pippen for the first half of the season due to a foot injury sustained from the 1997 NBA Finals,[2] the Bulls played around .500 with a 9–7 record in November. However, Pippen would eventually return as the Bulls posted a 13-game winning streak between March and April, as they finished first place in the Central Division with a 62–20 record. In the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the New Jersey Nets 3–0 in the first round, the Charlotte Hornets 4–1 in the semifinals, and then the Indiana Pacers 4–3 in the Conference Finals en route to advance to the NBA Finals. In the Finals, they met the Utah Jazz in a rematch from last year's NBA Finals and just like last year, they would go on to defeat the Jazz in six games to win the championship. The championship was their sixth in eight years and completed the franchise's second "3-peat".

1997–98 Chicago Bulls season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachPhil Jackson
OwnersJerry Reinsdorf
ArenaUnited Center
Results
Record62–20 (.756)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Jazz 4–2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWGN-TV
SportsChannel/Fox Sports Chicago
RadioWMVP

The season also saw Michael Jordan earn his fifth and final NBA Most Valuable Player Award, while being selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, where he also won his third and final All-Star Game MVP Award. This was Jordan's last season as a Bull, as he announced his second retirement after it was over.[3] However, he did make a second comeback with the Washington Wizards in 2001. Following the season, Phil Jackson resigned as head coach, Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets, rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman left for the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, Luc Longley was dealt to the Phoenix Suns, Steve Kerr signed with the San Antonio Spurs, Scott Burrell signed with the New Jersey Nets, and Jud Buechler signed with the Detroit Pistons.

Because of this dismantling of the team, this was the last season for the Bulls dynasty that had headlined the NBA throughout the 1990s. What followed was a long rebuilding process between 1998 and 2004, and the Bulls did not return to the postseason until 2005.

The story of this season was captured in ESPN's The Last Dance. It aired in April 2020, expedited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Offseason

NBA draft
Main article: 1997 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 28 Keith Booth SF  United States Maryland
2 58 Roberto Dueñas C  Spain FC Barcelona (Spain)

Roster
Roster listing
Chicago Bulls roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SF 22 Booth, Keith 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 226 lb (103 kg) Maryland
PG 1 Brown, Randy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) New Mexico State
SF 30 Buechler, Jud 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Arizona
SF 24 Burrell, Scott 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 218 lb (99 kg) Connecticut
PG 9 Harper, Ron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Miami (OH)
SG 23 Jordan, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) North Carolina
PG 25 Kerr, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Arizona
C 53 Kleine, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Arkansas
SF 7 Kukoč, Toni 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Croatia
PG 5 LaRue, Rusty 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Wake Forest
C 13 Longley, Luc 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 265 lb (120 kg) New Mexico
SF 33 Pippen, Scottie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Central Arkansas
PF 91 Rodman, Dennis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) SE Oklahoma State
PF 8 Simpkins, Dickey 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 248 lb (112 kg) Providence
C 34 Wennington, Bill 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) St. John's
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 6220.756–37–425–1621–7
x-Indiana Pacers 5824.707432–926–1519–9
x-Charlotte Hornets 5131.6221132–919–2216–12
x-Atlanta Hawks 5032.6101229–1221–2019–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4735.5731527–1420–2114–14
Detroit Pistons 3745.4512525–1612–2912–16
Milwaukee Bucks 3646.4392621–2015–269–19
Toronto Raptors 1666.195469–327–342–26
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6220.756–
2 y-Miami Heat5527.6717
3 x-Indiana Pacers5824.7074
4 x-Charlotte Hornets5131.62211
5 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.61012
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57315
7 x-New York Knicks4339.52419
8 x-New Jersey Nets4339.52419
9 Washington Wizards4240.51220
10 Orlando Magic4141.50021
11 Detroit Pistons3745.45125
12 Boston Celtics3646.43926
12 Milwaukee Bucks3646.43926
14 Philadelphia 76ers3151.37831
15 Toronto Raptors1666.19546

