Chicago Bulls · Franchise era 2 of 7
Artis Gilmore and the long middle: the Chicago Bulls story
Franchise era
1976–77—1983–84
Artis Gilmore and the long middle
Chicago Bulls
The story in one sentence
Gilmore supplied an elite interior anchor, but Chicago spent most of the period searching for the next durable core.
A star center without a stable contender
Artis Gilmore, Reggie Theus and Orlando Woolridge gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for jordan rises.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1976–77
What came before
Chicago reached the playoffs in its first season and built a bruising 1970s contender around Sloan, Love, Van Lier, Walker and Tom Boerwinkle.
1977
Eastern Conference First Round: Chicago Bulls vs Portland Trail Blazers
1981
Eastern Conference First Round: Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks
1981
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics
After 1983–84
What came next
Jordan transformed the franchise instantly. Pippen and Grant arrived in 1987, and repeated losses to Detroit taught the Bulls what their first title would require.
The core