It was doubt and a lack of respect from the beginning, though it only would fuel the motivation that always has driven the Bulls franchise at it enters its 50th season in 2015-16. It’s a franchise perhaps appropriately named, stubborn in its tenacity and determination, bullish, if you will.
And so it was even that first day, Oct. 15, 1966, when the original baby Bulls took the floor in the NBA for the first time. It was in St. Louis, and Hawks player/coach Richie Guerin, a perennial All-Star with the New York Knickerbockers, predicted this Bulls bunch of expansion rejects would be fortunate to win 10 games.
It wouldn’t take long for win No. 1, though, 104-97 Bulls in Kiel Auditorium on opening night, October 15, as point guard Guy Rodgers triggered the upset with 37 points.
And of course, they finished 33-48, the best record for an NBA expansion club, and became the first expansion team to make the Playoffs in their first year. Six titles in six appearances over an eight year span, the 72 win season 20 years ago (feeling old yet?), the feeling through most of the 90s that winning was a given...I know we should look forward and not spend too much time in the past, but it hasn't been too bad being a Bulls fan. When times have been tough, at least we've had some good times to reminisce about!