Record vs. opponents
1997–98 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2—1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1—1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1—2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2—1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1—3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3—0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0—2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2—1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1—1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1—2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2—0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0—1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1—3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3—1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1—2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2—2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2—4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4—4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4—1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1—2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2—3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3—0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0—2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2—2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2—0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0—4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4—1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

October–November

December

January

February

March

April

Game log

Regular season
1997–98 game log
Total: 62–20 (Home: 37–4; Road: 25–16)
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
November : 9–6 (Home: 6–1; Road: 3–5)
December : 11–3 (Home: 9–0; Road: 2–3)
January : 13–3 (Home: 6–1; Road: 7–2)
February : 10–3 (Home: 6–1; Road: 4–2)
March : 13–1 (Home: 6–0; Road: 7–1)
April : 6–3 (Home: 4–1; Road: 2–2)
1997–98 schedule

Playoffs
1998 playoff game log
Total: 15–6 (Home: 10–2; Road: 5–4)
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Conference Semifinals : 4–1 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–0)
Conference Finals : 4–3 (Home: 4–0; Road: 0–3)
NBA Finals : 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
1997–98 schedule

Player stats
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Keith Booth 602.8.333.0001.000.7.2.00.001.7
Randy Brown 71616.2.384.000.7181.32.11.00.174.1
Jud Buechler 7408.2.483.385.5001.0.7.30.202.7
Scott Burrell 80313.7.424.354.7342.5.8.80.465.2
Jason Caffey 51813.9.503.000.6603.4.7.25.335.3
Ron Harper 828227.9.441.190.7503.52.91.32.599.3
Michael Jordan 828238.8.465.238.7845.83.51.72.5528.7
Steve Kerr 50022.4.454.438.9181.51.9.52.107.5
Joe Kleine 4618.6.368.000.8331.7.7.09.112.0
Toni Kukoč 745230.2.455.362.7084.44.21.03.5013.3
Rusty LaRue 14010.0.408.250.625.6.4.21.073.5
Luc Longley 585829.4.455.000.7365.92.8.591.0711.4
Scottie Pippen 444437.5.447.318.7775.25.81.80.9819.1
Dennis Rodman 806635.7.431.174.55015.02.9.59.224.7
Dickey Simpkins 21011.3.634.000.5911.5.8.19.143.7
David Vaughn III 302.01.000.000.500.3.0.00.001.3
Bill Wennington 4889.7.436.000.8101.7.4.08.103.5

Postseason
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Randy Brown 145.1.167.000.833.6.6.14.00.6
Jud Buechler 164.0.364.600.000.7.2.19.06.7
Scott Burrell 2112.4.438.300.9092.0.5.90.143.8
Ron Harper 2126.8.459.263.6153.72.3.95.866.7
Michael Jordan 2141.5.462.302.8125.13.51.52.5732.4
Steve Kerr 2119.8.434.463.818.81.7.33.004.9
Toni Kukoč 2130.3.486.377.6453.92.91.24.4813.1
Luc Longley 1825.3.450.000.8725.01.9.67.837.9
Scottie Pippen 2139.8.415.228.6797.15.22.14.9516.8
Dennis Rodman 2134.4.371.250.60511.82.0.67.624.9
Dickey Simpkins 135.7.375.000.4441.0.2.15.081.2
Bill Wennington 167.4.526.000.500.9.2.38.122.8

NBA finals

1998 NBA Finals Roster
Chicago BullsUtah Jazz
Head Coach: Phil JacksonHead Coach: Jerry Sloan
Michael JordanKarl Malone
Scottie PippenJeff Hornacek
Dennis RodmanJohn Stockton
Luc LongleyBryon Russell
Ron HarperShandon Anderson
Steve KerrAdam Keefe
Keith BoothHoward Eisley
Scott BurrellAntoine Carr
Randy BrownGreg Foster
Dickey SimpkinsGreg Ostertag
Rusty LaRueChris Morris
Bill WenningtonJacque Vaughn
Jud BuechlerTroy Hudson
Toni KukočWilliam Cunningham

