This Date in NBA Finals History: Chicago Bulls Defeat Seattle SuperSonics in Game 6 of the 1996 NBA Finals for Fourth Championship

Cover photo: Shawn Kemp of the Seattle SuperSonics and Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls fight for position during the 1996 NBA Finals at Key Area in Seattle, Wash. Photo credit: Getty Images.

On this date 29 years ago, the Chicago Bulls won their fourth championship in six seasons, capping their then-record 72-win season with a 4-2 NBA Finals win over the Seattle SuperSonics. 

In a run that ended up being six titles in eight seasons, the ‘96 Bulls squad was the best of them all. With a full season of Michael Jordan - back in basketball after a brief shift to baseball - and a new addition in Dennis Rodman who provided expert rebounding and defense, the Bulls surpassed the 1972 Lakers’ 69 wins and in doing so ran off some impressive numbers. 

From November 27, 1995 through to December 23, the Bulls won 13 consecutive games, and from December 29, 1995 through to February 22, 1996 went 18-0. After two consecutive losses on February 4 and February 6, they went 7-0 over their next seven. To finish the season, they went on three winning streaks of six games and one streak of five. After a 90-86 win over the Orlando Magic on April 7, the Bulls were 66-8. They won their record 70th game by a score of 86-80 on April 16 on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks.     

In the postseason, the Bulls swept the Miami Heat 3-0 in the first round, defeated the New York Knicks 4-1 in the second round, and swept the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals, exacting revenge for a 4-2 series loss to the Magic in the Eastern Conference Semifinals one year earlier. 

The Bulls met Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp in the Finals, the two leaders of a team that won 64 games during the regular season and was coached by University of North Carolina alum George Karl. The Sonics defeated the Sacramento Kings 3-1 in Round 1, swept the Houston Rockets 4-0 in the second round, and defeated the Utah Jazz in seven games in the Western Conference Finals. Kemp averaged 19.6 points and 11.4 rebounds in the regular season (56.1% shooting, 12 shots), while Payton averaged 19.3 points, 7.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 steals. Payton’s 2.9 steals led the NBA that season. He was the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year.   

Playing 17 games in his return season of 1994-95, Jordan averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on just 41.1% shooting, a career low. However, Jordan responded in 1995-96 with averages of 30.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 49.5% shooting, playing all 82 games. He won his fourth MVP. 

In Game 1 of the final, the Bulls cruised to a 107-90 win at the United Center behind 28 points and 7 rebounds from Jordan (9-for-18), 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks from Scottie Pippen, and 13 rebounds from Rodman. Toni Kukoc scored 18 points off the bench in 27 minutes on 7-for-13 shooting. For the Sonics, Kemp made 9-of-14 shots and 14-of-16 from the line for 32 points and 8 rebounds. 

Game 2 was a close affair, 92-88 in favor of the Bulls, Jordan leading with 29 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds on 9-of-22 and 10-of-16 from the line. Pippen scored 21 on 8-of-16 with 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Rodman scored 10 points and corralled 20 rebounds. Ron Harper scored 12 and Kukoc 11. Kemp again was rather dominant - 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks on 8-of-18 and 13-of-16 from the line. 

The Bulls took a commanding 3-0 lead with a 108-86 win at Key Area in Game 3 behind 36 from Jordan (11-of-23 from the field, 11-of-11 from the line). Rodman grabbed 10 rebounds, and Luc Longley scored 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Kukoc scored 14 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Detlef Schrempf and Gary Payton led the Sonics this time - Schrempf with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting and Payton with 19 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds.

Jordan struggled in Game 4, just 6-for-19 for 23 points (11-of-13 from the line) in what was a 107-86 blowout win for the Sonics. Rodman had 14 rebounds. Pippen missed 13 of his 17 shot attempts and finished with 9 points as the Bulls collectively shot 40%. Kemp went for 25 points and 11 rebounds (12-of-17) and Payton 21 points and 11 assists. Hersey Hawkins, a guard who had exquisite aim

from distance in his career, was 6-for-9 for 18 points. Smooth lefty Sam Perkins shot 7-of-13 for 17 points off the bench. Schrempf scored 14. The Sonics shot 52.6% as a whole. 

