The NBA Belt · reign 1,377
Chicago Bulls
Took the belt from Milwaukee Bucks, 116–106, on March 17, 1981. Lost it to Boston Celtics, 121–109, on April 5, 1981.
8Defenses
19Days
40thReign for the franchise
+1Closest call · Apr 3, 1981
9.5Average winning margin
136thLongest of 3,250 reigns, by days
52ndMost defenses of 3,250 reigns
Defended against
Cavaliers ×2Knicks ×276ersPistonsHawksPacers
The season
- 1980–81: Chicago Bulls finished 45–37–0, 8th of 23 by record; Boston Celtics won the NBA title; 10 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 44 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Chicago Bulls across the 10 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reggie Theus | 204 | 10 |
| 2 | Artis Gilmore | 186 | 10 |
| 3 | David Greenwood | 174 | 10 |
| 4 | Dwight Jones | 151 | 10 |
| 5 | Ricky Sobers | 148 | 10 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Chicago Bulls’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,056 | Mar 17, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat Milwaukee Bucks 116–106 Game → | +10 | Title change |
| 3,057 | Mar 19, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat Cleveland Cavaliers 116–111 | +5 | Defense |
| 3,058 | Mar 20, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat Philadelphia 76ers 120–108 | +12 | Defense |
| 3,059 | Mar 22, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat Detroit Pistons 109–103 | +6 | Defense |
| 3,060 | Mar 24, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat Cleveland Cavaliers 121–108 | +13 | Defense |
| 3,061 | Mar 27, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat Atlanta Hawks 108–83 | +25 | Defense |
| 3,062 | Mar 29, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat Indiana Pacers 101–97 | +4 | Defense |
| 3,063 | Mar 31, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat New York Knicks 90–80 Playoffs | +10 | Defense |
| 3,064 | Apr 3, 1981 | Chicago Bulls beat New York Knicks 115–114 Playoffs | +1 | Defense |
| 3,065 | Apr 5, 1981 | Boston Celtics beat Chicago Bulls 121–109 Playoffs Game → | −12 | Title change |