Michael Jordan arrived in the Windy City during a time when the Chicago Bulls found themselves in a dire situation. But it was ‘His Airness’ who helped the organization emerge from the flames, fill the massive “star-player void,” and usher in a winning culture.

Jordan was the driving force behind the Chicago Bulls’ dominance in the 1990s. He guided the franchise to six championships in eight years, all while putting a spell over the whole NBA universe. The 1995-96 Bulls were perhaps the finest of those teams, finishing 72-10 in the regular season to become the first team in NBA history to crack the 70-win milestone.

Even today, Michael Jordan would not hesitate to declare that team the best in NBA history. A young MJ, however, once hailed an iconic Los Angeles Lakers team as the best he had ever seen.

In a rare interview in 1987, Michael Jordan talked about the ‘Showtime’ Lakers of the 1986-87 season. The Lakers were probably the hottest show in town at the time, with Magic Johnson’s team blazing on all cylinders. Johnson, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had the perfect sidekicks in Byron Scott and James Worthy.

Under the supervision of legendary coach Pat Riley, the Lakers finished that season with a 65-17 record. Behind the all-around talents of Magic Johnson, the Lakers steamrolled to the NBA Finals, to face Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. An incredible Finals performance from Magic Johnson and the Lakers saw them defeat their arch-rivals in six games.

The Lakers’ historic and dominant season prompted a young Michael Jordan to lavish praise on the franchise and its players.

Michael Jordan hailed the 1986-87 Lakers as the best team he had ever seen

Michael Jordan discussed the legendary 1986-87 Lakers team with Bryant Gumbel in 1987. He claimed that the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics do not have what it takes to beat that team, citing the Lakers’ hunger to win.

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He was then asked whether they are the best basketball team he’d ever seen. “I think so right now,” said MJ. “They got so many combinations…you can stop James Worthy, then you got to stop Magic and (Michael) Cooper and Byron Scott. They just got a lot of weapons and for us to get in that category, Chicago Bulls, we gotta have the same.” 

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Michael Jordan praised the Lakers and asserted that in order for his Chicago Bulls to succeed, they needed to have similar weapons to the Lakers. Incredibly, they were able to acquire the weaponry required to usher in a dominant era of their own.

The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the 1980s, winning five championships.

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It is now up to the fans to decide which team was superior. However, both teams demonstrated unprecedented levels of dominance in their respective decades, cementing their places in NBA history.

Who do you think is the better team, the Lakers of the 80s or the Bulls of the 90s? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.