Overview
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle SuperSonics four games to two in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1995-96 NBA season. It was the fourth of six titles in an eight-season span for the Bulls, but the first since the 1993 Finals.
This series capped off one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. The Bulls won 72 games in the regular season, setting a single-season NBA record. It was Michael Jordan's first full season back in the NBA following a one and a half season hiatus, during which he played professional baseball.
Jordan won the NBA Finals MVP award for the fourth time, surpassing Magic Johnson for the most Finals MVP trophies.
The Bulls had home-court advantage for the Finals. The two teams split their regular-season meetings in 1996-97.
This series capped off one of the greatest seasons in NBA history. The Bulls won 72 games in the regular season, setting a single-season NBA record. It was Michael Jordan's first full season back in the NBA following a one and a half season hiatus, during which he played professional baseball.
Jordan won the NBA Finals MVP award for the fourth time, surpassing Magic Johnson for the most Finals MVP trophies.
The Bulls had home-court advantage for the Finals. The two teams split their regular-season meetings in 1996-97.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Sonics | Bulls |
| Regular Season | 64-18, 1st in Pacific Division | 72-10, 1st in Central Division |
| First Round | Def. (8) Sacramento Kings, 3-1 | Def. (8) Miami Heat, 3-0 |
| Conference Semifinals | Def. (5) Houston Rockets, 4-0 | Def. (5) New York Knicks, 4-1 |
| Conference Finals | Def. (3) Utah Jazz, 4-3 | Def. (2) Orlando Magic, 4-0 |
Game 1 - Bulls 107, Sonics 90
The Bulls blew open a close game with a 14-5 run to open the fourth quarter, winning Game 1 in their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. Chicago led by as many as nine points in the first quarter before the Sonics climbed back into the game, tying it up during the third quarter.
Michael Jordan scored 28 points to lead five Bulls players in double figures. Toni Kukoc, who scored 10 points during the Bulls' decisive run, finished with 18 points. Shawn Kemp led all scorers with 32 points. Frank Brickowski was ejected during the second quarter, picking up two technical fouls after arguing a flagrant foul call.
Michael Jordan scored 28 points to lead five Bulls players in double figures. Toni Kukoc, who scored 10 points during the Bulls' decisive run, finished with 18 points. Shawn Kemp led all scorers with 32 points. Frank Brickowski was ejected during the second quarter, picking up two technical fouls after arguing a flagrant foul call.
Game 2 - Bulls 92, Sonics 88
The Bulls took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Sonics 30-20 en route to a four-point victory. Dennis Rodman and Toni Kukoc sparked the Bulls' run. Rodman had eight points and 10 rebounds during the third quarter, while Kukoc made back-to-back 3-pointers to give Chicago a 76-65 lead.
Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 29 points, while Rodman matched a Finals record with 11 offensive rebounds. Shawn Kemp led the Sonics for the second consecutive game, scoring 29 points. Both teams had five different players score in double figures.
Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 29 points, while Rodman matched a Finals record with 11 offensive rebounds. Shawn Kemp led the Sonics for the second consecutive game, scoring 29 points. Both teams had five different players score in double figures.
Game 3 - Bulls 108, Sonics 86
With the series shifting to Seattle, the Sonics failed to make a dent in the Bulls' lead, falling behind 34-16 in the first quarter en route to a 22-point Bulls win. Michael Jordan sparked the early Bulls run, scoring 12 points and dishing out five assists in the first quarter.
Jordan finished with 36 points, going 11-of-23 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Dennis Rodman (five points, 10 rebounds) was the only Bulls starter who didn't score in double figures. For the Sonics, Detlef Schrempf led four players in double figures by scoring 20 points. For the second time in the series, Frank Brickowski was ejected after a flagrant foul.
Jordan finished with 36 points, going 11-of-23 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Dennis Rodman (five points, 10 rebounds) was the only Bulls starter who didn't score in double figures. For the Sonics, Detlef Schrempf led four players in double figures by scoring 20 points. For the second time in the series, Frank Brickowski was ejected after a flagrant foul.
Game 4 - Sonics 107, Bulls 86
Seattle avoided the sweep, using an 11-0 run to start the second quarter to take an insurmountable lead. The Bulls never pulled within single-digits of the Sonics and went on to lose by 21 points. Seattle made a change in the starting lineup before the game, starting the physical Frank Brickowski at center in place of Ervin Johnson.
Shawn Kemp led the Sonics with 25 points, making 12 of his 17 shots from the field. Gary Payton added 21 points and 11 assists for Seattle, which had five players in double figures. Michael Jordan had 23 for the Bulls, but the rest of Chicago's starters combined for just 31 points.
Shawn Kemp led the Sonics with 25 points, making 12 of his 17 shots from the field. Gary Payton added 21 points and 11 assists for Seattle, which had five players in double figures. Michael Jordan had 23 for the Bulls, but the rest of Chicago's starters combined for just 31 points.
Game 5 - Sonics 89, Bulls 78
The Sonics forced the Bulls into one of their worst shooting nights of the entire season, forcing the series back to Chicago for a sixth game. Seattle was holding on to a two-point lead in the fourth quarter before going on an 11-0 run to take control of the game.
The Sonics were led by a trio of players who each scored more than 20 points -- Gary Payton had 23, Shawn Kemp had 22 and Hersey Hawkins had 21. Michael Jordan scored 26 points for the Bulls, who shot just 3-of-23 from 3-point range.
The Sonics were led by a trio of players who each scored more than 20 points -- Gary Payton had 23, Shawn Kemp had 22 and Hersey Hawkins had 21. Michael Jordan scored 26 points for the Bulls, who shot just 3-of-23 from 3-point range.
Game 6 - Bulls 87, Sonics 75
Back in Chicago, the Bulls jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, cruising to a 12-point win to clinch the fourth title in team history.
Michael Jordan had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, clinching his fourth Finals MVP trophy. After the game, Jordan tearfully clutched the game ball, having clinched the championship on Father's Day. It was Jordan's first title since the death of his father in 1993. Dennis Rodman had 19 rebounds for Chicago, including 11 on the offensive glass, which matched the record he set earlier in the series.
The Bulls became just the third franchise in NBA history to win at least four championships, and Jordan became the first player since Willis Reed to be named the regular-season, All-Star and Finals MVP in the same season.
Michael Jordan had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, clinching his fourth Finals MVP trophy. After the game, Jordan tearfully clutched the game ball, having clinched the championship on Father's Day. It was Jordan's first title since the death of his father in 1993. Dennis Rodman had 19 rebounds for Chicago, including 11 on the offensive glass, which matched the record he set earlier in the series.
The Bulls became just the third franchise in NBA history to win at least four championships, and Jordan became the first player since Willis Reed to be named the regular-season, All-Star and Finals MVP in the same season.