The 1984-85 Chicago Bulls season was notable for the arrival of Michael Jordan, who was selected as the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. The team, under head coach Kevin Loughery, finished the regular season with a 38-44 record, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite their sub-.500 record, the Bulls showcased significant potential, largely due to Jordan’s impressive rookie performance.
Michael Jordan quickly established himself as a standout player, averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. His outstanding play earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the All-NBA Second Team. Jordan’s explosive scoring ability and athleticism quickly became the centerpiece of the Bulls’ strategy and future outlook.
In addition to Jordan, the team featured key players such as Orlando Woolridge, who averaged 22.9 points per game, and Quintin Dailey, who contributed 16.6 points per game. However, the Bulls struggled with consistency throughout the season, which was reflected in their losing record.
The Bulls’ playoff journey was short-lived, as they faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. They were defeated in four games, losing the series 3-1. Despite the early exit, Michael Jordan’s playoff debut was impressive, as he averaged 29.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 8.5 rebounds per game in the series.
The 1984-85 season marked the beginning of a new era for the Chicago Bulls, with Michael Jordan’s arrival laying the foundation for future success. Although the team faced challenges and an early playoff exit, Jordan’s emergence as a superstar set the stage for the Bulls’ eventual rise to dominance in the NBA during the late 1980s and 1990s.
- Regular Season Record: 38-44
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-3
Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Michael Jordan | 82 | 28.2 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 17.3 | 4 | 29.3 | 5.8 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 12.5 |
| Orlando Woolridge | 77 | 22.9 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 20.5 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Quintin Dailey | 79 | 16.0 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 23.3 | 4 | 15.3 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| Steve Johnson | 74 | 10.0 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Corzine | 82 | 8.5 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 4 | 8.3 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Green | 48 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 10.3 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Dave Greenwood | 61 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 9.5 | 7.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Wes Matthews | 78 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 12.5 | 4 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ennis Whatley | 70 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 11.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rod Higgins | 68 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 27.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Caldwell Jones | 42 | 3.4 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Jawann Oldham | 63 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Charles Jones | 3 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chris Engler | 3 | 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 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, marking a significant moment in Bulls history as it was Michael Jordan's playoff debut. Despite Jordan's impressive performance, averaging 29.3 points per game, the Bulls were overmatched and lost the series 3-1 to a more seasoned Bucks team. This series set the stage for Jordan's future playoff heroics, even though the Bulls' playoff run was short-lived that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-100 | |
| Apr 21, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 122-115 | |
| Apr 24, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-107 | |
| Apr 26, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-97 |
Chicago Bulls 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1984 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 109-93 | |
| Oct 27, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-106 | |
| Oct 29, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-110 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 109-104 | |
| Nov 01, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 129-113 | |
| Nov 07, 1984 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 122-118 | |
| Nov 08, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | W 121-106 | |
| Nov 10, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 118-116 | |
| Nov 13, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 120-117 | |
| Nov 15, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 125-105 | |
| Nov 17, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-100 | |
| Nov 19, 1984 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 137-120 | |
| Nov 21, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-98 | |
| Nov 23, 1984 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-94 | |
| Nov 24, 1984 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 141-131 | |
| Nov 27, 1984 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 109-103 | |
| Nov 29, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 100-95 | |
| Nov 30, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 104-100 | |
| Dec 02, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-112 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 112-97 | |
| Dec 07, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | W 95-93 | |
| Dec 08, 1984 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 99-97 | |
| Dec 11, 1984 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-101 | |
| Dec 12, 1984 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 14, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-109 | |
| Dec 15, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-102 | |
| Dec 18, 1984 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 104-96 | |
| Dec 20, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 132-129 | |
| Dec 22, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 110-85 | |
| Dec 27, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-108 | |
| Dec 29, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 104-101 | |
| Jan 02, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 121-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-101 | |
| Jan 05, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | L 119-113 | |
| Jan 09, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-108 | |
| Jan 11, 1985 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-97 | |
| Jan 12, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-98 | |
| Jan 14, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 122-113 | |
| Jan 16, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-94 | |
| Jan 17, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-93 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 110-107 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-115 | |
| Jan 25, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 93-76 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 117-104 | |
| Jan 29, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 103-97 | |
| Jan 30, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-95 | |
| Feb 01, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 121-110 | |
| Feb 05, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-106 | |
| Feb 07, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-99 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 139-126 | |
| Feb 15, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 114-96 | |
| Feb 17, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 125-105 | |
| Feb 19, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-117 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-105 | |
| Feb 23, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 140-125 | |
| Feb 26, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 123-118 | |
| Feb 27, 1985 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-99 | |
| Mar 01, 1985 | vs. New York Knicks | W 109-104 | |
| Mar 03, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 117-113 | |
| Mar 05, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 06, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | W 107-104 | |
| Mar 08, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-101 | |
| Mar 09, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 111-105 | |
| Mar 11, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 119-112 | |
| Mar 12, 1985 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 111-110 | |
| Mar 14, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | L 106-97 | |
| Mar 15, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-97 | |
| Mar 17, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-117 | |
| Mar 19, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-100 | |
| Mar 20, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 106-98 | |
| Mar 23, 1985 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 107-97 | |
| Mar 24, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | L 110-92 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-119 | |
| Mar 28, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 122-114 | |
| Mar 30, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-117 | |
| Apr 02, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 108-94 | |
| Apr 03, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | W 100-91 | |
| Apr 05, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-113 | |
| Apr 06, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 117-114 | |
| Apr 08, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 107-103 | |
| Apr 12, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 119-108 | |
| Apr 13, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 123-111 |