Throughout basketball history, we have been able to bear witness to some of the greatest trios to ever grace a basketball court. These include Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy with the Showtime Lakers. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish with the ’80s Celtics. This also includes modern-day trios such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh with the Heat as well as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen with the Boston Celtics. All of these legendary trios played a huge part in NBA history and won NBA championships.
However, none of these trios were able to accomplish what Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were able to do during their three-peat as NBA champions from 1996 through 1998. This legendary Chicago trio never lost a playoff series together in their three seasons alongside one another on the court. Taking it one step further, this trio never went to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals either, making them one of, if not the best trio in NBA history.
Today, we will take a short journey through the 1996, 1997, and 1998 playoffs to break down each and every series these three participated in. Each of these three players played a certain, significant role in Chicagos’ dominant run as three-time NBA champions and that will be the primary focus of our coverage below.
1995-96 NBA Playoffs
First Round: Chicago Bulls def. Miami Heat 3-0
Second Round: Chicago Bulls def. New York Knicks 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals: Chicago Bulls def. Orlando Magic 4-0
NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls def. Seattle SuperSonics 4-2
The 1995-96 NBA season was a historic one for the Chicago Bulls. After being eliminated by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals the season before, the Nulls came back with a vengeance during the regular season. They would go on to break an NBA record by winning 72 games to just 10 losses on the season with a full head of steam heading toward the NBA playoffs led by MVP Michael Jordan.
During their first-round matchup with the Miami Heat, the Bulls would make easy work of their opponents in a three-game sweep. Michael Jordan would lead all scorers with 30.7 points per game on 51.6% shooting overall. Scottie Pippen would have an incredible series as well with 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. Rodman, still getting acclimated to their system, would come off the bench for 19.7 minutes per game, grabbing 6.0 rebounds while adding just 3.7 points per game.
In the next series, the Bulls ran into a familiar foe in the New York Knicks. Once again, the Bulls cruised through the series in five games to advance to the Conference Finals. Jordan once again led all scorers with 36.0 points per game while adding 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game on 44.2% shooting. Scottie Pippen played his role to perfection as well with 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game. Rodman was now back in the starting lineup and would prove to be vital on the interior with 15.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
The Eastern Conference Finals would be the Bulls’ chance to avenge their loss to the Orlando Magic from 1995. Rodman had the tough assignment of handling Shaquille O’Neal in the post, which he did perfectly. He averaged 11.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in the series. Michael Jordan controlled the offense and led the Bulls with 29.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game on 52.0% shooting. Pippen was key to their success as well with 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game as Chicago headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.
In the NBA Finals, the Bulls would face their toughest test in the Seattle SuperSonics led by Defensive Player of the Year Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Jordan somewhat struggled to keep up with Payton’s defensive abilities but still came through with 27.3 points and 1.7 steals per game on 41.5% shooting to win Finals MVP. Rodman struggled to slow down Kemp’s offensive onslaught but still controlled the boards with 14.7 rebounds per game. Pippen handled the pressure extremely well to deliver Chicago’s fourth NBA championship with 15.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.
The Chicago Bulls All-Time GOAT Pyramid
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1996-97 NBA Playoffs
First Round: Chicago Bulls def. Washington Bullets 3-0
Second Round: Chicago Bulls def. Atlanta Hawks 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals: Chicago Bulls def. Miami Heat 4-1
NBA Finals Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz 4-2
The 1996-97 season would be another dominant one for the Bulls. Michael Jordan would claim his ninth NBA scoring title averaging 29.6 points per game and earn both First Team All-NBA and First Team All-Defensive honors as well. Scottie Pippen would earn All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive First Team honors alongside him as Chicago finished the season with a 69-13 record.
In their first-round matchup with the Washington Bullets, it would be Michael Jordan who led the Bulls to a sweep with 37.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 57.1% shooting. Dennis Rodman would come off the bench for most of the series but still managed to average 6.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Scottie Pippen got in on the action with 16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as they swept the Bullets easily to advance.
In the second round, the Bulls would meet the Atlanta Hawks led by Mookie Blaylock and Steve Smith. Once again, Jordan led the charge with 26.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 45.4% shooting. Pippen was the best he had been in two years offensively with 22.2 points per game as well as 5.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game for the series. Rodman remained on the bench for the most part and finished the series with 3.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as Chicago took down Atlanta in five games.
