72-10 Bulls......looking back

[Matt]

http://www.nba.com/features/9596bulls_bestever.html

awesome feature, the videos bring back plenty of memories.

[Andrew]

Great retrospective for my favourite season. Even beyond the Bulls' record and the fourth championship the 1996 season was definitely a special one in my opinion, which is probably why I've made several 95/96 patches for NBA Live throughout the years. The All-Star game was significant that year because it's the last contest where the greats that had come along in the mid 80s through the early 90s all suited up. Players like Barkley, Ewing and Drexler were selected in subsequent years but were unable to play due to injury. For a lot of those players 1996 was their last big All-Star level year as age and/or injuries would take their toll and the torch would be passed.

There was also an influx of exciting new players in the 1995 Draft with Kevin Garnett, Antonio McDyess, Michael Finely, Jerry Stackhouse and Joe Smith (to name just a few) grabbing our attention, making the highlight reels and beginning talk of the next era in the NBA. Some of those players faded more quickly than others and KG stands alone as the only player from the class of '95 who is also a top ten player in the league but they were part of that new wave that would include the likes Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady in the following years.

[maes]

Good times.

I remember when a giant mural of Dennis Rodman was painted on a building that overlooks Chicago's main 90/94 expressway, and the city ordered it to be taken down because people were stopping on the expressway just to look at the mural and take pictures.

Their popularity was just obscene back then, they were bigger than the 85 Bears.

[Matthew]

How was Dennis Rodman not an all star in any of his season in Chicago? Thats wrong.

[Dan's Brain]

I voted for him 8 times each year. Apparently that wasnt enough.

I guess it was back when he was competing with Chris Webber, a good Vin Baker, Shawn Kemp (1 year), a good Christian Laettner, Jayson Williams at the same position. But all the same, he certainly deserved more acknowledgement for what he added to the team. I think he was all-defence all three years though.

I remember when a giant mural of Dennis Rodman was painted on a building that overlooks Chicago's main 90/94 expressway, and the city ordered it to be taken down because people were stopping on the expressway just to look at the mural and take pictures.

Man, you'd never get that in Australia.

[Matthew]

Rodman, imo, was the best on the ball defender in the history of the league. He was amazing. Think about this: He guarded Shaq. He guarded Karl Malone. He guarded Larry Bird. He guarded Jordan. He guarded Magic.

An argument can be made that he guarded the best at each position to ever play the game. That's unbelievable.

I will accept that the best on ball defender in the history as a slight exageration, but he was a damn good defender. Plus the rebounding and hustle he brought. To think that, as you said, Christian Laetner and Vin Baker were given All star nods ahead of Dennis is disgusting.

[Dan's Brain]

Was Rodman an all-star when he was with the Pistons?

[Matthew]

Yeah in 92.. He might have been in other seasons as well but i remember him in 92 in magics last game.

[Dan's Brain]

In 98, Penny Hardaway was selected after playing 12 games and averaging career-low numbers. By the fans, i mean. The coaches probably wouldnt be that stupid.

I refuse to believe that Dennis Rodman wouldnt have got more fan votes than he did. He had the hair, the craziness, the absurd rebounding numbers and the team record.

[Andrew]

Rodman was an All-Star in 1990 as well.

Admittedly there were other players who deserved to get the nod and the fact the Bulls already had two representatives in the All-Star game in 1996 and 1997 probably hurt his chances as well but I think it came down to the antics. So often they distracted people from how good a player he really was and as such didn't get enough respect from the coaches in All-Star reserve voting.

[beau_boy04]

Rodman, imo, was the best on the ball defender in the history of the league. He was amazing. Think about this: He guarded Shaq. He guarded Karl Malone. He guarded Larry Bird. He guarded Jordan. He guarded Magic.

An argument can be made that he guarded the best at each position to ever play the game. That's unbelievable.

I will accept that the best on ball defender in the history as a slight exageration, but he was a damn good defender. Plus the rebounding and hustle he brought. To think that, as you said, Christian Laetner and Vin Baker were given All star nods ahead of Dennis is disgusting.

Christian who? LOL

Dennis Rodman! one of the best defender of all-time. That guy needs to be inducted to the Hall of Fame... it'd be a crime if that doesnt happen.

[Andrew]

As much as he deserves it, I can see the snub coming. The Worm could keep his antics in check when the Bulls needed him at his best but I'm sure there's a concern he'd turn any Hall of Fame ceremony into a spectacle which will probably affect their decision. I'd love to see them put that aside though because his efforts do deserve recognition in Springfield.

[grusom]

Rodman, imo, was the best on the ball defender in the history of the league. He was amazing. Think about this: He guarded Shaq. He guarded Karl Malone. He guarded Larry Bird. He guarded Jordan. He guarded Magic.

It's crazy to consider how that team had 3 players, who would be considered if you haf to pick the best defensive player of all time.

I have always been a big fan of Rodman - He is the greatest hustle-player in the history of the game. Too bad the hair, the tatoos, the Madonna thing and the penis-flashing too often got all the attention.

[deihatein]

Dennis Rodman even though only averaging a 7.8 ppg in his career average but the rebounding totals are so monsterrific 13.10 rpg. He is a five-time NBA champion (two time with Detroit and three time with Bulls) Player of the Year two times, All NBA Third Team two times, All NBA Defensive First Team seven times and a two time NBA All-Star.
I really like his rebounding numbers and what he has done in his career and i think he is also a fan's favorite and there is no doubt that he should be in the hall of fame because of what he has done in the league (did he's number retired?). Here are some of his info.
Rodman's Career

[Matt]

it's funny how Rodman didnt get to go the the ASG with Jordan & Pippen, but these days it's not that uncommon to have 3 players from a team attend.

[maes]

Damn, 19 rpg for an entire season? 6 offensive boards a game? I didn't know he was even better on the Pistons than the Bulls. He's one of the few 20 & 10 guys the other way...10 points & 20 boards a game.

He's definitely HOF material when you factor in he did very good job stopping some of the best players of all time, be it Jordan or Shaq.

I can't believe he was 6' 7"...he seems to be huge in memory.

[Andrew]

That's why it's a shame that his antics will surely work against him. I believe he's already eligible for the Hall of Fame considering he played his last game in the 1999/2000 season (I'm not sure if they'd his count brief appearances in European leagues when considering his eligibility) but his name has yet to come up.

[Jeffx]

There's an awesome site that compares the '96 Bulls to the great teams of the past. The owner of the site describes how the Bulls would have fared against the 86 Celtics, 87 Lakers, 83 Sixers, 72 Lakers, etc., etc. While the Bulls were a great team, they weren't the best of all time. When I find the link, I'll post it.