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Horace Grant revealed the Chicago Bulls' toughest opponent during their first three-peat
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The Chicago Bulls won three consecutive NBA championships from 1991 to 1993. They were the first team to accomplish such a feat since Bill Russell’s Celtics in the 1960s. The Bulls had to go through the talented Lakers, Trail Blazers, and Suns to achieve this.
During an AMA session on Reddit, four-time NBA champion Horace Grant was asked which teams were the biggest threat to the Bulls from 1991 to 1993.
Grant’s take on the biggest threat to the Bulls
“To me, the biggest threat as a team was the Portland Trail Blazers. They were very athletic, very talented, and they were physical up to a point,“ Grant said.
Coached by Rick Adelman, the 1992 Trail Blazers were the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference after winning the Pacific Division with a 57-25 record.
Led by Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, and Clifford Robinson, the Trail Blazers eliminated the Lakers, Suns, and Jazz in the playoffs to reach the NBA Finals. The Bulls won that series 4-2 to capture their second straight NBA championship.
Grant was also asked how he would compare Magic Johnson, Drexler, and Charles Barkley regarding their impact on the court.
“As an individual, no question it was Charles Barkley. He didn’t want them to lose. The guy played with an injured elbow, draining the fluid and still going out there putting up 35 points a night,“ Grant noted.
Grant’s time with the Bulls
Grant helped the Bulls win their first three-peat. His defense and rebounding made a significant impact. He primarily served as an enforcer who did the dirty work, like Charles Oakley before him. Grant’s intangibles allowed teammates like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and B.J. Armstrong to focus on creating on offense.
Grant played for 17 years in the NBA. He had his only All-Star season in 1994, which was the best year of his career, as he averaged 15.1 points, 11 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1 steal in 36.7 minutes over 70 games. He left the Bulls in the following offseason to sign with the Magic.
Grant played 10 more years in the league with the Magic, SuperSonics, and Lakers. He won his fourth NBA Championship in 2000-01 with the Lakers.