The Sonics closed the series gap to 3-2 with an 89-78 win in Game 5 behind 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists from Payton and 22 points and 10 rebounds from Kemp (8-of-16). Hawkins was on once again, scoring 21 points on 7-of-14 from the field. 26 points on 11-for-22 for Jordan. Pippen struggled in a major way, 5-for-20 from the field for 14 points with 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Twelve rebounds for Rodman and 11 points apiece from Kukoc and Longley. 

Back in Chicago for Game 6 on Father’s Day, the Bulls prevailed 87-75, despite shooting 39.7%. Jordan scored 22 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists but was 5-of-19 from the field, though he did make 11-of-12 from the line. Pippen posted 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals on 7-for-17, while Longley had another solid game with 12 points and 8 rebounds on 5-for-6 shooting. Harper and Kukoc scored 10. The Worm grabbed 19 rebounds and had 5 assists and 3 steals. He also made 4-of-9 shots for 9 points. 

Schrempf led the Sonics with 23 points on 9-for-17 from the field, Kemp was 8-for-17 for 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Payton made 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range for 19 points, complemented by 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. 

“This one’s for Daddy. I know he’s watching,” said an emotional Jordan to Ahmad Rashad during the Bulls’ on-court celebration. The image and video of Jordan sobbing on the floor in the locker room, face down as he clutches the ball, is one that sticks out in the minds of NBA fans. He had lost his father James less than three years earlier. 

Jordan was Finals MVP with averages of 27.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals (41.5% from the field), while Pippen shot just 34.3% for 15.7 points with 8.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 steals. Kemp led the Sonics with 23.3 points and 10.0 rebounds, while Payton averaged 18.0 points, 7.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. 

Though Jordan won Finals MVP, Kemp has given Rodman the nod for how impactful the master rebounder and defender was in the series. 

Speaking on the All the Smoke podcast to Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Kemp says, “Michael wasn’t the reason, he didn’t beat us in the championship, he did not beat us, man. Dennis Rodman’s the one who beat us,” Kemp continues. “We had no answer for his ass, man. Everytime that they needed a second shot or something special, an extra rebound, or a tip in.” 

The Bulls won 47 games in 1994-95, and followed it up with a 25-game improvement to make history in 1995-96. Their record 72 wins was surpassed by the Golden State Warriors of 2015-2016 and their 73-9 record, a team that ironically was coached by Kerr. 

Jordan was back in game shape in 1995 after an offseason working out in a custom built “Jordan Dome” on the Warner Bros. lot as he filmed Space Jam. He invited some all-star talent to join him for pick-up runs. One of his go-to listens as he worked out was D’Angelo’s just released (July 3, 1995) Brown Sugar album, according to actor and comedian Bill Bellamy, who joined in the games on one occasion. 

Rodman filled a need in 1995 after the 1994 departure of Horace Grant. The perennial pest fit like a glove in Chicago. In Pippen’s first season without Jordan, 1993-94, he averaged 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.9 steals and finished third in MVP voting to Hakeem Olajuwon (1st) and David Robinson. Now, there was less pressure on Pippen. Harper, who had been a 20-point-per-game scorer with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers earlier in his career, came to the Bulls in 1994 and took a lesser role to still be able to score but become a defensive ace. Longley came over in 1994. He provided a fundamentally sound center who could shoot and pass. Kerr, a sniper of a 3-point shooter, came over in 1993. Kukoc, whom Jordan and Pippen ferociously fixated on in the ‘92 Olympics, was drafted by the Bulls in the second round in 1990. He came over in 1993. Kukoc was a long, small forward ahead of his time - 6 foot, 10 inches with outside shooting ability and strong fundamentals. 

All the Bulls needed was Batman back. In 1995-96, they ranked first in offensive rating and defensive rating (115.2 and 101.8),  first in points per game (105.2) and third in opponent points per game (92.9).

The table was set for their next 3-peat. And 29 years ago today, they got started on it.