Chicago Bulls: A Formula to Determine the Top 10 Bulls of All Time

This article was inspired by a question I read or discussed with someone. It doesn't matter at this point, but the question was concerning Derrick Rose's place in Chicago Bulls history. If he didn't play another game in a Bulls uniform, where would he rank all-time as a Chicago Bull?

On the strength of that, I created a formula that I hope is original. I did a little bit of checking, I don't see anything exactly like it available online. It is called the Franchise Player Value Rating, affectionately referred to as the FPVR by myself and any other person that digs its concept.

The purpose of the FPVR is to determine a player's value to their franchise based on their career accomplishments in that uniform. It takes into consideration years of service, per game average for scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

The defensive statistics are a little bit tricky and slightly unfair towards players whose career pre-dates 1973, when these statistics were first kept. In the Bulls case, it didn't effect the overall outcome.

The formula also accounts for awards, all-star recognition and individual post-season excellence. This caused another slight issue when accounting for players before 1982. This is the year many of the major awards in the NBA were introduced. Again, it didn't make a huge impact in the case of the Bulls franchise.

Finally, team accomplishments were factored in with a high value on advancing in the post-season. With that ideology, the FPVR was created. If you would like to see the specific breakdown of the formula, click here, otherwise check out the list. OK, we already know who No. 1 is of course.

1. Michael Jordan: FPVR 430.97

Everyone had to know MJ would be No. 1, so I started at the top.  A countdown would have provided no sense of suspense in this case. What still never ceases to amaze me is when I really sit down and absorb just how great Jordan was.

When you see the other players FPVR it properly puts into perspective Jordan's value to the franchise. The six titles, five MVP awards, six NBA Finals MVP awards and the 31.5 per game scoring average is what makes Michael the greatest Bull by a landslide.

2. Scottie Pippen: FPVR 213.2

Almost as obvious as No. 1 is Pip at No. 2. He and Jordan are the only Bulls on all six championship teams and that was huge in the FPVR. Also, Scottie tallied a string of All-Defensive team and NBA All-Star selections.

As great as he was, his FPVR is appropriately about half of Jordan's total.

3. Derrick Rose: FPVR 104.3

Here is where it could get challenging for some. I can hear people screaming, "how after three seasons is he the third greatest Bull of all-time?" Well, three years is the minimum for consideration and regular season MVP awards are valued high in the FPVR system.

Rose is also a 21-point-per-game scorer so far in his career, a two-time All-Star and he won a Rookie of the Year award. He has also been on a team that reached the Conference Finals. When its all said and done, if he doesn't get injured, he may just pass Pippen on this list.

4. Bob Love: FPVR 95

If you are saying, "who?" Its probably past your bed-time and you can read the rest in the morning. Bob Love was the silky smooth scoring forward for the moderately successful Bulls teams of the early and mid 1970s.

How did he get here? Well, he was a near 21-point-per-game scorer himself. He played on several playoff teams, two conference finals appearances, He also played in three All-Star games, was All-NBA second team and a three-time All Defensive team selection.

Show Bob some love.

5. Jerry Sloan: FPVR 88.4

Another of the standouts from those 1970's Bulls teams. Before he was the longtime head coach of the Utah Jazz, Sloan was as good a defensive player as the league had in the 1970's, evidenced by his six All-Defensive team selections. Jerry did put it in the hole a bit too, averaging 14.7 points per game during his Bulls career while appearing in two All-Star games.

6. Norm Van Lier: FPVR 84.3

Staying with our 1970's theme, the late "Stormin" Norm Van Lier falls in line here. Van Lier was just about equal defensively to Sloan, this was the calling card for this Bulls backcourt. He played point guard for two teams that reached the Conference Finals, was All-NBA second team in 1974 and was All-Defensive team six times.

7. Horace Grant: FPVR 80.3

Grant is probably the most underrated member of the Chicago Bulls championship teams. Grant was probably the best defensive power forward in the NBA during much of his Bulls tenure. Grant was a Bull for the first Three-Peat, appeared in one All-Star game and was All-Defensive team four times.

He averaged 12.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during his Bulls career.

8. Artis Gilmore: FPVR 79.5

The A-Train had two stints with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls were enamored with the big fella from the start. They drafted him in the 7th round of the 1971 draft, but he chose to go to the ABA. Gilmore starred for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA, before the league folded in 1976. A dispersal draft was held and the Bulls again drafted Gilmore, first overall this time.

Gilmore regularly led the league in field goal percentage. He averaged over two blocks per game during the time the statistic was kept. He played in four All-Star games and was All-Defensive team once as a Bull. Had his teams enjoyed more success, his FPVR would have been higher.

9. Chet Walker: FPVR 76.8

"The Jet" was a scoring machine for the Bulls, averaging just under 21 points per game in six seasons. He was a member of those aforementioned 1970's playoff teams. Walker also played in four All-Star games as a Bull. His scoring average is the fifth highest in team history.

10. Toni Kukoc: FPVR 73.2

Rounding out the top 10 is "The Waiter". Kukoc could have had better stats if he hadn't played with MJ and Scottie, but then again he wouldn't have the points for the team success, so it all balances out.

As things were, Toni played seven seasons in a Bulls uniform. He was apart of the second Three-Peat, averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists during his Bulls career. He also won a Sixth Man Of The Year Award.

It was fun researching this and as I said, check out the formula here.