1993–94 Chicago Bulls season

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1993–94 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachPhil Jackson
OwnersJerry Reinsdorf
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record55–27 (.671)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Knicks 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWGN-TV
SportsChannel Chicago
RadioWMAQ
< 1992–93 1994–95 >

The 1993–94 NBA season was the Bulls' 28th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Bulls entered the season as the three time defending NBA champions, having defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals in six games, winning their third NBA championship, their first of two threepeats in the 1990s. This was the first season without All-Star guard Michael Jordan since the 1983–84 season, as he retired during the off-season to pursue a baseball career after the murder of his father.[2] Instead, the Bulls were led by All-Star forward Scottie Pippen. In the off-season, the team signed free agents Steve Kerr, Bill Wennington,[3] and Pete Myers, who was signed to fill in the void left by Jordan at shooting guard.[4]

The Bulls continued to play solid basketball winning ten straight games in December after an 8–8 start, and later on held a 34–13 record at the All-Star break. Midway through the season, the team traded Stacey King to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Australian center Luc Longley.[5] The Bulls posted another 10-game winning streak between March and April finishing second overall in the Central Division, and third overall in the Eastern Conference with a 55–27 record.[6] Pippen averaged 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team. Horace Grant averaged 15.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while B. J. Armstrong provided the team with 14.8 points per game, and Croatian rookie forward Toni Kukoč averaged 10.9 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Kerr contributed 8.6 points per game off the bench, and Myers averaged just 7.9 points per game.[7] Pippen, Grant and Armstrong were all selected to play in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game in Minneapolis, in which Pippen won the All-Star Game MVP award.[8][9]

However, the Bulls would not be able to win a fourth consecutive NBA championship. After sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in three straight games in the Eastern Conference First Round,[10] they would lose in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals of the 1994 NBA Playoffs to the New York Knicks in seven games.[11] This was also the Bulls' last season at Chicago Stadium before moving across the street to the new United Center. Following the season, Grant signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic,[12] Bill Cartwright signed with the Seattle SuperSonics,[13] Scott Williams signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and John Paxson retired.

Off-season[]

Jordan's retirement[]

On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement at age 30, citing a loss in his desire to play the game. Jordan later stated that the murder of his father three months earlier shaped his decision.[14] James R. Jordan, Sr. was murdered on July 23, 1993, at a highway rest area in Lumberton, North Carolina, found in a creek on August 3, murdered by two teenagers, Daniel Green and Larry Martin Demery. The assailants were traced from calls they made on James Jordan's cellular phone,[15] caught, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Jordan was close to his father; as a child he had imitated his father's proclivity to stick out his tongue while absorbed in work.

Those close to Jordan claimed that he had been considering retirement as early as the summer of 1992, and that the added exhaustion due to the Dream Team run in the 1992 Olympics solidified Jordan's burned-out feelings about the game and his ever-growing celebrity status. Jordan's announcement sent shock waves throughout the NBA and appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the world.[16]

Jordan then further surprised the sports world by signing a minor league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. He reported to spring training and was assigned to the team's minor league system on March 31, 1994.[17] Jordan has stated this decision was made to pursue the dream of his late father, who had always envisioned his son as a major league baseball player.[18] The White Sox were another team owned by Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who continued to honor Jordan's basketball contract during the years he played baseball.[19] He had an unspectacular professional baseball career for the Birmingham Barons, a Chicago White Sox farm team, batting .202 with 3 HR, 51 RBI, 30 SB, and 11 errors.[20] He also appeared for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League.

NBA draft[]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 25 Corie Blount PF  United States Cincinnati
2 41 Anthony Reed F  United States Tulane

Roster[]

1993–94 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
G 10 Armstrong, B. J. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1967–09–09 Iowa
F 44 Blount, Corie 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–01–04 Cincinnati
C 24 Cartwright, Bill (C) 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1957–07–30 San Francisco
G 3 English, Jo Jo 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1970–02–04 South Carolina
F 54 Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson
G 8 Johnson, Dave 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1970–11–16 Syracuse
G 25 Kerr, Steve 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965–09–27 Arizona
F 7 Kukoc, Toni 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1968–09–18 Croatia
C 13 Longley, Luc 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1969–01–19 New Mexico
G 20 Myers, Pete 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1963–09–15 Little Rock
G 5 Paxson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960–09–29 Notre Dame
C 32 Perdue, Will 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1965–08–29 Vanderbilt
F 33 Pippen, Scottie (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–09–25 Central Arkansas
C 34 Wennington, Bill 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1963–04–26 St. John's
F/C 42 Williams, Scott 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–03–21 North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 28, 1994

