The 1984-85 Chicago Bulls were looking to turn things around after three woeful seasons. The man tasked to help the team was Michael Jordan, Chicago’s third pick in the 1984 Draft behind Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers).
Initial reports claimed that Jordan agreed to a $2.95 million deal over four years. However, Bulls Vice President Jon Kovler cleared that it was a seven-year deal but did not divulge the money involved.
MJ saw big things for Chicago
Considering the Bulls had not made the postseason since the 1980-81 season, the pressure rested on Jordan’s shoulders from day one. However, being the competitor that he was, the former North Carolina Tar Heel product was ready to take on the challenge.
“I see the success of the Cubs, the White Sox, the Bears, and I think it’s going to be time for the Bulls now,” Jordan said during a news conference via UPI.com.
Aware that he is joining a team made up of veterans such as Orlando Woolridge, Dave Corzine, and Caldwell Jones, among others, Mike tapered his expectations and pointed out that his initial objective was to fit in.
“I just want to be able to fit in and help this team. It’s not going to be the Michael Jordan show,” he said.
First three-peat
Jordan proved he was worth the investment, helping the Bulls make the playoffs in his rookie year. However, the ultimate success came six years later.
The Bulls needed to retool and bring in the required personnel to help MJ take the team to the top. Although they made it as far as the Eastern Conference Finals during the 1988-89 and 1989-1990 seasons, they always fell short against the Detroit Pistons, the “Bad Boys” eliminated Chicago in three consecutive postseason from 1998 to 1990.
Under Phil Jackson, along with the addition of key players such as Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, and John Paxson, the Bulls finally beat Detroit in 1991 en route to winning the organization’s first NBA title and kicking off their first three-peat.
Jordan racked up individual accolades, winning the regular season MVP three times (1988, 1991, and 1992) and securing the Finals MVP awards in all three of Chicago’s championship runs.
From retirement to second three-peat
Jordan put his pro basketball career on pause, announcing his decision to retire. This stemmed from the murder of his father, James R Jordan Sr., by two teenagers on July 23, 1993.
He would try his hand at baseball, signing a Minor League contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994. However, Jordan’s baseball career never took off, and he returned to play pro ball with the Bulls in 1995.
“His Airness” led the Bulls to another three-peat from 1996 to 1998. In 13 seasons with the team, he averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.5 steals in 930 regular-season games.
The Bulls tried to rebuild another champion-caliber team after Jordan retired for the second time in 1998. Unfortunately, the farthest they got was the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011, where they lost to the Miami Heat in five games.