Editorial archive dedicated to Michael Jordan · 1990-91 season
Chicago Bulls · Season archive

Season 1990-91

The first breakthrough: Chicago clears the barrier and wins its first ring.

Bulls record61-21
Scoring average31,5
Final resultNBA champion

Editorial recap

The 1990-91 season was the real turning point. Jordan arrived as a four-time scoring champion, but still carried the criticism that he had not taken Chicago to a title. That narrative ended here: the Bulls won 61 games, swept Detroit 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the Finals.

Jordan was regular-season MVP and Finals MVP. In the championship series he averaged 31.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 11.4 assists, a line that perfectly summarizes the growth of his game. He did not just score: he controlled the pace, distributed the ball and completed the Bulls' transformation into champions.

Regular-season averages

GPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKPTS
828237,053,931,285,11,44,66,05,52,721,0131,5

GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.

Playoff averages

GPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKPTS
171740,552,438,584,51,15,36,48,42,351,3531,1

GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.

Finals averages

GPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKPTS
5544,055,850,084,81,65,06,611,42,801,4031,2

GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.

Key moments

  • First championship in Chicago Bulls history.
  • A 4-0 sweep of Detroit after two consecutive eliminations by the Pistons.
  • Jordan's definitive confirmation as the leader of a championship team.

Honors and distinctions

  • Regular-season MVP.
  • Finals MVP.
  • All-NBA First Team.
  • All-Defensive First Team.
  • All-Star Game starter.