Bulls celebrate the inaugural class of the Ring of Honor

The Chicago Bulls celebrated their inaugural class for the organization’s Ring of Honor during halftime of Friday’s game against the Warriors. The first class included 13 men and the entire 1995-96 team, which went 72-10 and won the NBA championship.

The Chicago Bulls celebrated their inaugural class for the organization’s new Ring of Honor during halftime of Friday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors.

The first class included 13 men and the entire 1995-96 team, which went 72-10 and won the NBA championship.

However, the Bulls were missing some key members of that team. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were absent from the festivities. Rodman was scheduled to appear, but inclement weather canceled his travel plans. Both he and Jordan sent video messages acknowledging the honor.

“I’m so bummed I couldn’t be there tonight,” Jordan said in a videotaped message to fans. “But I don’t want that to stop the fun you guys are going to have.”

In addition to Jordan, Pippen and Rodman, the 13-member inaugural class included Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson, who received the loudest applause from those in attendance, and the late Jerry Krause, who was general manager of the 1985 Bulls. . . until 2003 and architect of its six champion teams.

Krause’s name was chanted loudly by the United Center crowd, and his widow, Thelma, who represented him at the ceremony, was visibly emotional at the reception.

Also among the 13 inductees were Artis Gilmore, Johnny “Red” Kerr, Dick Klein, Toni Kukoc, Bob Love, Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker and Tex Winter, in addition to the 1995-96 team, which was referred to as “the best team in NBA history.”

Chicago celebrated the inaugural class at a private gala at the United Center on Thursday before recognizing them in front of a packed crowd during an extended halftime session on Friday.

Scheduling the ceremony on Friday allowed Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played five seasons in Chicago from 1993 to 1998, to attend the ceremonies, which he appreciated.

“I was very flattered that they organized it around our game so that I could be here,” Kerr said before Friday’s game. “We had a wonderful night, not only at the gala, but afterwards, connecting with the team. A lot of stories, a lot of fun. It was just a great, great night.

“In terms of everyone getting together, it was probably a few days after the 1998 finals, when the team broke up, and we knew it. We all got together one night back then and smoked cigars, drank some cocktails and told stories.”

The Bulls will join Ring of Honor every two years and the next generation will be revealed in 2026.