Best draft picks in Chicago Bulls history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Chicago Bulls history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Roger Mason
- Stacker score: 2.1
- 31st overall pick in 2002
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 6.3 PTS, 1.7 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.0 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
#49. Tyrus Thomas
- Stacker score: 2.3
- Fourth overall pick in 2006
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.7 PTS, 4.8 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.0 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.7 VORP
#48. Eddy Curry
- Stacker score: 2.3
- Fourth overall pick in 2001
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.9 PTS, 5.2 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.7 win shares, -2.4 box plus/minus, -1.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2012 NBA Champ
#47. Tony Snell
- Stacker score: 2.3
- 20th overall pick in 2013
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 6.1 PTS, 2.3 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.5 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, -0.1 VORP
#46. Mitchell Wiggins
- Stacker score: 2.5
- 23rd overall pick in 1983
- Played one season with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.0 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.2 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.6 VORP
#45. Doug McDermott
- Stacker score: 2.6
- 11th overall pick in 2014
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.3 PTS, 2.3 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.2 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, 0.0 VORP
#44. Ömer Aşık
- Stacker score: 2.7
- 36th overall pick in 2008
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 5.3 PTS, 7.1 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.9 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.1 VORP
#43. Erwin Mueller
- Stacker score: 2.9
- 20th overall pick in 1966
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 4.7 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.6 win shares
#42. Scott May
- Stacker score: 3.2
- Second overall pick in 1976
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.4 PTS, 4.1 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.4 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 2.7 VORP
#41. Will Perdue
- Stacker score: 3.3
- 11th overall pick in 1988
- Played eight seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 4.7 PTS, 4.9 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.6 win shares, -2.1 box plus/minus, -0.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 4x NBA Champ
#40. Wendell Carter
- Stacker score: 3.4
- Seventh overall pick in 2018
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.9 PTS, 8.8 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.1 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 3.1 VORP
#39. Daniel Gafford
- Stacker score: 3.4
- 38th overall pick in 2019
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 4.8 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.4 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 3.5 VORP
#38. Chris Duhon
- Stacker score: 4.3
- 38th overall pick in 2004
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 6.5 PTS, 2.3 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.0 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 3.2 VORP
#37. Bobby Portis
- Stacker score: 5.0
- 22nd overall pick in 2015
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 11.5 PTS, 7.0 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.4 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 4.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2021 NBA Champ
#36. Nikola Mirotić
- Stacker score: 5.1
- 23rd overall pick in 2011
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.3 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares, 1.6 box plus/minus, 7.1 VORP
#35. Mike Glenn
- Stacker score: 5.2
- 23rd overall pick in 1977
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 1.2 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.3 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 5.6 VORP
#34. Howard Porter
- Stacker score: 5.3
- 32nd overall pick in 1971
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.2 PTS, 4.1 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.6 win shares
#33. Mike Gale
- Stacker score: 5.4
- 47th overall pick in 1971
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 2.9 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1974 ABA Champ
--- 2x All-Defensive
#32. Lauri Markkanen
- Stacker score: 5.7
- Seventh overall pick in 2017
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 17.3 PTS, 7.1 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.8 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 7.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#31. Herm Gilliam
- Stacker score: 6.3
- 163rd overall pick in 1968
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 3.8 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1977 NBA Champ
#30. James Johnson
- Stacker score: 6.8
- 16th overall pick in 2009
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 3.5 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.5 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 9.4 VORP
#29. Ben Gordon
- Stacker score: 7.3
- Third overall pick in 2004
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.9 PTS, 2.5 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.3 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 8.7 VORP
#28. Rod Higgins
- Stacker score: 7.9
- 31st overall pick in 1982
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 3.6 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.8 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 8.8 VORP
#27. Dave Greenwood
- Stacker score: 8.5
- Second overall pick in 1979
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.2 PTS, 7.9 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 46.4 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 7.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1990 NBA Champ
#26. B.J. Armstrong
- Stacker score: 8.9
- 18th overall pick in 1989
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.8 PTS, 1.8 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 45.0 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 8.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 2.0%
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
#25. Thabo Sefolosha
- Stacker score: 9.3
- 13th overall pick in 2006
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 5.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 39.3 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 12.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2009-10 All-Defensive
#24. George Johnson
- Stacker score: 9.9
- 79th overall pick in 1970
- Career averages: 4.8 PTS, 6.5 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1975 NBA Champ
--- 3x BLK Champ
--- 1980-81 All-Defensive
#23. Taj Gibson
- Stacker score: 10.1
- 26th overall pick in 2009
- Played eight seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.7 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 7.0 VORP
