The 1990–91 NBA season was the Bulls' 25th season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Bulls acquired Dennis Hopson from the New Jersey Nets, and signed free agent Cliff Levingston. The Bulls overcame a slow start, losing their first three games of the season, as they later on went on an 11-game winning streak between February and March, held a 32–14 record at the All-Star break, then posted a nine-game winning streak also in March. The Bulls finished in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 61–21 record, surpassing their previous franchise-best from the 1971–72 season. Widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time, the Bulls had the best team offensive rating and the seventh best team defensive rating in the NBA. Michael Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game, and won another scoring title and his second Most Valuable Player award, while being named to the All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game. Scottie Pippen averaged 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Horace Grant provided the team with 12.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and Bill Cartwright contributed 9.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Three-point specialist Craig Hodges won the Three-Point Shootout for the second consecutive year during the All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, and head coach Phil Jackson finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting. In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bulls swept the New York Knicks in three straight games. Then in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they defeated Charles Barkley and the 5th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in five games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they swept the defending champion Detroit Pistons in four straight games, and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time. After losing Game 1 at home, 93–91 to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Bulls would win the 1991 NBA Finals in five games, winning their first ever championship in franchise history. This season was the first of three consecutive NBA titles for the Bulls, as well as marking the beginning of the legendary Bulls dynasty, which would net the team another five more championships over the next seven seasons. In 2024, following the Boston Celtics winning their 18th NBA Finals championship, this Chicago Bulls squad would tie that same Celtics team for the 20th easiest route to the NBA Finals championship according to HoopsHype, with Chicago being docked due to their first round opponent, the New York Knicks, having a losing record that season.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

18,676 18,756 18,676 19,006 14,890 18,676 12,616 15,025 14,692 12,884 14,487 15,357 17,022 18,165 18,346 20,273 18,094 18,676 18,676 18,633 17,893 18,228 17,877 21,454 18,676 18,261 18,676 18,676 18,676 16,611 18,676 18,169 18,168 18,676 23,901 18,676 15,077 16,390 15,008 18,333 18,676 15,908 17,007 17,505 17,014 21,454 18,545 19,081 18,676 20,273 17,894 18,413 18,676 18,676 18,676 16,530 18,335 18,676 16,371 18,268 18,633 23,901 20,273 18,163 18,439 18,168 18,676 18,676 20,049 18,756 14,890 18,264 19,081 18,676 18,676 18,676 16,530 21,454 18,117 15,008 23,901 18,678

Playoffs

18,676 18,676 18,021 18,676 18,676 18,168 17,514 18,676 18,676 18,676 21,454 21,454 18,676 18,676 17,506 17,506 17,506

Player stats

Regular season

Playoffs

NBA Finals

Game 1

Sunday, June 2, at the Chicago Stadium

Game 2

Wednesday, June 5, at the Chicago Stadium The Bulls shot a Finals record 61.7% from the floor, with a Jordan layup over Sam Perkins a highlight.

Game 3

Friday, June 7, at the Great Western Forum Michael Jordan sends Game 3 to overtime with a pull-up jumper with 3.4 seconds to go.

Game 4

Sunday, June 9, at the Great Western Forum

Game 5

Wednesday, June 12, at the Great Western Forum The Lakers were facing elimination, and the lack of Worthy and Scott was not any help to the Lakers. This would not stop Magic Johnson as Johnson had 20 assists in the game, but it was not enough. Elden Campbell outscored Michael Jordan with 13 points in the first half, but it was not enough. The Lakers still fought and even led 93–90 in the fourth quarter, but a Bulls 9–0 run, and Paxson's 10 points in the final half of the fourth quarter helped secure the Chicago Bulls', and Michael Jordan's first NBA title.

Award winners

NBA All-Star Game

Transactions