When the Bulls Owned Christmas
Chicago, Dec. 25 – There was a time when unwrapping presents and watching the Chicago Bulls were inextricably linked traditions, a pairing as natural as milk and cookies. For decades, the franchise was the heartbeat of the NBA’s marquee holiday slate, bringing star power and drama to living rooms across the globe. But today, the United Center remains quiet. For the eighth consecutive year, the Bulls are spectators rather than headliners, leaving fans to reminisce about a time when red and black dominated the Christmas airwaves.
The Bulls’ relationship with December 25th runs deep, dating back to a 1966 debut at Madison Square Garden. However, it was the 1990s that cemented the team as the face of the holiday. Between 1990 and 1997, Michael Jordan and company were nearly unavoidable, featuring in seven Christmas games. The league only bypassed them in 1995, a brief interlude before the second three-peat dynasty took full flight.
When the lights were brightest, Jordan was flawless. The legend went a perfect 6-0 in his Christmas appearances, turning the holiday into an annual showcase of Chicago dominance. For a generation of fans, the Bulls weren’t just participants; they were the main event.
After a hiatus following the end of the dynasty, the Bulls roared back into the Christmas rotation in the 2010s, riding the explosive talent of Derrick Rose. The franchise embarked on its longest streak of holiday games, suiting up for seven consecutive years.
The defining moment of this era arrived in 2011 against the Los Angeles Lakers. In a duel with Kobe Bryant, it was Rose who delivered the holiday magic. With seconds remaining, the MVP drove into the teeth of the defense, floating a jump shot through traffic to silence the stunned Los Angeles crowd and secure a memorable victory. It was a 4-3 run during that stretch, but the feeling was undeniable: the Bulls mattered again.
The curtain fell on this holiday tradition in 2016. The infamous “Three Alphas” roster—featuring Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, and Rajon Rondo—took the court against the San Antonio Spurs, but the magic was gone. They struggled to compete in a 119-100 loss, allowing LaMarcus Aldridge to drop 33 points like coal in their stockings.
Since that afternoon, the Bulls have been frozen out. The organization has spent the last eight years in a cycle of rebuilding, searching for the kind of transcendent star power that demands a national audience. While the current roster shows flashes of promise with intriguing young talent, the gap between “promising” and “Christmas Day headliner” remains wide.
The Chicago Bulls boast an impressive all-time Christmas record of 13-8, a testament to their historical significance. Yet, history alone does not book prime-time slots. As the NBA celebrates its biggest day of the regular season without them yet again, the message is clear: until the franchise returns to genuine relevancy, the ghosts of Jordan and Rose will be the only Bulls fans see on Christmas Day.