#22. Clem Haskins
- Stacker score: 10.8
- Third overall pick in 1967
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 12.8 PTS, 3.1 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.8 win shares
#21. Orlando Woolridge
- Stacker score: 11.2
- Sixth overall pick in 1981
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 16.0 PTS, 4.3 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 53.0 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 12.8 VORP
#20. Kirk Hinrich
- Stacker score: 11.3
- Seventh overall pick in 2003
- Played 11 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 10.9 PTS, 2.9 REB, 4.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 52.5 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 13.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2006-07 All-Defensive
#19. Tom Boerwinkle
- Stacker score: 11.4
- Fourth overall pick in 1968
- Played 10 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 9.0 REB, 3.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.0 win shares
#18. Maurice Lucas
- Stacker score: 12.0
- 14th overall pick in 1974
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 9.1 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 58.7 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 10.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 4.6%
- Accolades
--- 1977 NBA Champ
--- 1977-78 All-NBA
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- 5x All Star
#17. Mickey Johnson
- Stacker score: 13.6
- 56th overall pick in 1974
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 7.2 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 58.6 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 17.7 VORP
#16. Derrick Rose
- Stacker score: 13.7
- First overall pick in 2008
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 17.7 PTS, 3.3 REB, 5.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 44.2 win shares, 1.3 box plus/minus, 18.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 10.5%
- Accolades
--- 2010-11 MVP
--- 2008-09 ROY
--- 2010-11 All-NBA
--- 3x All Star
#15. Jamal Crawford
- Stacker score: 14.1
- Eighth overall pick in 2000
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 2.2 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 60.7 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 18.4 VORP
#14. Reggie Theus
- Stacker score: 15.0
- Ninth overall pick in 1978
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 18.5 PTS, 3.3 REB, 6.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 66.9 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 18.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#13. Joakim Noah
- Stacker score: 15.2
- Ninth overall pick in 2007
- Played nine seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.8 PTS, 9.0 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 61.9 win shares, 2.5 box plus/minus, 20.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2013-14 Def. POY
--- 2013-14 All-NBA
--- 3x All-Defensive
--- 2x All Star
#12. Metta World Peace
- Stacker score: 16.6
- 16th overall pick in 1999
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 13.2 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 61.1 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 25.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2010 NBA Champ
--- 2003-04 Def. POY
--- 2003-04 All-NBA
--- 4x All-Defensive
#11. Charles Oakley
- Stacker score: 16.8
- Ninth overall pick in 1985
- Played four seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 9.5 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 89.7 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 15.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- 1x All Star
#10. Toni Kukoč
- Stacker score: 17.0
- 29th overall pick in 1990
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 11.6 PTS, 4.2 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.6 win shares, 2.8 box plus/minus, 27.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#9. Clifford Ray
- Stacker score: 17.1
- 40th overall pick in 1971
- Played three seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 7.4 PTS, 8.9 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 56.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1975 NBA Champ
#8. Luol Deng
- Stacker score: 17.4
- Seventh overall pick in 2004
- Played 10 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 14.8 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 74.0 win shares, 0.9 box plus/minus, 22.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2011-12 All-Defensive
--- 2x All Star
#7. Tyson Chandler
- Stacker score: 18.9
- Second overall pick in 2001
- Played five seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 9.0 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 102.1 win shares, 0.1 box plus/minus, 16.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2011 NBA Champ
--- 2011-12 Def. POY
--- 2011-12 All-NBA
--- 3x All-Defensive
#6. Elton Brand
- Stacker score: 28.0
- First overall pick in 1999
- Played two seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 15.9 PTS, 8.5 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 109.6 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 37.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 6.3%
- Accolades
--- 1999-00 ROY
--- 2005-06 All-NBA
--- 2x All Star
#5. Horace Grant
- Stacker score: 29.1
- 10th overall pick in 1987
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 8.1 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 118.2 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 33.0 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 15.2%
- Accolades
--- 4x NBA Champ
--- 4x All-Defensive
--- 1x All Star
#4. Jimmy Butler
- Stacker score: 41.0
- 30th overall pick in 2011
- Played six seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 18.2 PTS, 5.3 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 105.9 win shares, 5.0 box plus/minus, 44.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 73.0%
- Accolades
--- 2022-23 ECF MVP
--- 2020-21 STL Champ
--- 5x All-NBA
--- 5x All-Defensive
#3. Artis Gilmore
- Stacker score: 43.1
- 117th overall pick in 1971
- Played seven seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 18.8 PTS, 12.3 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 107.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1971-72 MVP
--- 1975 ABA Champ
--- 1971-72 ROY
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Scottie Pippen
- Stacker score: 54.5
- Fifth overall pick in 1987
- Played 12 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 16.1 PTS, 6.4 REB, 5.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 125.1 win shares, 4.1 box plus/minus, 63.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 6x NBA Champ
--- 1994-95 STL Champ
--- 7x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#1. Michael Jordan
- Stacker score: 84.2
- Third overall pick in 1984
- Played 13 seasons with Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 30.1 PTS, 6.2 REB, 5.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 214.0 win shares, 9.2 box plus/minus, 116.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 6x NBA Champ
--- 5x MVP
--- 6x Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
