The 1970-71 Chicago Bulls season marked a significant turning point for the franchise as they achieved their first winning season. Under the guidance of head coach Dick Motta, the Bulls finished with a 51-31 record, placing them second in the Midwest Division. This performance was a considerable improvement, reflecting the team’s growing competitiveness in the NBA.
Central to the Bulls’ success was the stellar play of forward Bob Love and guard Jerry Sloan. Bob Love, known for his scoring prowess, averaged 25.2 points per game, while Jerry Sloan contributed significantly on both ends of the court, averaging 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Together, they formed a formidable duo that propelled the team into the upper echelons of the league.
In the playoffs, the Bulls faced the Milwaukee Bucks, a team led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite their regular-season success and strong efforts, the Bulls were overpowered by the Bucks, who went on to win the NBA Championship. The series ended with a 4-0 sweep against the Bulls, highlighting the gap between Chicago and the league’s elite teams.
Overall, the 1970-71 season was a milestone for the Chicago Bulls, setting a foundation for future success. It showcased their potential and marked the beginning of a more competitive era for the franchise. The team’s performance laid the groundwork for building a strong future in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 51-31
- Playoff Result: Conference Semifinals: 3-4
Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats for 1970-71 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob Love | 81 | 25.2 | 8.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 26.7 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chet Walker | 81 | 22.0 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 15.0 | 7.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Sloan | 80 | 18.3 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 17.0 | 9.0 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Boerwinkle | 82 | 10.8 | 13.8 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6.1 | 9.6 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Fox | 82 | 9.7 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 11.3 | 9.4 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Weiss | 82 | 9.5 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 15.7 | 2.6 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Matt Guokas | 78 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim King | 55 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Baum | 62 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jimmy Collins | 55 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Ruffner | 10 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shaler Halimon | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| A.W. Holt | 6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Chicago Bulls in the 1971 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1971 NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, the Bulls were outmatched by the powerhouse Lakers and fell in a hard-fought series, losing 4-3. The series highlighted the Bulls' potential, as they pushed a strong Lakers team to the brink, setting the stage for their future competitiveness in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-99 | |
| Mar 26, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-95 | |
| Mar 28, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-98 | |
| Mar 30, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-102 | |
| Apr 01, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-89 | |
| Apr 04, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-99 | |
| Apr 06, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-98 |
Chicago Bulls 1970-71 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1970-71 season for the Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 111-96 | |
| Oct 14, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-107 | |
| Oct 16, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-102 | |
| Oct 17, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | W 99-96 | |
| Oct 25, 1970 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 131-116 | |
| Oct 28, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 118-105 | |
| Oct 30, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 101-98 | |
| Oct 31, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-119 | |
| Nov 03, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-101 | |
| Nov 06, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 105-102 | |
| Nov 07, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 125-99 | |
| Nov 10, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-96 | |
| Nov 13, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 14, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 120-116 | |
| Nov 17, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 111-105 | |
| Nov 18, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 128-107 | |
| Nov 21, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 110-107 | |
| Nov 24, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-108 | |
| Nov 27, 1970 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 121-104 | |
| Nov 28, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 99-91 | |
| Dec 01, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-91 | |
| Dec 03, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-100 | |
| Dec 04, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 107-103 | |
| Dec 05, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 101-97 | |
| Dec 08, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 98-87 | |
| Dec 10, 1970 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 138-120 | |
| Dec 11, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 87-86 | |
| Dec 12, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 103-98 | |
| Dec 15, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 115-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 137-122 | |
| Dec 19, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | L 98-87 | |
| Dec 20, 1970 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-103 | |
| Dec 22, 1970 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 121-80 | |
| Dec 23, 1970 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 104-103 | |
| Dec 25, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 128-112 | |
| Dec 26, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 117-114 | |
| Dec 27, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 110-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-117 | |
| Dec 30, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 128-109 | |
| Jan 02, 1971 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 136-113 | |
| Jan 05, 1971 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 116-103 | |
| Jan 06, 1971 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-106 | |
| Jan 08, 1971 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-105 | |
| Jan 10, 1971 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 141-113 | |
| Jan 14, 1971 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 15, 1971 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-96 | |
| Jan 16, 1971 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-90 | |
| Jan 19, 1971 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-111 | |
| Jan 20, 1971 | vs. New York Knicks | W 109-103 | |
| Jan 23, 1971 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 87-83 | |
| Jan 24, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-112 | |
| Jan 26, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 136-111 | |
| Jan 27, 1971 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 111-106 | |
| Jan 31, 1971 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 131-99 | |
| Feb 02, 1971 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 118-101 | |
| Feb 03, 1971 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 124-102 | |
| Feb 05, 1971 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-102 | |
| Feb 06, 1971 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-102 | |
| Feb 07, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-96 | |
| Feb 09, 1971 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 90-88 | |
| Feb 12, 1971 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-88 | |
| Feb 13, 1971 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-96 | |
| Feb 14, 1971 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-83 | |
| Feb 16, 1971 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-102 | |
| Feb 17, 1971 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-104 | |
| Feb 19, 1971 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 115-114 | |
| Feb 21, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 125-112 | |
| Feb 27, 1971 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 129-114 | |
| Mar 01, 1971 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 98-94 | |
| Mar 03, 1971 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-90 | |
| Mar 05, 1971 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 130-103 | |
| Mar 06, 1971 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 105-99 | |
| Mar 07, 1971 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-108 | |
| Mar 09, 1971 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-103 | |
| Mar 12, 1971 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 116-92 | |
| Mar 13, 1971 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 111-99 | |
| Mar 14, 1971 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-104 | |
| Mar 16, 1971 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 113-99 | |
| Mar 18, 1971 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 91-85 | |
| Mar 19, 1971 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1971 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 138-121 | |
| Mar 21, 1971 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-111 |