Regular season[]

Most experts did not predict the Bulls to even make the playoffs after winning their third straight championship the season before because of Jordan's departure. But the team, led by Scottie Pippen and an increased role from both Horace Grant and B. J. Armstrong were able to lead the Bulls to a 55-win season, only 2 wins less than the 1992-93 team, which had Jordan. The Bulls finished two games behind the Atlanta Hawks in the Central Division and earned the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Pippen and Armstrong were both voted to start in this season's All-Star game, and Grant was also picked as a reserve.

Season standings[]

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Atlanta Hawks 57 25 .695 – 36–5 21–20 21–7
x-Chicago Bulls 55 27 .671 2 31–10 24–17 21–7
x-Indiana Pacers 47 35 .573 10 29–12 18–23 15–13
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 10 31–10 16–25 16–12
Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 16 28–13 13–28 12–16
Detroit Pistons 20 62 .244 37 10–31 10–31 4–24
Milwaukee Bucks 20 62 .244 37 11–30 9–32 9–19
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Atlanta Hawks 57 25 .695 –
2 y-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 –
3 x-Chicago Bulls 55 27 .671 2
4 x-Orlando Magic 50 32 .610 7
5 x-Indiana Pacers 47 35 .573 10
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 10
7 x-New Jersey Nets 45 37 .549 12
8 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 15
9 Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 16
10 Boston Celtics 32 50 .390 25
11 Philadelphia 76ers 25 57 .305 32
12 Washington Bullets 24 58 .293 33
13t Milwaukee Bucks 20 62 .244 37
13t Detroit Pistons 20 62 .244 37

Record vs. opponents[]

1993-94 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 UTA WAS
Atlanta — 4–0 4–1 2–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 5–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0
Boston 0–4 — 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–1 1–1 1–4 0–4 2–2 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–2
Charlotte 1–4 4–0 — 1–4 1–4 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 3–2 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2
Chicago 3–2 2–2 4–1 — 1–3 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Cleveland 1–3 3–1 4–1 3–1 — 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–2 2–0 2–2 0–4 2–2 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 1–4 1–1 0–4 1–4 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 5–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 0–5 0–4 0–5 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 — 2–0 1–3 3–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–4 2–2 1–4 1–1
Detroit 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–5 2–3 1–1 0–2 — 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–4 2–0 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2
Golden State 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 3–1 2–0 — 0–4 1–1 4–1 5–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 4–1 2–2 1–4 3–1 2–0
Houston 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–1 2–3 2–0 4–0 — 1–1 4–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 4–0 4–0 2–3 2–2 3–3 1–1
Indiana 2–3 4–0 2–2 1–4 3–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
L.A. Clippers 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–3 1–1 1–4 0–4 0–2 — 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 2–3 3–2 1–3 1–4 1–3 1–1
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 2–0 0–5 1–3 2–0 3–2 — 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 3–2 0–5 1–4 0–4 0–5 2–2 1–1
Miami 1–3 3–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 — 4–0 2–0 2–3 2–2 2–3 4–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1
Milwaukee 0–5 1–3 2–3 0–4 2–3 2–0 0–2 4–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 — 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3
Minnesota 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–4 0–2 2–2 1–4 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 2–0 — 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–4 0–4 1–4 0–2
New Jersey 3–1 4–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–2 3–1 1–1 — 4–1 0–5 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
New York 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 0–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 1–4 — 3–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 5–0
Orlando 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 3–1 1–1 5–0 2–3 — 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–1
Philadelphia 0–4 1–4 1–3 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 3–1 0–2 1–3 2–3 0–4 — 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–3
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 5–0 2–3 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 — 3–2 4–1 3–1 2–3 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–3 0–4 1–1 3–2 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–3 — 4–1 1–3 1–4 1–3 2–0
Sacramento 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–4 0–4 0–2 2–3 4–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–4 — 1–3 0–5 1–3 2–0
San Antonio 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 5–0 4–2 1–1 2–2 3–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 — 0–4 0–5 2–0
Seattle 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–2 1–1 4–1 5–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2 4–1 5–0 4–0 — 3–1 2–0
Utah 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 5–0 4–1 2–0 1–3 3–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 5–0 1–3 — 2–0
Washington 0–4 2–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–3 0–5 1–4 3–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Playoffs[]

