How were the Bulls without Michael Jordan? A Deep Dive into Chicago‘s 1993-94 Season

The 1993-94 Chicago Bulls faced a monumental challenge – winning without the legendary Michael Jordan. His unexpected retirement left the franchise without its unequivocal star who had just led them to a third straight NBA title. Could the Bulls stay competitive or even contend without His Airness?

As it turned out, the Bulls put together an incredibly impressive 55-27 regular season and pushed the Knicks to Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs. Chicago proved they were still an elite team even without the greatest player on the planet.

In this article, we‘ll take an in-depth look at how the Bulls managed to thrive without Jordan and set an NBA record for wins without him.

Bulls Roster Turnover After Jordan‘s Retirement

With Jordan‘s retirement, the Bulls had over 30 points per game to replace in their lineup. In the 1993 offseason, Chicago signed valuable role players Steve Kerr, Bill Wennington and Pete Myers. Myers took over the starting shooting guard spot from Jordan.

But most importantly, Scottie Pippen was now the definitive leader and alpha dog of the Bulls. He would need to transform from being Jordan‘s elite sidekick into a full-fledged MVP candidate and scorer.

The Bulls returned several key veterans like Horace Grant, BJ Armstrong, Will Perdue and Stacey King. Croatian star Toni Kukoc also joined the roster after being drafted in 1990.

Chicago hoped their mix of returning players, veteran additions and Pippen‘s emergence could keep them atop the Eastern Conference.

Scottie Pippen Ascends to Superstar Status

With Jordan retired, Scottie Pippen made the leap from All-Star to MVP candidate in 1993-94. Pippen increased his scoring average from 18 PPG with Jordan to 22 PPG without him. He also averaged career-highs of 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

Pippen finished 3rd in MVP voting behind centers Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. He averaged 23.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5 APG and 2.3 SPG in the playoffs while nearly leading the Bulls back to the Conference Finals.

I believe Pippen proved conclusively in 1993-94 that he was capable of being the best player on a contender. If Jordan had stayed retired, Pippen likely could have kept the Bulls near the top of the East for several more years. Though he was always overshadowed by Jordan, make no mistake – Scottie Pippen developed into a truly elite superstar in his own right during this season.

Supporting Cast Steps Up in Jordan‘s Absence

In addition to Pippen‘s brilliance, the Bulls got major contributions from several supporting players to remain formidable without Jordan:

B.J. Armstrong

• Boosted scoring from 10 PPG to 16 PPG
• Earned 1st All-Star selection
• Provided clutch shooting and playmaking

Horace Grant

• Put up 15/11 with stout defense
• Solidified frontcourt with rebounding and defense

Toni Kukoc

• Added 13 PPG, 4 RPG, 3.5 APG as 3rd scorer
• Versatile and dangerous offensive player

Steve Kerr

• Shot incredible 50.7% from three-point range
• Elite spacing and shooting off bench

Bill Wennington

• Increased role to 7.9 PPG and post defense
• Starter-quality center off bench

The collective effort of Chicago‘s supporting players ensured the dropoff without Jordan was not catastrophic. In particular, BJ Armstrong‘s large scoring leap (10 PPG to 16 PPG) helped offset the 30+ PPG they were missing. This cast was strong enough to lift Pippen into title contention.

By the Numbers: How the Bulls Thrived Without Jordan

Here‘s a detailed statistical look at how Chicago‘s production compared the season before and after Jordan‘s retirement:

Statistic	1992-93 (with Jordan)	1993-94 (without Jordan)	Change
Record	57-25	55-27	-2 wins
PPG	105.2	103.2	-2.0 PPG
Opp PPG	99.5	97.3	-2.2 Opp PPG
FG%	.497	.465	-.032 FG%
3P%	.332	.347	+.015 3P%
RPG	42.8	41.6	-1.2 RPG
APG	27.0	23.5	-3.5 APG
SPG	9.0	8.3	-0.7 SPG
BPG	3.1	2.9	-0.2 BPG

Looking at these numbers, we can see the Bulls remained elite defensively, holding opponents to the 2nd fewest points per game in the NBA. Their three-point shooting ticked up slightly with the addition of Steve Kerr. Surprisingly, the Bulls only won 2 fewer games without Jordan – a minor drop-off considering his status.

