Michael Jordan and the Bulls capped a 72-win regular season 25 years ago today. And that’s just the start of notable anniversaries for the 1995-96 team.
CHICAGO — “I didn’t even want to play today,” Dennis Rodman said 25 years ago after he and the Chicago Bulls closed out the 1995-96 regular season by defeating the Washington Bullets. “There was no incentive and no motive to even go out there.”
Well, there was some incentive.
The 103-93 road victory on April 21, 1996, was the 72nd victory for Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Rodman and company.
That extended an NBA record they had set five days earlier when they won their 70th game to surpass the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who finished 69-13.
But with a playoff opener against the Miami Heat five days ahead — the first step in what would be the Bulls’ fourth championship in six seasons and the start of their second three-peat — there were greater priorities.
They already had the record and essentially were catching their breath, which no doubt factored into a 100-99 loss to the Indiana Pacers the night before.
Had they beaten Reggie Miller and the Pacers,
