2004–05 Chicago Bulls season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the Bulls' 39th season in the National Basketball Association. After the retirement of Scottie Pippen, the Bulls stumbled out of the gate as they lost their first nine games on their way to an awful 3–14 start. However, they would win 13 of their 16 games in January including a 7-game winning streak, then win nine straight games between March and April. The Bulls finished second in the Central Division with a record of 47–35, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998, when they last made the NBA Finals, as well as when they won their last NBA championship. Second-year star Kirk Hinrich averaged 15.7 points, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Top draft pick Ben Gordon became the first rookie to win the Sixth Man of The Year Award, as he and Luol Deng were both selected to the All-Rookie First Team.
| 2004–05 Chicago Bulls season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Scott Skiles |
| General manager | John Paxson |
| Owners | Jerry Reinsdorf |
| Arena | United Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 47–35 (.573) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 4th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First Round (lost to Wizards 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | CSN Chicago, WGN, WCIU |
| Radio | WMVP |
However, injuries were an issue as Deng was out for April and the postseason with a wrist injury, and Eddy Curry was sidelined due to a heart ailment. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls took a 2–0 lead over the Washington Wizards, but would lose the final four games of the series. Following the season, Curry and Antonio Davis were both traded to the New York Knicks.
This was the Bulls' first winning season and first playoff run since 1998, during the Michael Jordan era, when they won their sixth and most recent NBA championship.
For the season, they slightly changed their uniforms added the Bulls secondary logo on the back of the jersey. They remained in used until 2014.