Series summary

Legend: OT denotes a game decided in overtime

GameDateHome TeamResultRoad Team
Game 1June 3Utah88-85 (OT)Chicago
Game 2June 5Utah88-93Chicago
Game 3June 7Chicago96-54Utah
Game 4June 10Chicago86-82Utah
Game 5June 12Chicago81-83Utah
Game 6June 14Utah86-87Chicago

Bulls win series 4-2

Games 1 and 2

This was the first time in the 1990s that the same two teams played each other in two consecutive finals. The Jazz had won both regular season match-ups, and many analysts predicted a hard-fought seven game series. Predictions of a Jazz championship were strengthened with their game one victory in overtime in Utah. The Bulls would tie the series in game 2 putting together a fourth quarter run to silence the Delta Center and holding on to win 93-88, finally securing their first victory against Utah all season.

Games 3, 4 and 5

The Finals would move to Chicago with control of the series at stake in Game 3. Though anticipation was high, no one could have expected a blow-out of the proportions seen in Game 3. With a 96-54 triumph over Utah, the Bulls would help the Jazz set an embarrassing record for the lowest points scored in Finals history and biggest margin of defeat, while everyone on the Bulls scored. The Jazz would pull themselves together in Game 4 in a better attempt to tie the series, but lost 86-82.

The early Jazz series-lead seemed like a distant memory, a false indication of a tough series as they hit the floor for Game 5 behind 3-1. Chicago fans prepared for the last game they would host with the Jordan-led Bulls of the 1990s. But any notions of a championship at the United Center would be snuffed out when Michael Jordan airballed an off-balance 3 to the right of the basket giving the Jazz a narrow 83-81 win. The play might have been for Toni Kukoč to shoot a three. With the series shifting back to Utah with a far more generous 3-2 Bulls advantage, the promise of another Chicago championship was not so certain.

Game 6

The Chicago Bulls had never let a Finals series go to a Game 7.

As they arrived at the Delta Center for Game 6, things didn't look good for the Bulls. Scottie Pippen's back gave out when he dunked the opening basket of the game and he was slowed down and held to just 8 points. The Jazz suffered a bad break when the referees incorrectly nullified a Howard Eisley three-pointer that, replays showed, was clearly released just before the 24-second clock expired. In the 4th quarter, the Bulls closed the gap as Michael Jordan tallied many of his 45 overall points. Then things got worse for Chicago when John Stockton hit a clutch 3 with 41.9 seconds left to give Utah an 86-83 lead as the Delta Center crowd roared happily. Down by 3, the Bulls had one last chance to stay alive. Running perilously low on energy, it would be imperative for Chicago to win the series before the game went into OT, and also for the Bulls to avoid a Game 7 on the road when Scottie Pippen was so badly injured and their entire lineup was exhausted.

After Michael Jordan made a layup to cut the Jazz lead to one, the Bulls needed to stop the Jazz from scoring again. When John Stockton passed the ball to Karl Malone, Michael Jordan stole the ball away and dribbled to the front. Guarding him was Bryon Russell, one of the Jazz's best perimeter defenders. Jordan drove inside the 3-point line, executed a quick cross-over, and drilled a 20-ft. jump shot to give the Bulls an 87-86 lead with 5.2 seconds left. After Utah took a timeout, Stockton's 3 hit the rim and bounced away, giving the Bulls their 6th title in 8 years. The famous winning shot has been immortalized in many records, as Jordan completed a perfect sextet: 6 NBA Finals, 6 championships, and 6 NBA Finals MVP trophies.

Awards and honors

References
  1. "1997-98 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats - Basketball-Reference.com".
  2. "Pippen's Back Surgery Should Not Affect His Career, Doctor Says". Chicago Tribune. July 29, 1998. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  3. "PRO BASKETBALL; THE FINAL WORD FROM JORDAN". New York Times. January 14, 1999. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
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