Randy Brown Talks Potential Bulls Championship Reunion, Michael Jordan, Current Squad
It’s been 30 years since the start of the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat, and a member of those teams is trying to get Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and crew back together.
Reserve guard Randy Brown works as an ambassador for the Bulls and said a potential championship reunion is “the talk of the town” in Chicago.
“I want all my guys to get together one last time,” Brown said.
Brown recently sat down with ESportsBets to chat about his reunion efforts, memories from that championship run, the present-day Bulls, OKC’s dynasty potential and more.
Q: It’s been 30 years since that magical 72-win season, which kicked off the second three-peat. Would you like to get everyone back together for a reunion?
Randy Brown: “That’s the talk of the town. We did have the Ring of Honor in January of 2024. The championship team was honored, but Michael missed it, Scottie missed it and so did Dennis Rodman. Phil Jackson was there and the (rest) of the team. It was a great event.
“I understand everyone goes on with their lives. You’ve got kids, grandkids. A couple of my teammates have kids playing. So you lose focus of that a little bit. But I try to be that team guy. I’m on a text chain with all my guys. I’m never going to let it go, because I still work for the Bulls as an ambassador today. So I’m constantly talking to the Bulls’ marketing people about staying engaged with our alumni. We’re not going to let the brand get stale.
“And yes, I want all my guys to get together one last time before it’s finally over, because we need to be recognized.”
Q: Chicago would go crazy if you could get Michael, Scottie and Dennis back together.
Randy Brown: “It would be an honor for the Bulls fans to see Michael, Scottie and Dennis. Phil Jackson. Steve Kerr. Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Bill Wennington, Jud Buechler, John Salley, Buddha Edwards, Scott Burrell, Jason Caffey. I had some great teammates along the way, and Bulls fans would love to acknowledge that this is a championship city.
“I’m not going to let it go. I’m hoping it will happen sooner rather than later. Even though everyone’s read in the media about Michael and Scottie’s differences, all that stuff, I hope it can all come to fruition, that we can hug each other one last time. And then from there, we can see where it goes.”
Q: So you’ll keep texting them, trying to make it happen, huh?
Randy Brown: “I’m not going to stop. I’m a point guard, and Michael taught me to be a leader. I’m going to use my leadership qualities to stay connected to all of my guys.”
Q: Is it nice to see Jordan back in the spotlight with his NBA on NBC spots?
Randy Brown: “I was excited to see him back on TV. Hearing him talk about his career is a breath of fresh air for me. I thought it would be this route. I didn’t think he would be a commentator of the game, talking about the game today and the players. I didn’t think it would go that far. But the NBA needs Michael Jordan’s face. What he brings to the game is important for it to expand. So whenever I see my guy on TV, I’m excited. I value his insight.”
Q: You mentioned you don’t see him doing commentary. Is that because of his personality? He doesn’t want to break down the players and the teams in that way?
Randy Brown: “It’s safe for him to talk about the game, and where the game is going, but Michael doesn’t have the mindset to critique a kid. It doesn’t do any good for him. What I do like is consistently hearing the players say, ‘Hey, I got a chance to talk to Michael.’ It’s off-camera and it’s a personal conversation. I don’t think it will ever get to a point where he is consistently critiquing today’s players. That’s not in his nature.”
Q; That actually sounds refreshing. It’s such a hot-take society, and if he’s uplifting behind the scenes, that seems like it would be a thrill for the player, no matter how established they are.
Randy Brown: “For a 25-year-old kid to have an opportunity to talk to Michael Jordan? That’s refreshing. If you get the opportunity to talk with him, they need to take advantage of it, because it probably won’t happen a second time.
“To get knowledge from what Michael brought to the NBA – I used it as a teammate. My physical capabilities were nowhere near Michael, but my mindset was. And he put me in a position where he said, ‘If you’re only playing two minutes for the Bulls, make it your best.’ And that’s what he’s giving to these young kids today. They need to hear Michael Jordan’s voice and his take on the game. Hopefully they acknowledge it and accept it well, so they take it on to their teams in a positive way.”
Q: What is your favorite memory of MJ? Everyone in the world wanted a slice of him back then and you had this behind-the-scenes access as his teammate for three years.