Advanced stats tell a similar story of minimal decline:

Statistic	1992-93	1993-94	Change
Off Rtg	112.4	107.2	-5.2
Def Rtg	103.7	104.2	+0.5
Net Rtg	+8.7	+3.0	-5.7
Pace	91.8	90.1	-1.7

Offensively, the Bulls were a bit worse without Jordan‘s 30+ PPG. But their defense remained elite, keeping their net rating respectably positive. The slower pace worked to their advantage as well.

Overall, while these statistics show a slight step back, the Bulls largely maintained their identity and success without Jordan thanks to Pippen and the supporting cast. Their regular season record and defensive prowess is impressive considering the circumstances.

How Role Players Bill Wennington and Corie Blount Contributed

Two role players that contributed in expanded roles for the 1993-94 Bulls were veteran center Bill Wennington and rookie Corie Blount. Let‘s examine how these two big men helped fill voids in Jordan‘s absence:

Bill Wennington

Wennington signed as a free agent in 1993 after several years with the Mavericks and Kings. The seven-footer from Canada provided valuable post depth behind Bill Cartwright, appearing in 77 games.

• 7.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 54% FG in 18.6 MPG
• Reliable midrange jumper and interior defense
• Played valuable starter minutes when Cartwright was hurt
• Won 3 titles with Bulls from 1996-1998

Wennington gave crucial production off the bench. His career ultimately spanned 13 seasons. I estimate his net worth around $10 million today, earnings from his NBA salary and business interests after retirement.

Corie Blount

Forward Corie Blount joined the Bulls as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1993. He instantly carved out a role as backup frontcourt depth.

• 3.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG in 12.5 MPG
• 63 games played as rookie
• Length and shot blocking ability
• 11 year NBA career

Blount delivered solid production in limited minutes as a first-year player. Though not a star, he contributed during the Bulls‘ playoff run. I estimate Blount‘s current net worth around $5 million. He played 11 NBA seasons but has maintained a low profile since retiring.

Both Wennington and Blount played minor but meaningful roles helping the depleted Bulls‘ frontcourt. Every little bit helped as the team sought to overcome Jordan‘s absence.

Could the Bulls Have Won Titles in 1994 and 1995 with Jordan?

As a basketball fan, I can‘t help but wonder – what if Michael Jordan had continued playing in 1994 and 1995? Could the Bulls have won four consecutive championships and two separate three-peats?

In my opinion, the possibility seems very realistic:

1994

With Jordan alongside prime Pippen, Kukoc, Grant and Armstrong – the Bulls likely win 60+ games easily. They were still absolutely stacked with talent. I believe Jordan could have powered them past the Knicks and Pacers to another Finals appearance. Facing Hakeem Olajuwon‘s Rockets would have been tough. But Jordan was capable of taking over playoff series and likely could have led them to a 4th straight ring.

1995

Jordan was rusty in his real return, and the Bulls lost to Orlando in the playoffs. But with MJ playing at full strength in this hypothetical scenario, I think Chicago would have continued dominating the East. The Rockets and Spurs were formidable, but Jordan‘s brilliance likely would have been enough to earn Chicago a 4-peat.

So in my opinion, the Bulls absolutely could have won titles in 1994 and 1995 to complete four straight championships. But Jordan‘s first retirement opened the door for Hakeem and Shaq to win instead during those years. The 1993-94 Bulls proved Jordan was still the missing ingredient needed for more rings.

The Lasting Legacy of the 1993-94 Chicago Bulls

While this Jordan-less version came up just short of another Finals run, the 1993-94 Bulls left an impressive legacy that should not be forgotten:

• Their 55 wins set an NBA record without Jordan, proving their greatness extended beyond just MJ.

• Scottie Pippen confirmed his superstar status by nearly taking them to the Conference Finals as the lead dog.

• Supporting players like BJ Armstrong and Horace Grant emerged as stars capable of keeping the Bulls elite.

• Chicago‘s stingy defense and execution persevered even without the greatest player ever.

• The Bulls remained a dominant force in the East despite a massive void from Jordan‘s retirement.

For these reasons, the 1993-94 squad deserves recognition as one of the most surprising and inspiring single season stories in NBA history. Their valiant success without Jordan was an unforgettable chapter in the Bulls‘ epic 1990s run.