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Chicago Bulls: Top 5 greatest one-season wonders in team history

By Steve Zavala

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers puts pressure on Dwyane Wade #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on February 25, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 117-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 25: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers puts pressure on Dwyane Wade #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on February 25, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 117-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bulls (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

4. Rajon Rondo — 2016–2017 season

Rajon Rondo’s lone season in Chicago was certainty a rocky ride throughout the entirety of his time there.

Rondo signed with the team over the first week of the 2017 free agency period. He seemed certain to be the team’s starting point guard, but it did not turn out to be the case for a short period.

He played in 69 games over the season with 42 of them coming as starts. The four-time All-Star averaged 7.8 points per game and 6.7 assists per game — both figures were much lower from what he regularly posted while with the Boston Celtics.

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Following a tumultuous December where he averaged 6.3 points per game on 35.8 percent shooting, the now-former Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg had seen enough and decided to bench Rondo. With the struggles of playing alongside two other ball-dominant guards in Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, Rondo’s early Bulls tenure did not go as he envisioned back in the off-season.

Rather than throwing in the towel after his early underperformances, Rondo rejuvenated his play and worked his way back into the starting lineup late in the season. The team went on to feature a much more fluid offensive playstyle than in months prior. Rondo recorded signature performances such as his 15-assist showing in a statement home win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Bulls finished with a 7–2 record over the final nine games of the season to sneak into the playoffs as the eighth seed.

As many remember, Playoff Rondo returned in style over the Eastern Conference First Round against the top-seeded Boston Celtics.

Rondo helped lead Chicago to a 2–0 series lead after totaling for 20 assists over the two games.  But that was all fans would see of Rondo in Chicago’s famed red and white colors. He missed the rest of the series because of a thumb injury, and the front office subsequently released him in the off-season.

At the least, fans got to see glimpses of the once highlight-filled Rondo.

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