Randy Brown: “I didn’t know Michael Jordan practiced (that hard) every day. I was amazed to see the best player in the world show up every single day. He would tape up and be ready to go every day.
“When I came to the Bulls – I’m a point guard and can pick up offenses quickly, but I suffered with the Triangle. I fell out of the rotation and wasn’t playing, but not one day did Michael not treat me as a teammate. He held me accountable, saying, ‘Hey, until you get the Triangle, you’re not going to play.’ But Michael took me under his wing. Every single morning we’d go on the court, doing 1-on-1 stuff. I was a really good defender, but that taught me to be a better defender, practicing against this guy.”
Q: When we look back at the Last Dance season now, it seems so final. Was there ever talk, in-season or after, of running it back and trying to win a fourth straight championship?
Randy Brown: “I could do an interview for six hours about this. Yes, that infamous season, the Last Dance. I didn’t know what that meant. We got these T-shirts, but I was a kid. I didn’t know what it meant.
“That was one of the toughest playoff series we went through. Indiana Pacers took us to the brink. The Utah Jazz wanted to win a championship before breaking up. Michael, Scottie, Dennis, Toni Kukoc, Steve Kerr, all my teammates, we wouldn’t let it happen.
“When we won the championship, we didn’t know a strike season was coming up. So there was no basketball come September, October. And in my mind I’m thinking, 50 games in a season? Oh, yeah, we can run this thing back. When it didn’t happen, I wasn’t ready for that. We went from winning 60 games to 16. It was a shock to my system.
“We never got a chance to defend what was ours, and I didn’t know this was going to happen. After one last dinner after the championship, we were never together again. I had a feeling (it was over) when Phil Jackson had us sit in a room with some incense, and we put things in a bottle. That’s when it started to sink in, like, ‘Is this really the Last Dance?’
“But 50 games with that team? We win 35 and try to defend what was ours. I believe if it wasn’t a strike season, I think Jerry Krause would have asked Phil Jackson to come back and coach, and I think Phil Jackson would have struggled through his physical issues and went for another year. But the strike season led us to the Last Dance coming to fruition.”
Q: So the strike led to too much uncertainty and guys split up?
Randy Brown: “Yeah. It was sad, man. The ball started rolling when Phil had his surgery. Michael, I think, had a very serious injury that summer. You started seeing pieces move around, and when I go to the locker room, it’s only myself, Ron Harper, Toni Kukoc and Dickey Simpkins with a bunch of kids. Reality kicked in. I remember sitting next to Ron Harper. We are playing in front of 25,000 fans at the United Center, and we’re down by 25 points every night.”
Q: Dennis Rodman came to the Bulls at about the same time as you.
Randy Brown: “Same day.”
Q: Oh, really? What was your relationship like with him?
Randy Brown: “Great teammate. I love him. I still talk to my guy. When Dennis Rodman became my teammate with the Bulls, I had two tattoos. Because of him, now I have 18, so you can tell how close we are.
“This guy was an entertainer, like Michael and Scottie. I get asked all the time: How could Michael, Scottie and Phil let Dennis put on a Bulls uniform after what he put them through with the Pistons? But Michael understood that this guy was a scary worker, great 1-on-1 defender, and very smart.
“When the camera was off, he probably wouldn’t say a word to you. But when that light came on, Dennis Rodman knew exactly what he was doing, and what it would take to win. Without him, we don’t win three championships.
“He took some of the media spotlight off Michael. Michael had 35 points last night, but Dennis had 22 rebounds, and then he was spotted on the south side of Chicago with liquor in his hand, stuff like that. He took the pressure off Michael, and it let Michael perform.”
LeBron vs MJ
Q: Fans love the MJ vs. LeBron GOAT debate. You have a unique perspective as Jordan’s former teammate. Is it even a debate in your mind?
Randy Brown: “I’m the wrong person to ask. I’m a LeBron James fan. I know his family personally, met LeBron James when he was in high school living in Ohio, when we didn’t know he’d be the LeBron James of today.
“But what Michael Jordan brought to the game was extraordinary. He’s clearly the best guy to ever put on a uniform. 6-0 in the Finals. He set the standard of what the NBA should be, in uniform and when that uniform comes off. There’s no comparison between Michael and LeBron. LeBron should be compared to Scottie Pippen and Magic Johnson, as far as basketball abilities.