1994 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 29 Cleveland W 104–96 Scottie Pippen (31) Scottie Pippen (12) Peter Myers (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		1–0
2 May 1 Cleveland W 105–96 Scottie Pippen (22) Horace Grant (12) Toni Kukoč (11) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		2–0
3 May 3 @ Cleveland W 95–92 (OT) Scottie Pippen (23) Scottie Pippen (11) Scottie Pippen (6) Richfield Coliseum
17,778 		3–0
Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 8 @ New York L 86–90 Scottie Pippen (24) Luc Longley (8) Scottie Pippen (7) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		0–1
2 May 11 @ New York L 91–96 Grant, Armstrong (23) Bill Cartwright (10) B. J. Armstrong (6) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		0–2
3 May 13 New York W 104–102 Scottie Pippen (25) Horace Grant (8) Horace Grant (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		1–2
4 May 15 New York W 95–83 Scottie Pippen (25) Scottie Pippen (8) Pippen, Kukoč (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		2–2
5 May 18 @ New York L 86–87 Scottie Pippen (23) three players tied (6) three players tied (4) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		2–3
6 May 20 New York W 93–79 B. J. Armstrong (20) Horace Grant (12) Scottie Pippen (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		3–3
7 May 22 @ New York L 77–87 Scottie Pippen (20) Scottie Pippen (16) Scottie Pippen (5) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		3–4
1994 schedule

Player statistics[]

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

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records[]

NBA All-Star Game[]

  • Scottie Pippen
  • B. J. Armstrong
  • Horace Grant

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2008-09-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan, N.B.A.'s Greatest Star, To Announce Retirement Today". New York Times. October 6, 1993. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "4 PLAYERS ADDED TO BULLS' ROSTER". Chicago Tribune. September 30, 1993. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "MYERS LIKELY TO START BULLS' NEW ERA". Chicago Tribune. November 1, 1993. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "LONGLEY TO BULLS FOR KING". Chicago Tribune. February 24, 1994. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "1993–94 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "1993–94 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "1994 NBA All-Star Game: East 127, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "Scottie Pippen's Greatest Moments: Pippen garners MVP honors at 1994 All-Star Game". NBA.com. December 7, 2005. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "GOODBYE CAVS, RICHFIELD". Chicago Tribune. May 4, 1994. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks March On After Bulls Fall Down and Break Their Crown". New York Times. May 23, 1994. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  12. ^ "Magic Sign Grant Skiles Traded". Orlando Sentinel. July 30, 1994. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Cartwright and Sonics May Have a Deal". New York Times. September 11, 1994. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  14. ^ Berkow, Ira. "A Humbled Jordan Learns New Truths", The New York Times, April 11, 1994, accessed January 16, 2007.
  15. ^ Mitchell, Alison. THE NATION; "So Many Criminals Trip Themselves Up", The New York Times, August 22, 1993, accessed March 23, 2008.
  16. ^ Thompson, Ian and Ted Rodgers. Europe loses a role model; even in countries where basketball is a minor pursuit, Jordan's profile looms large - includes related article on Jordan's stature in Japan, The Sporting News, October 18, 1993, available at findarticles.com, accessed March 7, 2007.
  17. ^ Michael Jordan Chronology, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, January 12, 1999, accessed March 15, 2007.
  18. ^ Michael Jordan A Tribute, sportillustrated.cnn.com, accessed March 7, 2007
  19. ^ Araton, Harvey. BASKETBALL; "Jordan Keeping the Basketball World in Suspense", The New York Times, accessed March 23, 2008
  20. ^ Michael Jordan: The Stats, .com, accessed March 15, 2007.
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