Chicago Bulls Past, Present, and Future: First Championship Team Honored, Next Championships Predicted

CHICAGO,IL. It was a night to honor the Chicago Bulls and the franchise's first NBA Championship team that featured Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and a perfectly complementary group of dependable role players.

PAST:
The Chicago Bulls won their first NBA Championship in 1991, led by NBA Legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Together, they were winners of 6 NBA titles with the Bulls. The 1991 NBA Championship team also included Craig Hodges, Stacey King, Horace Grant, Cliff Levingston, John Paxson, Will Perdue, Bill Cartwright, B.J. Armstrong, Scott Williams, and Dennis Hopson.

Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan formed one of the greatest duos in NBA history.

PRESENT:
From the tipoff, the present-day Chicago Bulls squad paid homage to the past with their NBA MVP leader Derrick Rose leading the way.

Derrick Rose kicking the ball out to 3-point shooters; the Bulls set a new team record with 18 treys.

Coming off of a big second half last night against Atlanta, Rose continued his hot shooting and put up 17 points in the first quarter, leading the Bulls to a 37 - 17 lead over the visiting Utah Jazz. The Jazz would not get close after that.

Rose finished with 26 points. But more importantly than his stats, Rose set the tone in both the 3rd quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks, as well as, tonight to start the game.

It was something that Michael Jordan used to do in leading the Chicago Bulls to the NBA championship in 1991 and five more times after that, and with each game, we are observing the evolution of Derrick Rose into a Jordan-like player in his approach to the game.

FUTURE:
Michael Jordan has been there before, and a few days ago, he has said that Derrick Rose is the best player in the league and is deserving of the NBA Most Valuable Player award.

Jordan predicted 6 more NBA Championships for the Bulls; does that include this year?

It is more than his numbers. It is his value to his team. And right now, he is the engine that has powered the Chicago Bulls to 6 consecutive wins, 10 consecutive wins at home, and after the easy victory over the Jazz, into a 1st place tie with Boston for the East's number one seed.

When his team needs him the most, he makes the shot or he makes the play. No one else has done that this year for his team more than Rose.

Michael Jordan also had one more prediction; he forecasted, jokingly, that 6 more NBA titles were in store for the Chicago Bulls. Could those 6 be starting this season? Many a truth is said in jest...