Chicago Bulls Encyclopedia Book

This one-of-a-kind encyclopedia captures the entire history of the Chicago Bulls franchise in words and pictures, from the difficult early years to the fabulous 1990s when they won six NBA titles in eight years. Packed with historical information, revealing anecdotes, personality pieces, and comprehensive statistics on every player who has worn a Bulls uniform, "The Chicago Bulls Encyclopedia" is the definitive book for every Bulls fan and follower. This is their story and how they came to be. Among the many topics covered in-depth in this book are: The Early Years: why Chicago was granted an expansion franchise after previous NBA teams had failed, and why the Bulls had only seven winning seasons in eighteen years prior to Michael Jordan's arrival; The Dynasty: the Bulls' rise from contender to three-time NBA champions, Michael Jordan's retirement, and the subsequent three title teams; Michael Jordan: the greatest player in the history of team sports and his impact on the Chicago Bulls, the NBA, and the world at large; The Players: a look at the careers of twelve outstanding players, including Norm Van Lier, Bob Love, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan, and Chet Walker, and what each meant to the Bulls franchise; The Defining Moments: long-time staffers offer revelations and insights into the team's evolution. It also covers: The Rivalries: the Lakers, 1971-73; the Detroit Pistons, 1988-91 - one of the most intense rivalries in sports history; the New York Knicks, 1991-96; The Coaches: the styles and personalities of the twelve men who have coached the Bulls over the years, the best known of whom are Phil Jackson and Dick Motta; and The Owners: Jerry Reinsdorf and Jerry Krause put the pieces of the dynasty together and made moves to keep the Bulls at the top. There is also coverage of earlier Bulls owners and administrations: How the Bulls Stack Up: Are they the greatest of all time? A look at the Bulls' place among other NBA championship teams such as the Celtics of the 1960s and the Lakers of the 1980s; and The Stats: The most complete listing of individual and team statistics available.