Comparing Current Chicago Bulls to Former Franchise Greats

The Chicago Bulls of 2010-2011 were one of the best teams in history. Even Michael Jordan said as much when the Bulls commemorated the 20th anniversary of their first championship team this year. 

In considering their place in history it got me to thinking how some of the present players compared to former franchise greats. Some have certain similarities that bring other players from the past to mind. 

Here are the most popular current Bulls players, and their most comparable predecessors. 

Joakim Noah Is Dennis Rodman

A Chicago Bull who was an outstanding rebounder and defender but a subpar scorer, had a wild personality and crazy hair: who am I talking about?

While Rodman played power forward and Noah plays center, apart from their different positions Noah and Rodman are an easy comparison. Let's just hope that Noah doesn't die that crazy hair of his. 

Kyle Korver Is Steve Kerr

How do you like that picture of Kyle Korver playing defense? Just to show that it does occasionally happen! Actually he does try. He's just not fast enough but you have to give him credit for effort. 

But I digress. For Kyle Korver, why not the player whose record he broke? In 1996 Steve Kerr hit for .524 from the three point line, an NBA record. In Utah Korver hit for .536 breaking Kerr's record. 

Ronnie Brewer Is Norm Van Lier

Ronnie Brewer is such a terrific and energetic defensive player. He is really a big part of the Bulls team, and actually receives more minutes than starting shooting guard Keith Bogans. Norm Van Lier was a very comparable player to Brewer, even more than Brewer's dad, Ron, who was also a Bull. 

While Van Lier was a point guard and Brewer is a shooting guard, he played with huge energy on the defensive end and was known more for that. Van Lier was named to eight All-Defense teams over the course of his career.  

Luol Deng Is Scottie Pippen

Luol Deng is a poor man's Scottie Pippen, admittedly a very poor man's Scottie Pippen, but not a broke man's Scottie Pippen. Look at their seasons from 25. 

Player	MP	FG%	3P	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
Luol Deng	39.1	.460	1.4	5.8	2.8	1.0	0.6	1.9	17.4
Scottie Pippen*	36.8	.520	0.3	7.3	6.2	2.4	1.1	2.8	17.8

Now I'm not trying to make it out like Deng is Pippen's equal, but if you look at their season from 25, it's not as far off as you might think. Certainly there are some heavy advantages in Pippen's favor, but Deng doesn't completely pale in comparison.

When you consider that, and the fact that Deng runs the second team as Pippen used to do, and is a tremendous defensive player, the comparison seems even more realistic. 

Carlos Boozer Is Elton Brand

This may come as a surprise to some Bulls fans that remember when Elton Brand was the star of the team, but Carlos Boozer's per 36 numbers favor well with former Rookie of the Year. 

Boozer averaged 19.8 points and 10.8 boards per 36 minutes to Brand's 19.0 points and 9.5 boards per 36 minutes. Boozer also had a higher field goal percentage, .510 to .479 and a higher free throw percentage, .701 to .695. 

Brian Scalabrine Is Will Perdue

I mean how can you do not something like this without having the "White Mamba," the one, the only, the great Brian SCALABRINE. Without him, one of the great chants in the history of the game would not have ever happened. 

So let's think, big lovable white guy who spent lots of time on the bench. Hmm...

Will Perdue! 

Derrick Rose Is Michael Jordan

With Derrick Rose there can only be one player to compare him to, the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan. Now, as with the Deng/Pippen comparison, there's a decided advantage with Michael Jordan. 

However Jordan and Rose are the only two Bulls to ever win the MVP. Additionally, since the merger only three players have scored 2,000 points and passed for 600 assists in a season. Two of them are Rose and Jordan, and that's no Bull. The other is LeBron James, just in case you're wondering.

Jordan's history is written and Rose's is being written. Rose is well on his way to being one of the greatest players in franchise history and when all is said and done, it's likely the only player who will sit above him is the greatest player ever.