This set up an Eastern Conference Finals that featured the Bulls taking on the Miami Heat for the right to play in the NBA Finals. Jordan was once again a machine in the series averaging 30.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game on 38.7% shooting from the field. Scottie Pippen chimed in with 16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as well. Rodman made his way back into the starting lineup for this series and controlled the glass with 12.4 rebounds per game as Chicago once again won in five games.
This set up the first of two meetings between the Bulls and Utah Jazz in the NBA finals. The Chicago trio would face a tough test against the duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone, but they were ready. Michael Jordan would claim Finals MVP honors with 32.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 45.6% shooting from the field. Rodman, tasked with defending Karl Malone, would average just 2.3 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game for the series. Pippen played his usual Robin role to Jordan’s Batman and averaged 20.0 points and 8.3 rebounds as the Bulls secured their fifth NBA championship in six games.
1997-98 NBA Playoffs
First Round: Chicago Bulls def. New Jersey Nets 3-0
Second Round: Chicago Bulls def. Charlotte Hornets 4-1
Eastern Conference Finals: Chicago Bulls def. Indiana Pacers 4-3
NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz 4-2
For the Chicago Bulls, the 1997-98 season would be dubbed “The Last Dance” as their front office made it clear they were going to move on from Phil Jackson as well as expiring contracts such as Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. Jordan responded with his fifth MVP season and 10th scoring title averaging 28.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on 46.5% shooting. Jordan earned First Team All-NBA and All-Defensive selections, while Pippen earned All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team honors as they won 62 games.
In their opening-round series against the Nets, Jordan and company made easy work of their opponent in a three-game sweep. Jordan averaged 36.3 points on 52.9% shooting to lead the way. Rodman was back in the starting lineup for an opening round and would contribute with 13.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Pippen also had a great all-around series with 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game.
This set up a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets in round two. The series would be another easy one for the Bulls as they took down Charlotte in five games. Jordan would lead his team once again with 29.6 points per game on 46.5% shooting with 5.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Rodman was a monster on the glass with an astounding 17.6 rebounds per game while also adding 7.0 points per game. Pippen chimed in with 17.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists as the Bulls would head back to the Eastern Conference Finals.
This seven-game series would prove to be their toughest test of the entire three-year stretch in the playoffs. Against Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers, it looked like the Bulls may fall as the series went the distance to a seventh game. With 28 points in Game 7 and 31.7 points per game on 46.7% shooting in the series, Michael Jordan made sure that didn’t happen. Rodman contributed his regular astounding defense and 9.9 rebounds per game, while Pippen added 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game to advance to their third straight NBA Finals.
The NBA Finals saw a rematch of the 1997 series against the Utah Jazz. This time, plenty of experts thought the Jazz had a real chance to take down the Bulls once and for all, but MJ had other plans. With Pippen nursing a bad back, Jordan took over with 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game to win his NBA record sixth Finals MVP as the Bulls took the series in six. Rodman once again got in Karl Malone’s head as he played physically and rough to take him out of his game. Pippen still managed to average 16.7 points and 6.8 rebounds to seal their second three-peat of the decade and send the Bulls off with their sixth NBA championship.
We Will Never See Another Trio Like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, And Dennis Rodman
The Chicago Bulls trio of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were never supposed to work. Michael Jordan was labeled as too selfish, while Rodman was a loose cannon and Pippen cared only about his unfair contract. On the contrary, this trio complemented each other perfectly and accomplished something only a few teams have ever done, and that is a three-peat as NBA champions.
Of course, many have come close to getting there as a trio in recent years. The Miami Heat trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were close to completing a three-peat by making four straight NBA Finals from 2011 through 2014 but only managed back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. The Golden State Warriors nearly did it as well with their superteam consisting mainly of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson but injuries eventually took them out in the 2019 Finals.
The Bulls trio was the perfect storm of skill, hustle, and heart. Jordan absolutely dominated the offensive side of the ball, especially when it came to scoring, so that the other two could focus on their best attributes. For Pippen, that was his playmaking and defensive effort. For Rodman, that was his incredible knack for rebounding and hounding defense. Under the tutelage of Phil Jackson, this trio accomplished the impossible as NBA champions and cemented their legacy as a trio of stars, the likes of which we will never see again in our lifetime.