When comparing the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2010s Golden State Warriors, it’s easy to see why fans debate who would dominate a hypothetical matchup.
Both teams defined their respective eras, with the Bulls’ rugged, defensive approach and the Warriors’ shooting-centric, fast-paced style.
The Bulls’ adaptability and defensive edge
With six championships and zero NBA Finals losses, the Bulls dominated the ’90s era. In the 1995-96 season, they achieved a then-unprecedented 72-10 record, dominating opponents with stifling defense and efficient scoring.
This squad thrived in an era where hand-checking allowed defenders to be far more physical with opponents. This style limited players’ ability to shoot freely, a stark contrast to today’s game, where defenders must be careful not to draw fouls.
Former Bulls player Ron Harper is confident that his team would come out on top and pointed out physicality when discussing how his team would handle the Warriors’ shooting-heavy game.
“If they play these modern-day rules where you can’t breathe on a guy when you talk about our rules, it’s too physical,” he said. “We could adapt to any kind of style of basketball they want to play, and the problem with today’s game is if you shooting 60 threes, that means you gonna miss 30 shots.”
Harper’s confidence isn’t without basis. The ’90s Bulls were built on a foundation of physical defense and relentless determination, headlined by one-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Michael Jordan, the rangy Scottie Pippen, and seven-time rebounding champion Dennis Rodman.
Together, they combined for 24 All-Defensive First Team selections under the guidance of coach Phil Jackson.
In 2004 the NBA outlawed Hand-Checking
In 2022 they may need to outlaw Head-Checking pic.twitter.com/vxMx3o73hf
— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) March 22, 2022
The Warriors’ revolution
Fast forward to today’s NBA, and the GSW have redefined the game with a style focused on ball movement and three-point shooting. With Steve Kerr at the helm, Golden State emerged as a dominant force, led by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
In 2015-16, they broke the Bulls’ regular-season record with a 73-9 finish, but their success wasn’t just about wins. The Dubs revolutionized the game, with Curry and Thompson’s long-range accuracy stretching defenses to their limits.
In 2016, Curry shattered the NBA record for three-pointers in a season with 286, while Thompson added 239, making the “Splash Brothers” a constant threat from beyond the arc.
Curry’s nearly 40-foot jumpers and Thompson’s catch-and-shoot ability transformed the game, with defenses struggling to guard shooters that could score from practically anywhere on the court. Yet Harper noted that this approach has a potential Achilles’ heel.
“We ain’t gonna beat you on the three-point line; we gonna beat you in that two-point line. You gonna have to play catch-up basketball the whole game. If you keep missing eight threes and make one-two here, miss six-seven threes, all we gonna get two points, three points at the other end,” Harper said.
While separated by decades and different philosophies, these two franchises share one common thread: Steve Kerr, a key player on the Bulls’ historic team. This is the same person who received a pass from MJ and hit a clutch 17-foot jumper to win the 1997 NBA title. Almost two decades later, coach Kerr led the Warriors as head coach during their record-breaking 73-win season in 2015-16.