When the Golden State Warriors stormed through the 2015-16 NBA regular season with a 73-9 record, it shook the basketball world.
Not only did they set a new benchmark for regular season dominance, but they also eclipsed the previously untouchable 72-10 record held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, a team led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman.
Since then, fans and analysts alike have engaged in spirited debates over which of the two historic squads would come out on top in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup.
While such comparisons will always remain theoretical, Scottie Pippen himself has now offered a detailed opinion, one that both highlights the era gap and defends the gritty identity of his championship Bulls team.
Pippen: “Curry Wouldn’t Be the Same With ’90s Rules”
In a recent interview with MARCA, Pippen was asked directly how his 72-win Bulls would fare against the 73-win Warriors team led by Stephen Curry.
“It depends on the rules. If you play by today’s rules, it would be one thing. But with the rules of the ’90s, Curry wouldn’t be the same,” Pippen said. “If we played in his era, it would be like playing freely: no one holds you, no one stops you. I don’t know who would win.”
He didn’t stop there. Pippen pointed out the key difference in playing styles between the two teams, noting how his Bulls weren’t constructed to chuck 40 threes a game.
“We weren’t built to shoot 25-50 three-pointers per game,” he added.
“They would probably win that way because they have two of the best shooters in Steph and Klay. But we played physical, we defended hard. We made the teams score only 75-80 points. Today, that’s almost impossible.”
That stark contrast in offensive philosophy and defensive toughness is what fuels this debate.
The Bulls, under head coach Phil Jackson, focused on mid-range efficiency, post play, and lockdown defense.
In contrast, the Warriors under Steve Kerr revolutionized the modern NBA with pace-and-space offense and long-range shooting, led by the legendary duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Though the Warriors‘ 73-9 campaign ended in heartbreak after a dramatic 4-3 Finals loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, their regular season dominance remains untouched.
Meanwhile, the 1995-96 Bulls capped their historic run with an NBA title, adding weight to their claim as the greatest team ever.
Today, Curry remains the face of the franchise as the Warriors reload for another title run.
With Jimmy Butler joining the mix this offseason, Golden State is banking on championship experience and veteran savvy to deliver success. Whether this new-look team can channel the same firepower and chemistry remains to be seen.
But for now, the “72-10 vs. 73-9” debate remains one of the most compelling in NBA history. And with Pippen weighing in, it’s clear that this conversation is far from over.
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