1985–86 Chicago Bulls season

1985–86 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachStan Albeck
General managerJerry Krause
Owner(s)Jerry Reinsdorf
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record30–52 (.366)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Central)
Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Celtics 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWFLD
Sportsvision
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
RadioWMAQ
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
< 1984–85 1986–87 >

The 1985–86 Chicago Bulls season was the 20th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the offseason, they acquired forward Charles Oakley from the Cleveland Cavaliers, veteran guard George Gervin from the San Antonio Spurs and signed free agent guards Kyle Macy and John Paxson. The season was a near disaster as Michael Jordan was lost for much of the regular season due to a broken foot. Despite the injury to Jordan, the team managed to qualify for the NBA Playoffs.

Offseason

NBA draft

The 1985 NBA draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. The lottery was put into place so teams did not have to intentionally lose games to receive the number one pick.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 11 Keith Lee Center  United States Memphis State
2 28 Ken Johnson Forward  United States Michigan State
2 34 Aubrey Sherrod Guard  United States Wichita State
2 46 Adrian Branch Forward  United States Maryland

Roster

1985–86 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F 20 Banks, Gene 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-05-15 Duke
C 40 Corzine, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1956-04-25 DePaul
G 10 Dailey, Quintin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961-01-22 San Francisco
G 8 Gervin, George 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1952-04-27 Eastern Michigan
F 21 Green, Sidney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961-01-04 UNLV
G 10, 32 Holton, Michael 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961-08-04 UCLA
G 23 Jordan, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963-02-17 North Carolina
G 24 Macy, Kyle 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1957-04-09 Kentucky
F 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963-12-18 Virginia Union
C 33 Oldham, Jawann 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957-07-04 Seattle
G 5 Paxson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960-09-29 Notre Dame
C 52 Smrek, Mike 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1962-08-31 Canisius
F 0 Woolridge, Orlando 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959-12-16 Notre Dame
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 27, 1986

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks 57 25 .695 – 33–8 24–17 21–9
x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 7 34–7 16–25 21–9
x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 11 31–10 15–26 18–12
x-Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 27 22–19 8–33 10–20
Cleveland Cavaliers 29 53 .354 28 16–25 13–28 10–19
Indiana Pacers 26 56 .317 31 19–22 7–34 9–20
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics 67 15 .817 –
2 y-Milwaukee Bucks 57 25 .695 10
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers 54 28 .659 13
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 50 32 .610 17
5 x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 21
6 x-Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 28
7 x-New Jersey Nets 39 43 .476 28
8 x-Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 37
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 29 53 .354 38
10 Indiana Pacers 26 56 .317 41
11 New York Knicks 23 59 .280 44
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1985-86 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 0–6 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 4–2 5–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–4
Boston 6–0 — 5–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 5–0 4–2 5–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–1
Chicago 1–5 1–5 — 3–3 0–2 2–0 2–4 2–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–3 4–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4
Cleveland 2–4 1–5 3–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–5 0–2 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–5 3–3 4–1 0–6 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5
Dallas 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 — 3–3 0–2 4–1 1–5 2–0 2–3 1–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 5–0 2–3 3–3 4–2 3–2 5–1 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–3 — 1–1 3–2 3–3 2–0 4–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1 3–2 3–3 3–3 2–3 3–3 2–0
Detroit 2–4 1–4 4–2 5–1 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 4–2 4–1 2–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–2
Golden State 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–4 2–3 1–1 — 0–5 1–1 5–1 2–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–5 2–3 2–3 2–4 2–3 1–1
Houston 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 5–1 3–3 1–1 5–0 — 2–0 3–2 1–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 3–2 4–2 5–1 3–2 3–3 2–0
Indiana 1–5 1–5 3–3 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–3 2–4 0–6 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 5–1
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 0–2 1–5 2–3 0–2 — 2–4 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–4 2–4 5–0 1–4 3–3 3–2 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–3 1–1 4–2 4–1 2–0 4–2 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 5–1 6–0 5–0 4–1 4–2 5–0 2–0
Milwaukee 3–3 0–5 5–1 5–1 2–0 0–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–2 — 4–2 6–0 4–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–2
New Jersey 2–4 2–4 3–2 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 1–1 2–4 — 5–1 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–4
New York 1–5 1–5 2–4 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–1 0–2 4–2 0–2 1–1 0–6 1–5 — 0–6 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–3
Philadelphia 1–4 2–4 5–1 6–0 2–0 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 6–0 2–0 0–2 1–4 4–2 6–0 — 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–3
Phoenix 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 1–4 2–0 4–2 2–3 1–1 4–2 1–5 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 — 2–4 2–3 3–2 5–1 1–4 1–1
Portland 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 2–0 4–2 0–6 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 4–2 — 3–2 1–4 5–1 2–3 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–3 3–3 2–0 3–2 2–4 2–0 0–5 0–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 — 5–1 5–0 2–4 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–4 3–3 1–1 3–2 1–5 1–1 4–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 4–1 1–5 — 2–3 2–4 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 0–2 4–2 2–3 0–2 3–3 2–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5 1–5 0–5 3–2 — 2–3 1–1
Utah 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–5 3–3 1–1 3–2 3–3 2–0 2–3 0–5 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 3–2 4–2 4–2 3–2 — 1–1
Washington 4–1 1–5 4–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 0–2 1–5 2–0 0–2 2–4 4–2 3–3 3–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 —

