The Chicago Bulls are one of the most popular teams in NBA history. Named as one of the top five most recognizable franchises in the NBA, even a casual fan can spot a Bulls logo from far away. This can be attributed to one man and only one man alone — Michael Jordan.
MJ’s entry into the NBA moved the league from being known as just an American sports league to one of the most famous and talked about leagues globally. The Bulls experienced unprecedented success during Jordan’s era, but have failed to emulate the same since his retirement.
How many times have the Bulls made the playoffs?
The Chicago Bulls first came into existence in the 1966-67 season. Since then, the Bulls have made the playoffs a grand total of 37 times. 14 of those seasons came after Michael Jordan was drafted and in the mid 2010s, they made the playoffs eight more times with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.
The Bulls have made the NBA Finals six times and won the championship all six times. And to no one’s surprise, all six of these championships came courtesy of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson.
Chicago Bulls Playoff Record
The Chicago Bulls have a 187-162 record in the playoffs. The Jordan-era Bulls are responsible for 119 of those wins. From 1991 to 1998, the Bulls lost only two playoff series and had a whopping 26-2 record in playoff series. In this span, the Bulls also won six championships, three-peating twice.
The Bulls have had a lot of rivals in their quests to win an NBA championship, but none come closer to the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. The Bulls-Pistons and Bulls-Knicks Eastern Conference Playoff clashes gave fans of the '90s some of the most intense and memorable NBA moments. The Jordan Rules, the Scottie Pippen migraine game, the John Starks dunk, the Charles Smith game, just to name a few, and so many more truly made the ‘90s the golden era of NBA basketball.
Number of Conference Championships Won
The Bulls have won six conference championships in franchise history (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998). Besides this, the Bulls have also made the conference Finals in 1987, 1988, and 1990, but fell short of reaching the Finals.
Number of Championships Won
The Bulls have won six championships in franchise history. All these championships have come with Michael Jordan manning the helm and leading them to the promised land. The Bulls have made the Finals six times, winning the championship on all six occasions. This is what arguably makes him the greatest player of all time.
| Year | Head Coach | Opponent | Final Score |
| 1991 | Phil Jackson | Lakers | 4-1 |
| 1992 | Phil Jackson | Trail Blazers | 4-2 |
| 1993 | Phil Jackson | Suns | 4-2 |
| 1996 | Phil Jackson | Supersonics | 4-2 |
| 1997 | Phil Jackson | Jazz | 4-2 |
| 1998 | Phil Jackson | Jazz | 4-2 |
Chicago Bulls Last Playoff Appearance
The last time the Chicago Bulls made the playoffs was in the 2021/22 season, where they were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. The Bulls had a great start to that season, winning 20 of their first 26 games. However, an injury to Lonzo Ball resulted in the team falling down to the sixth seed.
What is the biggest playoff series comeback in the Chicago Bulls franchise history?
In Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals, the Bulls were down 13 entering the fourth quarter and a Game 7 seemed almost imminent. However, Jordan and Pippen put their championship pedigree on display and closed the game with a 19-4 run, winning the Bulls their second straight championship.
FAQs on Chicago Bulls Playoff History
A. The last time the Bulls were in the NBA Finals was in 1998.
A. The Chicago Bulls' greatest rival is the Detroit Pistons.
A. The Chicago Bulls have won six championships in franchise history.
A. The Bulls have won 187 playoff games as of March 2024.
