Jun 16, 2026 - Sports

Photos: 30th anniversary of the 1996 Bulls

Justin Kaufmann

Chicago Bulls fans celebrate after game six of the NBA Finals in June, 1996. Photo: Tim Zinlinbach/AFP via Getty Images

On this day in 1996, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, capping what still stands as the greatest season in basketball history.

It remains the only time the Bulls have won a championship on their home court at the United Center.

State of play: Fans celebrated wildly in the streets while players doused one another with champagne in the locker room.

The championship rally took place in Grant Park two days later.

Here are some photos from June 16, 1996:

Basketball players crowd a fallen teammate on a polished wooden court; a white jersey with red trim lies on the floor while others stand or kneel around him in sneakers and uniforms. — Michael Jordan celebrates moments after winning the 1996 NBA Championship. Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

Group of men at a celebration in a hallway, some wearing white Bulls championship hats; they smile, hold drinks or cigars, and hug or stand close with arms around each other. — Dennis Rodman poses for a photo with Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder outside the locker room on June 16, 1996. Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Three Chicago Bulls players celebrate on court, high-fiving with white shirts featuring Bulls logos; a packed arena cheers in the background. — Scottie Pippen high-fives Toni Kukoc while Ron Harper stands between them moments after winning the 1996 NBA Championship. Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

A smiling man wearing a white Chicago Bulls cap is surrounded by reporters and microphones in a crowded indoor hallway, with ceiling lights and cameras capturing the scene. — Steve Kerr speaks to the media after the victory. Photo: Steve Woltman/NBAE via Getty Images

Night street scene with three light-blue police officers, two wearing helmets, around a car hood; one officer reaches for pizza from an open box while a crowd watches in the background. — Chicago Police officers eat pizza from the top of a squad car on June 16, 1996. Photo: Tim Zielenbach/AFP via Getty Images

People in a storage room celebrate with a large, shiny gold trophy; a man in a white shirt and cap holds it while a boy looks on, surrounded by boxes, sneakers, and clothes. — Michael Jordan holds the trophy while celebrating with his kids. Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Smiling man in a light gray Bulls T-shirt and cap stands at a glass counter in a retro sports shop, with stacks of tees and a life-size Bulls Michael Jordan cutout in the back. — Vendors prepare championship merchandise. Photo: Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images

A helmeted security guard in a light blue shirt and black vest, with a clear visor, adjusts his gear beside a glass storefront with metal security grates on a dim street. — A Chicago policeman stands outside a looted appliance store during the celebration after the Bulls victory. Photo: Tim Zinlinbach/AFP via Getty Images

Shiny gold helmet rests inside a padded case with a white spacesuit and red trim, while hanging white suits with red edges loom in a dark closet-like space. — The Chicago Bulls' 1996 NBA Championship trophy sits in a hamper after the celebration. Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

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Photos: 30th anniversary of the 1996 Bulls

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