Best draft picks in Chicago Bulls history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, compiled a list of the best draft picks in Chicago Bulls history using data from . Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's , career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their 爆料TV score. Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy r茅sum茅 for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Eddy Curry
- 爆料TV score: 2.3
- Fourth overall pick in 2001
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.9 PTS, 5.2 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.7 win shares, -2.4 box plus/minus, -1.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2012 NBA Champ
#49. Tony Snell
- 爆料TV score: 2.3
- 20th overall pick in 2013
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 6.1 PTS, 2.3 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.5 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, -0.1 VORP
#48. Mitchell Wiggins
- 爆料TV score: 2.5
- 23rd overall pick in 1983
- Played one season with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.0 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.2 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.6 VORP
#47. Doug McDermott
- 爆料TV score: 2.5
- 11th overall pick in 2014
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.5 PTS, 2.1 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.7 win shares, -2.2 box plus/minus, -0.7 VORP
#46. 脰mer A艧谋k
- 爆料TV score: 2.7
- 36th overall pick in 2008
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 5.3 PTS, 7.1 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.9 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.1 VORP
#45. Erwin Mueller
- 爆料TV score: 2.9
- 20th overall pick in 1966
- Played one season with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 4.7 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.6 win shares
#44. Ayo Dosunmu
- 爆料TV score: 2.9
- 38th overall pick in 2021
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.5 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 2.0 VORP
#43. Coby White
- 爆料TV score: 3.1
- Seventh overall pick in 2019
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 15.4 PTS, 3.6 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.9 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 1.7 VORP
#42. Scott May
- 爆料TV score: 3.2
- Second overall pick in 1976
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.4 PTS, 4.1 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.4 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 2.7 VORP
#41. Will Perdue
- 爆料TV score: 3.3
- 11th overall pick in 1988
- Played eight seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 4.7 PTS, 4.9 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.6 win shares, -2.1 box plus/minus, -0.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 4x NBA Champ
#40. Chris Duhon
- 爆料TV score: 4.3
- 38th overall pick in 2004
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 6.5 PTS, 2.3 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.0 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 3.2 VORP
#39. Nikola Miroti膰
- 爆料TV score: 5.1
- 23rd overall pick in 2011
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.3 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares, 1.6 box plus/minus, 7.1 VORP
#38. Mike Glenn
- 爆料TV score: 5.2
- 23rd overall pick in 1977
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 1.2 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.3 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 5.6 VORP
#37. Howard Porter
- 爆料TV score: 5.3
- 32nd overall pick in 1971
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.2 PTS, 4.1 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.6 win shares
#36. Mike Gale
- 爆料TV score: 5.4
- 47th overall pick in 1971
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 2.9 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1974 ABA Champ
--- 2x All-Defensive
#35. Wendell Carter
- 爆料TV score: 6.1
- Seventh overall pick in 2018
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 11.9 PTS, 8.1 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.3 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 5.3 VORP
#34. Herm Gilliam
- 爆料TV score: 6.3
- 163rd overall pick in 1968
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 3.8 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1977 NBA Champ
#33. James Johnson
- 爆料TV score: 6.7
- 16th overall pick in 2009
- Played one season with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 3.5 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.4 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 9.3 VORP
#32. Bobby Portis
- 爆料TV score: 7.0
- 22nd overall pick in 2015
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.1 PTS, 7.1 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.6 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 6.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2021 NBA Champ
#31. Ben Gordon
- 爆料TV score: 7.3
- Third overall pick in 2004
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.9 PTS, 2.5 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.3 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 8.7 VORP
#30. Daniel Gafford
- 爆料TV score: 7.3
- 38th overall pick in 2019
- Played one season with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.3 PTS, 5.8 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.2 win shares, 1.7 box plus/minus, 8.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#29. Rod Higgins
- 爆料TV score: 7.9
- 31st overall pick in 1982
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 3.6 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.8 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 8.8 VORP
#28. Dave Greenwood
- 爆料TV score: 8.5
- Second overall pick in 1979
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.2 PTS, 7.9 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 46.4 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 7.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1990 NBA Champ
#27. B.J. Armstrong
- 爆料TV score: 8.9
- 18th overall pick in 1989
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.8 PTS, 1.8 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 45.0 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 8.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 2.0%
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
#26. Lauri Markkanen
- 爆料TV score: 8.9
- Seventh overall pick in 2017
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 18.9 PTS, 7.1 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.7 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 12.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#25. Thabo Sefolosha
- 爆料TV score: 9.3
- 13th overall pick in 2006
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 5.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 39.3 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 12.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2009-10 All-Defensive
#24. George Johnson
- 爆料TV score: 9.9
- 79th overall pick in 1970
- Career averages: 4.8 PTS, 6.5 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1975 NBA Champ
--- 3x BLK Champ
--- 1980-81 All-Defensive
#23. Taj Gibson
- 爆料TV score: 10.0