Player stats

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Gene Banks 82 33 26.1 .517 .000 .718 4.4 3.1 .99 .12 10.9
Ron Brewer 4 0 4.5 .333 .000 1.000 .0 .0 .00 .00 1.8
Tony Brown 10 0 13.2 .439 .000 .692 1.6 1.4 .50 .10 4.5
Dave Corzine 67 4 25.5 .491 .250 .743 6.5 2.2 .42 .79 9.6
Quintin Dailey 35 0 20.7 .432 .000 .823 1.9 1.9 .63 .14 16.3
George Gervin 82 75 25.2 .472 .211 .879 2.6 1.8 .60 .28 16.2
Sidney Green 80 68 28.8 .465 .000 .782 8.2 1.7 .88 .46 13.4
Rod Higgins 5 0 16.2 .391 .000 .833 1.4 1.0 .80 .60 4.6
Mike Holton 24 0 18.6 .471 .100 .632 1.2 2.0 .96 .00 7.1
Michael Jordan 18 7 25.1 .457 .167 .840 3.6 2.9 2.06 1.17 22.7
Kyle Macy 82 79 29.6 .483 .411 .811 2.2 5.4 .99 .13 8.6
Billy McKinney 9 0 9.2 .435 .000 1.000 .6 1.4 .33 .00 2.4
Charles Oakley 77 30 23.0 .519 .000 .662 8.6 1.7 .88 .39 9.6
Jawann Oldham 52 47 24.5 .517 .000 .582 5.9 .7 .54 2.58 7.4
John Paxson 75 3 20.9 .466 .300 .804 1.3 3.7 .73 .03 5.3
Mike Smrek 38 5 10.7 .377 .000 .552 2.9 .5 .16 .61 2.8
Orlando Woolridge 70 59 32.1 .495 .174 .788 5.0 3.0 .70 .67 20.7

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Gene Banks 3 23.0 .556 .000 .500 3.3 1.7 .33 .00 7.3
Dave Corzine 3 34.3 .552 .000 1.000 9.0 2.0 .33 .67 12.0
George Gervin 2 5.5 .000 .000 .000 .5 .5 .00 .00 .0
Sidney Green 3 17.7 .300 .000 .500 4.0 .0 .33 .33 6.0
Michael Jordan 3 45.0 .505 1.000 .872 6.3 5.7 2.33 1.33 43.7
Kyle Macy 3 29.0 .357 .250 1.000 1.3 3.3 .67 .00 4.0
Charles Oakley 3 29.3 .524 .000 .615 10.0 1.0 2.00 .67 10.0
Jawann Oldham 1 4.0 .000 .000 .000 2.0 .0 .00 .00 .0
John Paxson 3 26.7 .467 .000 .765 .0 1.7 1.00 .00 9.0
Mike Smrek 3 1.7 .000 .000 .000 .0 .0 .00 .33 .0
Orlando Woolridge 3 45.0 .403 .000 .867 4.7 1.3 1.00 .33 21.0

Playoffs

At the time, the Bulls had the fifth worst record of any team to qualify for the playoffs in NBA history.[2] Michael Jordan recovered in time to participate in the playoffs and performed well upon his return. Against a Boston Celtics team that is often considered one of the greatest in NBA history,[3] Jordan set the still-unbroken record for points in a playoff game with 63 in game 2.[4] The Celtics, however, managed to sweep the series.[5]

1986 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 17 @ Boston L 104–123 Michael Jordan (49) Charles Oakley (10) Macy, Paxson (4) Boston Garden
14,890 		0–1
2 April 20 @ Boston L 131–135 (2OT) Michael Jordan (63) Charles Oakley (14) Michael Jordan (6) Boston Garden
14,890 		0–2
3 April 22 Boston L 104–122 John Paxson (23) Dave Corzine (15) Michael Jordan (9) Chicago Stadium
18,968 		0–3
1986 schedule

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ Chicago Bulls Archived 2007-10-14 at the Wayback Machine, databasebasketball.com, accessed January 16, 2007.
  2. ^ "Worst Records of Playoff Teams". The Sporting News. April 28, 1986. p. 46.
  3. ^ Top 10 Teams in NBA History Archived 2013-05-02 at the Wayback Machine, nba.com/history, accessed January 16, 2007.
  4. ^ God Disguised as Michael Jordan Archived 2013-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, nba.com/history, accessed January 17, 2007.
  5. ^ BULLS: History of the Chicago Bulls