5 Jun 1996 to 16 Jun 1996
Bulls' Record-Setting Season Ends in Victory
Michael Jordan collapsed in the locker room and cried. In leading the Chicago Bulls to their fourth league championship in six years, his return to the NBA mountaintop was complete. He had regained his status as the sport's premier player.
But Chicago's six-game elimination of Seattle in the NBA Finals was more than a validation of Jordan's determination and skill. It was the fitting ending to an historic season. The Bulls, led by Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, set an NBA record by going 72-10 during the regular season. They blew past Miami, New York, Orlando and Seattle in the playoffs, losing just three games. Chicago's combined record of 87-13 cemeted its claims as one of the best teams ever to take the court.