The 1973-74 Chicago Bulls season marked the franchise’s eighth season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Under the guidance of head coach Dick Motta, the Bulls aimed to build on their previous successes in the Central Division. The team played its home games at the Chicago Stadium, a fortress for the Bulls during this era.
Chicago finished the regular season with a solid record of 54 wins and 28 losses, placing them second in the Central Division. This performance secured them a spot in the playoffs, continuing their streak of postseason appearances. The Bulls were known for their strong defensive play, led by key players such as Bob Love, who was instrumental in both scoring and leadership on the court. Center Tom Boerwinkle provided significant contributions with his rebounding and playmaking abilities.
In the 1974 NBA Playoffs, the Bulls faced the Detroit Pistons in the opening round. Chicago emerged victorious in the best-of-seven series, defeating the Pistons 4-3 in a hard-fought battle. This victory advanced them to the Western Conference Finals, where they met the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite a valiant effort, the Bulls were unable to overcome the Bucks, losing the series 4-0. Despite the playoff exit, the 1973-74 season was a testament to the Bulls’ competitive spirit and established them as a formidable team in the NBA during the early 1970s.
- Regular Season Record: 54-28
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Eastern Conference Finals: 0-4
Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats for 1973-74 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob Love | 82 | 21.8 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 11 | 23.0 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Chet Walker | 82 | 19.3 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 20.9 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Norm Van Lier | 80 | 14.3 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 11 | 14.6 | 4.3 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Sloan | 77 | 13.2 | 7.2 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 16.7 | 10.3 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Howard Porter | 73 | 9.4 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 11 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Clifford Ray | 80 | 9.3 | 12.2 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 11 | 9.7 | 11.1 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| Bob Weiss | 79 | 8.5 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 11 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Rowland Garrett | 41 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Boerwinkle | 46 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Hummer | 18 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rick Adelman | 55 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Awtrey | 68 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Chicago Bulls in the 1974 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1974 NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls made a strong showing in the second round, facing off against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite their tenacious defense and spirited play, the Bulls ultimately fell short, losing the series 4-0 to a Bucks team led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This series highlighted the Bulls' need for more firepower to compete against the elite teams of the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 1974 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 97-88 | |
| Apr 01, 1974 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 108-103 | |
| Apr 05, 1974 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 84-83 | |
| Apr 07, 1974 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-87 | |
| Apr 09, 1974 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 98-94 | |
| Apr 11, 1974 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 92-88 | |
| Apr 13, 1974 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 96-94 |
1974 Conference Championship vs. Milwaukee Bucks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 1974 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-85 | |
| Apr 18, 1974 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-111 | |
| Apr 20, 1974 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-90 | |
| Apr 22, 1974 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-99 |
Chicago Bulls 1973-74 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1973-74 season for the Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 09, 1973 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-97 | |
| Oct 10, 1973 | @ Kansas City-Omaha Kings | W 105-90 | |
| Oct 12, 1973 | @ Kansas City-Omaha Kings | L 88-84 | |
| Oct 13, 1973 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 101-94 | |
| Oct 19, 1973 | vs. Capital Bullets | W 117-103 | |
| Oct 20, 1973 | @ New York Knicks | W 85-69 | |
| Oct 21, 1973 | @ Capital Bullets | W 107-99 | |
| Oct 26, 1973 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-113 | |
| Oct 27, 1973 | @ Houston Rockets | W 102-92 | |
| Nov 02, 1973 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 107-97 | |
| Nov 03, 1973 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 105-94 | |
| Nov 04, 1973 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 101-95 | |
| Nov 08, 1973 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 112-111 | |
| Nov 10, 1973 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-104 | |
| Nov 11, 1973 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-98 | |
| Nov 13, 1973 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 116-108 | |
| Nov 16, 1973 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-102 | |
| Nov 18, 1973 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 104-102 | |
| Nov 20, 1973 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-101 | |
| Nov 23, 1973 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 99-94 | |
| Nov 24, 1973 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 114-112 | |
| Nov 27, 1973 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-117 | |
| Nov 28, 1973 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 101-96 | |
| Nov 30, 1973 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-97 | |
| Dec 01, 1973 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-98 | |
| Dec 04, 1973 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-107 | |
| Dec 06, 1973 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-98 | |
| Dec 07, 1973 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-91 | |
| Dec 08, 1973 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-95 | |
| Dec 11, 1973 | vs. Kansas City-Omaha Kings | W 105-104 | |
| Dec 13, 1973 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 97-94 | |
| Dec 14, 1973 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-97 | |
| Dec 15, 1973 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-100 | |
| Dec 18, 1973 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 93-92 | |
| Dec 19, 1973 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 89-87 | |
| Dec 22, 1973 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-86 | |
| Dec 26, 1973 | @ Capital Bullets | L 82-81 | |
| Dec 28, 1973 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-94 | |
| Dec 29, 1973 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 108-103 | |
| Dec 30, 1973 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 99-92 | |
| Jan 01, 1974 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 91-80 | |
| Jan 04, 1974 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-101 | |
| Jan 06, 1974 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 120-116 | |
| Jan 08, 1974 | vs. New York Knicks | L 108-80 | |
| Jan 09, 1974 | @ Boston Celtics | L 106-89 | |
| Jan 10, 1974 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 116-104 | |
| Jan 12, 1974 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-82 | |
| Jan 13, 1974 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-94 | |
| Jan 18, 1974 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-95 | |
| Jan 20, 1974 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-97 | |
| Jan 22, 1974 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 102-89 | |
| Jan 25, 1974 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-99 | |
| Jan 27, 1974 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 109-91 | |
| Jan 30, 1974 | vs. Capital Bullets | W 103-94 | |
| Feb 01, 1974 | vs. Kansas City-Omaha Kings | W 99-88 | |
| Feb 02, 1974 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-89 | |
| Feb 03, 1974 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-94 | |
| Feb 05, 1974 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 100-98 | |
| Feb 06, 1974 | @ Kansas City-Omaha Kings | W 112-95 | |
| Feb 08, 1974 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 106-101 | |
| Feb 10, 1974 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 96-86 | |
| Feb 12, 1974 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 93-81 | |
| Feb 13, 1974 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-80 | |
| Feb 15, 1974 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 92-90 | |
| Feb 17, 1974 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 108-105 | |
| Feb 19, 1974 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 130-96 | |
| Feb 22, 1974 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 117-100 | |
| Feb 24, 1974 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-90 | |
| Feb 27, 1974 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 107-95 | |
| Mar 01, 1974 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 95-91 | |
| Mar 02, 1974 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 103-88 | |
| Mar 05, 1974 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 111-91 | |
| Mar 06, 1974 | @ Houston Rockets | W 105-93 | |
| Mar 09, 1974 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-99 | |
| Mar 12, 1974 | vs. Kansas City-Omaha Kings | L 93-91 | |
| Mar 15, 1974 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 114-97 | |
| Mar 17, 1974 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-82 | |
| Mar 19, 1974 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-94 | |
| Mar 20, 1974 | @ Kansas City-Omaha Kings | W 87-86 | |
| Mar 22, 1974 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-93 | |
| Mar 24, 1974 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-113 | |
| Mar 26, 1974 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-98 |