Was the entire Chicago Bulls’ dynasty as tumultuous as the 1997-98 season appears to have been? Was it always a roller coaster?
Even after the Bulls beat the Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals, no one knew what was on the horizon.
“Nobody thought it was going to be any more than a one-hit wonder,” Smith said. “But they win, and then Jordan – obviously he’s a great player. But . . . Magic Johnson [gets] HIV, he’s out of the game. Larry Bird, his back was bad, he’s out of the game. Isiah Thomas tears his Achilles, he’s out of the game. All [of this] happens in ’91, ’92.”
The Bulls won two more titles before Jordan retired from basketball (the first time) to play minor league baseball. When Jordan returned, the Bulls had a captivating array of personalities, including Dennis Rodman.
“You had this incredible combination of the greatest player, the most outrageous player, the most unique coach ever with Phil Jackson, and this successful team that was not only technically efficient, but so intimidating and so impressive that opponents were overwhelmed by it,” Smith said. “That combination — and the antics associated with it with Dennis and the attention – those last couple of years, the attention built to such record proportions. I’m sure there’s never been anything like that.”