1996–97 Chicago Bulls season
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
17 December 3 @ Milwaukee W 107-104 Michael Jordan ( 40 ) Dennis Rodman ( 12 ) Jordan & Pippen ( 6 ) Bradley Center 18,717 16-1
18 December 5 L.A. Clippers W 114-96 Scottie Pippen ( 25 ) Dennis Rodman ( 14 ) Toni Kukoč ( 12 ) United Center 23,687 17-1
19 December 7 Miami L 80-83 Michael Jordan ( 37 ) Dennis Rodman ( 18 ) Scottie Pippen ( 5 ) United Center 23,861 17-2
20 December 8 @ Toronto L 89-97 Scottie Pippen ( 28 ) Dennis Rodman ( 11 ) Michael Jordan ( 8 ) SkyDome 33,385 17-3
21 December 11 Minnesota W 103-86 Michael Jordan ( 27 ) Scottie Pippen ( 9 ) Scottie Pippen ( 8 ) United Center 23,505 18-3
22 December 13 @ New Jersey W 113-92 Michael Jordan ( 32 ) Bill Wennington ( 8 ) Jordan & Pippen ( 6 ) Continental Airlines Arena 20,049 19-3
23 December 14 Charlotte W 87-82 Michael Jordan ( 29 ) Dennis Rodman ( 23 ) Jordan & Pippen ( 5 ) United Center 23,771 20-3
24 December 17 L.A. Lakers W 129-123 ( OT ) Scottie Pippen ( 35 ) Dennis Rodman ( 18 ) Scottie Pippen ( 6 ) United Center 23,919 21-3
25 December 19 @ Charlotte W 93-72 Michael Jordan ( 35 ) Dennis Rodman ( 14 ) Dennis Rodman ( 5 ) Charlotte Coliseum 24,042 22-3
26 December 21 @ Philadelphia W 111-105 Michael Jordan ( 31 ) Dennis Rodman ( 18 ) Scottie Pippen ( 7 ) CoreStates Center 20,918 23-3
27 December 23 New Jersey W 113-81 Michael Jordan ( 24 ) Dennis Rodman ( 17 ) Toni Kukoč ( 5 ) United Center 23,601 24-3
28 December 25 Detroit W 95-83 Scottie Pippen ( 27 ) Dennis Rodman ( 22 ) Kukoč & Pippen ( 8 ) United Center 23,744 25-3
29 December 26 @ Atlanta L 103-108 Michael Jordan ( 34 ) Parish & Rodman ( 10 ) Ron Harper ( 4 ) Omni Coliseum 16,378 25-4
30 December 28 Cleveland W 102-97 Michael Jordan ( 45 ) Dennis Rodman ( 16 ) Scottie Pippen ( 6 ) United Center 23,792 26-4
31 December 30 Indiana W 81-79 Michael Jordan ( 28 ) Dennis Rodman ( 21 ) Scottie Pippen ( 5 ) United Center 23,692 27-4
The 1996-97 NBA season was the Bulls' 31st season in the National Basketball Association. The Bulls entered the season as defending NBA champions, having defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals in six games, winning their fourth NBA championship. During the offseason, the Bulls signed free agent Robert Parish, who won championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. The Bulls, on the backs of recording another first-place finish in their division and conference, repeated as NBA champions. The Bulls were led by Michael Jordan, perennial All-Star small forward Scottie Pippen, and rebound ace Dennis Rodman, with the former two (Jordan and Pippen) both being selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. Other notable players on the club's roster that year were clutch-specialist Croatian Toni Kukoč, and sharp-shooting point guard Steve Kerr. The Bulls got off to a fast start winning their first twelve games, while posting a 42-6 record before the All-Star break. During the final month of the regular season, the team signed free agent Brian Williams, who played in the final nine games. Though, the Bulls look to make history against the New York Knicks in their final regular season game of the year, Pippen missed a game-winning 3 and they finished with a 69-13 record, just missing out on becoming the first team in NBA history to have back-to-back 70 wins seasons. Jordan led the league in scoring once again averaging 29.6 points per game. In the playoffs, the Bulls would sweep the Washington Bullets in three straight games in the first round. In the semifinals, they defeated the Atlanta Hawks in five games, despite losing Game 2 at the United Center 103-95.