- 26th overall pick in 2009
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.3 PTS, 5.7 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 60.5 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 6.5 VORP
#22. Clem Haskins
- 爆料TV score: 10.8
- Third overall pick in 1967
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.8 PTS, 3.1 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.8 win shares
#21. Orlando Woolridge
- 爆料TV score: 11.2
- Sixth overall pick in 1981
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 16.0 PTS, 4.3 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 53.0 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 12.8 VORP
#20. Kirk Hinrich
- 爆料TV score: 11.3
- Seventh overall pick in 2003
- Played 10 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.9 PTS, 2.9 REB, 4.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 52.5 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 13.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2006-07 All-Defensive
#19. Tom Boerwinkle
- 爆料TV score: 11.4
- Fourth overall pick in 1968
- Played 10 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 9.0 REB, 3.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.0 win shares
#18. Maurice Lucas
- 爆料TV score: 12.0
- 14th overall pick in 1974
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 9.1 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 58.7 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 10.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 4.6%
- Accolades
--- 1977 NBA Champ
--- 1977-78 All-NBA
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- 5x All Star
#17. Mickey Johnson
- 爆料TV score: 13.6
- 56th overall pick in 1974
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 7.2 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 58.6 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 17.7 VORP
#16. Derrick Rose
- 爆料TV score: 13.8
- First overall pick in 2008
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 17.4 PTS, 3.2 REB, 5.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 44.6 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 18.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 10.5%
- Accolades
--- 2010-11 MVP
--- 2008-09 ROY
--- 2010-11 All-NBA
--- 3x All Star
#15. Jamal Crawford
- 爆料TV score: 14.1
- Eighth overall pick in 2000
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 2.2 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 60.7 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 18.4 VORP
#14. Reggie Theus
- 爆料TV score: 15.0
- Ninth overall pick in 1978
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 18.5 PTS, 3.3 REB, 6.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 66.9 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 18.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#13. Joakim Noah
- 爆料TV score: 15.2
- Ninth overall pick in 2007
- Played nine seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.8 PTS, 9.0 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 61.9 win shares, 2.5 box plus/minus, 20.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2013-14 Def. POY
--- 2013-14 All-NBA
--- 3x All-Defensive
--- 2x All Star
#12. Metta World Peace
- 爆料TV score: 16.6
- 16th overall pick in 1999
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 13.2 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 61.1 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 25.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2010 NBA Champ
--- 2003-04 Def. POY
--- 2003-04 All-NBA
--- 4x All-Defensive
#11. Charles Oakley
- 爆料TV score: 16.8
- Ninth overall pick in 1985
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 9.5 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 89.7 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 15.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- 1x All Star
#10. Toni Kuko膷
- 爆料TV score: 17.0
- 29th overall pick in 1990
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 11.6 PTS, 4.2 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.6 win shares, 2.8 box plus/minus, 27.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#9. Clifford Ray
- 爆料TV score: 17.1
- 40th overall pick in 1971
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 8.9 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 56.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1975 NBA Champ
#8. Luol Deng
- 爆料TV score: 17.4
- Seventh overall pick in 2004
- Played nine seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.8 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 74.0 win shares, 0.9 box plus/minus, 22.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2011-12 All-Defensive
--- 2x All Star
#7. Tyson Chandler
- 爆料TV score: 18.9
- Second overall pick in 2001
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 9.0 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 102.1 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 16.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2011 NBA Champ
--- 2011-12 Def. POY
--- 2011-12 All-NBA
--- 3x All-Defensive
#6. Elton Brand
- 爆料TV score: 28.0
- First overall pick in 1999
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 15.9 PTS, 8.5 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 109.6 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 37.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 6.3%
- Accolades
--- 1999-00 ROY
--- 2005-06 All-NBA
--- 2x All Star
#5. Horace Grant
- 爆料TV score: 29.1
- 10th overall pick in 1987
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 8.1 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 118.2 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 33.0 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 15.2%
- Accolades
--- 4x NBA Champ
--- 4x All-Defensive
--- 1x All Star
#4. Artis Gilmore
- 爆料TV score: 43.1
- 117th overall pick in 1971
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 18.8 PTS, 12.3 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 107.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1971-72 MVP
--- 1975 ABA Champ
--- 1971-72 ROY
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#3. Jimmy Butler
- 爆料TV score: 47.4
- 30th overall pick in 2011
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 18.4 PTS, 5.4 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 129.4 win shares, 5.0 box plus/minus, 52.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 75.7%
- Accolades
--- 2022-23 ECF MVP
--- 2020-21 STL Champ
--- 5x All-NBA
--- 5x All-Defensive
#2. Scottie Pippen
- 爆料TV score: 54.5
- Fifth overall pick in 1987
- Played 12 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 16.1 PTS, 6.4 REB, 5.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 125.1 win shares, 4.1 box plus/minus, 63.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 6x NBA Champ
--- 1994-95 STL Champ
--- 7x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#1. Michael Jordan
- 爆料TV score: 84.2
- Third overall pick in 1984
- Played 13 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 30.1 PTS, 6.2 REB, 5.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 214.0 win shares, 9.2 box plus/minus, 116.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 6x NBA Champ
--- 5x MVP
--- 6x Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
