The 1981-82 NBA season was a challenging one for the Chicago Bulls. The team finished with a 26-56 record, placing them fifth in the Central Division. With a winning percentage of just .317, the Bulls struggled throughout the season, failing to make a significant impact in the Eastern Conference standings.
Under the leadership of head coach Jerry Sloan, the Bulls faced numerous difficulties on both ends of the court. Despite Sloan’s efforts, the team’s performance did not meet expectations, resulting in his resignation partway through the season. He was succeeded by Rod Thorn, who took over as interim head coach.
Offensively, the Bulls were led by Reggie Theus, who averaged 18.8 points per game. Theus was a bright spot in an otherwise dim season, providing consistent scoring and playmaking. Artis Gilmore, the team’s dominant center, also made significant contributions, averaging 18.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Despite their individual successes, the team struggled with cohesion and depth, which hampered their overall effectiveness.
Defensively, the Bulls had difficulty containing opponents, contributing to their subpar record. The lack of a strong defensive presence allowed other teams to exploit their weaknesses, resulting in numerous losses. This defensive inefficiency was a key factor in the Bulls’ inability to compete at a higher level.
In the 1982 NBA Draft, the Bulls aimed to bolster their roster by selecting Quintin Dailey with the seventh overall pick. The hope was that Dailey could provide a spark for the struggling team in future seasons. However, the 1981-82 season remained a low point for the franchise, highlighting the need for significant changes to become competitive again in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 34-48
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Artis Gilmore | 82 | 18.5 | 10.2 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Reggie Theus | 82 | 18.4 | 3.8 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dave Greenwood | 82 | 14.6 | 9.6 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ricky Sobers | 80 | 11.8 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ronnie Lester | 75 | 11.6 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dwight Jones | 78 | 10.0 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Orlando Woolridge | 75 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Larry Kenon | 60 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| James Wilkes | 57 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ray Blume | 49 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 23.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tracy Jackson | 38 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jackie Robinson | 3 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Coby Dietrick | 74 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Roger Burkman | 6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Chicago Bulls 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 96-94 | |
| Oct 31, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 119-106 | |
| Nov 03, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 104-96 | |
| Nov 04, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-93 | |
| Nov 06, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 114-93 | |
| Nov 07, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 118-105 | |
| Nov 09, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-101 | |
| Nov 10, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 119-107 | |
| Nov 11, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-90 | |
| Nov 14, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-99 | |
| Nov 17, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 98-95 | |
| Nov 20, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 105-103 | |
| Nov 21, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 117-105 | |
| Nov 24, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 109-102 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-107 | |
| Nov 29, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 114-109 | |
| Dec 01, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-87 | |
| Dec 02, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 120-119 | |
| Dec 04, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | W 105-101 | |
| Dec 08, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 118-116 | |
| Dec 11, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 118-105 | |
| Dec 12, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-114 | |
| Dec 15, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-89 | |
| Dec 16, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | L 121-106 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 22, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 92-90 | |
| Dec 26, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-94 | |
| Dec 27, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-96 | |
| Dec 29, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | L 111-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 128-121 | |
| Jan 05, 1982 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 134-128 | |
| Jan 06, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | W 116-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 119-113 | |
| Jan 12, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 122-111 | |
| Jan 14, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 130-104 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 93-90 | |
| Jan 17, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 116-103 | |
| Jan 19, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 110-100 | |
| Jan 22, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-93 | |
| Jan 23, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 140-139 | |
| Jan 26, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 94-84 | |
| Jan 28, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 111-110 | |
| Feb 02, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 116-112 | |
| Feb 03, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-98 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 123-107 | |
| Feb 09, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 128-123 | |
| Feb 10, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 91-73 | |
| Feb 13, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-90 | |
| Feb 16, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 91-86 | |
| Feb 17, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-105 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 113-97 | |
| Feb 23, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-122 | |
| Feb 26, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 116-110 | |
| Feb 28, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 118-104 | |
| Mar 02, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-109 | |
| Mar 04, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-97 | |
| Mar 05, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 107-90 | |
| Mar 07, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 124-122 | |
| Mar 09, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-104 | |
| Mar 10, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-98 | |
| Mar 12, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-117 | |
| Mar 17, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 102-92 | |
| Mar 19, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 130-120 | |
| Mar 21, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-93 | |
| Mar 23, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-103 | |
| Mar 26, 1982 | vs. New York Knicks | W 131-107 | |
| Mar 28, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 102-101 | |
| Mar 30, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 107-92 | |
| Mar 31, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-98 | |
| Apr 02, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-105 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-112 | |
| Apr 06, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-104 | |
| Apr 07, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 122-105 | |
| Apr 09, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 114-98 | |
| Apr 11, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 108-89 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-115 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 120-116 | |
| Apr 16, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-102 | |
| Apr 18, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 112-104 |