“But what LeBron James is still doing right now is absolutely amazing. It’s going to be a sad day when you don’t see him anymore. I’ll forever be a fan.”
Q: Do you think LeBron will be fine as the clear-cut secondary option with Luka the go-to guy now with the Lakers?
Randy Brown: “Yes. LeBron James is one of those guys that can step into any team and fit in. He does what Scottie Pippen did for us. He can step into any situation and make a team better. Anytime him and Luka get on the court together, it’s going to be scary. LeBron has been around long enough to be OK passing that torch to Luka.”
Present-Day Bulls
Q: The Bulls started 6-1 and have followed that with some close losses. How do you feel about their trajectory?
Randy Brown: “It’s been a surprisingly great start. I had a chance to visit them during training camp, and they play hard. They do some things that teams aren’t used to seeing for 82 games. You can prepare for sets and things like that, but you can’t manage physicality, IQ of the game, and that’s what the Bulls are bringing. They’re playing hard and Billy Donovan is doing a fantastic job. They force you to the brink. If they are making their shots, they can be a scary team to plan for.”
Q: Josh Giddey is almost averaging a triple-double. Has he reached stardom at this point?
Randy Brown: “Absolutely. When the Bulls traded for Josh, he was going through some stuff at OKC, and he didn’t come to Chicago right. But what you see from this guy, he’s making shots, he does all the little stuff. I can’t say it’s not showing up in the stat sheet, because it is. The way he rebounds the ball. He’s always engaged, always around the ball. This is what the Bulls saw when they traded (Alex Caruso) for Josh.
“Josh has been great, man. He’s controlling the tempo of the game. He’s not holding onto the ball. I can hear Billy in the games to move that ball. Josh is fitting in perfectly to the plan that the Bulls have for the future, which is great.”
Q: The Bulls haven’t had a bunch of success under Billy Donovan. Is this a big year for him personally? Do they need to make a leap?
Randy Brown: “Having a front office and coaching background, I think every year is a big year. But, yeah, Billy hasn’t had success. He’s been able to get teams into the play-in, and people have been looking at his rosters asking how these teams can win. But here he is, the team starts out 6-3 and he’s beaten some really good teams.
“I think it’s a big year for Billy, and I think Billy would put that pressure on himself, because I know in his heart he wants to win for the Chicago fans. You’re talking to one of the biggest Bulls fans ever, and I want to see a winning product out there as well. Billy is showing that where the NBA is going is not about All-Stars anymore. It’s about solid team play. That’s not to say Josh Giddey can’t be an All-Star. With his numbers, he can. But hats off to Billy for getting this team prepared. He’s coaching them hard. He’s expecting them to play hard, and it’s showing in the win column.”
Q: What would you consider a successful season this year?
Randy Brown: “The fans deserve a winning product. The play-in the last couple of years has been good, but I’m pretty sure Billy and the Bulls owners and front office, they want to see some steps being made. I’m an avid Bulls fan, and I want to see this team do what the Indiana Pacers did last year.”
Q: Are the Pacers a good example of a team not needing to take small steps? If it comes together, it can come together quickly?
Randy Brown: “The Indiana Pacers were good last year, and Rick Carlisle said it best: they got hot at the right time. They got hot with 25 games to go in the season and it catapulted them to the Finals. Yes, you need great players to win in the NBA, but you also need solid players that are willing to play a role. That was the case in the 90s, and then it kind of tapered off as the talent grew and the guys got younger, but as you can see, NBA teams are focusing on getting 15 guys that can run around to win basketball games, and I think that’s going to be the blueprint moving forward.”
Q: Jayson Tatum is hurt, Tyrese Haliburton is hurt. Some of the favorites are no longer at that level. Do the Bulls need to believe they can make a legitimate title run?
Randy Brown: “It’s kind of sad that we won’t be seeing some of those big-time players in uniform this year, but you can’t feel sorry for anyone. I think the Bulls should put it in their minds that they are good enough. And they are showing it in the games. They are in these games for a reason. They play hard and they play together.
“So, yes, you have to think like a champion team-wise, and if they start to put that all together, you can stack wins. There is no reason why the Bulls can’t be the Indiana Pacers of last year.”
OKC Dynasty?
Q: Looking at OKC a little bit. You had the dynasty in Chicago. The Lakers, the Warriors had them. Can the Thunder follow suit, or is it harder these days because superstars tend to team up?
Randy Brown: “What Sam Presti has done, man. He saw the method to the madness when he was stacking up all these draft picks. He’s got lottery picks not even able to break the rotation.
“What they got going right now, they need to take advantage of it, because with player movement and the cap these days, it’s hard to keep all these stars together. They can be a dynasty if they can put together a run this year, but there are so many unforeseen things. Injuries, player movement.”
Q: You probably appreciate the way Lu Dort plays, don’t you?
Randy Brown: “Man. I’m not going to say we’re the same player, but that was me with limited minutes with the Bulls. Dort, you can see it in his eyes that he wants to be that defensive guy. He doesn’t have a lot of pressure to score. Everybody sees what Shai does, what Chet does, and hardly anyone talks about Lu Dort, but Coach Mark (Daigneault) acknowledges what this kid brings to that team.”
Q: Is it rare for someone to love playing defense? Scoring is so glamorous and defense is the dirty work.
Randy Brown: “It is refreshing to see a guy like Lu Dort take on his role. I’m pretty sure he was the main reason they were winning some of those playoff games, because of his defensive ability. It’s hard to teach. You need the mindset, the heart and the physicality to (be a great defender). He’s the perfect defensive role player for OKC. If Lu Dort didn’t check his ego at the door and said ‘I want to be a scorer,’ he doesn’t help OKC get better.
“He’s accepted his role, and that’s what we did with the Bulls. Phil Jackson would say, ‘Hey Randy, if you score two points today, don’t worry about it. We’ve got guys that can score.’”
Q: Shai is already an MVP-level guy. There have been some great shooting guards the last 30 years – MJ, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant – does he remind you stylistically of any of those greats?
Randy Brown: “I know Shai hasn’t personally met with Michael. I don’t know if they’ve had a conversation. But you can see his footwork is all Kobe Bryant, and Kobe’s footwork was Michael. SGA’s fundamentals are Kobe, and Kobe’s fundamentals were Michael. So this kid is watching some film. His footwork is impeccable, and his ball-handling gets him to places other players can’t go. His expertise of getting to the free throw line when he’s not really looking for fouls? That’s all Michael. That’s Kobe. It’s so much fun to watch.
“I’m not going to compare him to Michael, because I’m pretty sure the numbers don’t compare, but you can see it in his face. The guy brings it every single night. That’s really hard to do for 82 games, but that’s what I’m seeing. The NBA is in good hands with this kid.”
Steve Kerr and the Warriors
Q: You played with Steve Kerr and coached Jimmy Butler in Chicago. With new blood like OKC and San Antonio coming on strong, do the Warriors have any shot at making one more run with their aging core?
Randy Brown: “What Steve Kerr is doing is taking a page out of Phil Jackson’s book. He’s not taking the regular season for granted, but I know Steve Kerr is looking at April. He wants them playing at a level where the game slows down in the playoffs, you get some days off and you get to prep against one team. Right there, you become dangerous.
“I still think they have a shot if they stay healthy.”
Q: When did you notice that with Phil?
Randy Brown: “He basically was like, ‘I want to be 41-0 at the United Center, and if we win 20 on the road, that’s 60 wins.’ He knew when to practice, when not to practice. We’d be on the road and we think we’re going to get killed in this practice, and instead we go to a yoga session. That’s what Steve Kerr has taken from Phil Jackson.
“Like right now, the Warriors are in a rut with Steph Curry being out. But Steve Kerr has a plan, so every week, every month, they elevate that play and get healthy. I can see what Steve Kerr is doing. He is lining these guys up for April. And if they get into April and they are healthy, you can’t count them out.”
New Mexico State
Q: Do you follow New Mexico State hoops? They have a kid named Jemel Jones who followed your route from Chicago and has started off pretty well.
Randy Brown: “I would like to say that Chicago pipeline started way back in the 1980s. I give New Mexico State sh– about it all the time. If I don’t see a kid from Chicago on their roster, I get kind of offended. A kid going from Chicago all the way to Las Cruces, it’s a different world. It’s been great to see. I don’t want that pipeline to end. I want to see the Chicago kids venture out there to further their careers.”
