Almost fifteen years of data (2011-2024) exposing how Jerry Reinsdorf squandered a once-proud franchise and betrayed the most loyal fanbase in basketball
When spending drops, winning drops. It's not incompetence—it's penny pinching.
#1 in attendance 11 of 14 years. Bottom-half spending every year. He fills the arena and pockets the profit.
Note: 2020 attendance severely impacted by COVID-19 pandemic (limited capacity)
Bulls lead the NBA in attendance. Reinsdorf responds with bottom-tier spending. Stop buying tickets. Stop buying merch. Empty seats are the only language he understands.
The gap between Bulls payroll and champions tells the whole story.
3 years of luxury tax in 15 seasons. Reinsdorf won't pay what winning costs.
Note: Spending doesn't guarantee wins. But Bulls are cheap AND losing.
Champions pay luxury tax 64% of the time. Bulls? 20%. The Warriors paid $170M in tax to win a ring—4x the Bulls' 15-year total. Jerry has the money. He chooses not to compete.
From dynasty to disaster: How Reinsdorf turned a global brand into a cautionary tale
Bulls win their 6th championship. Instead of running it back, Reinsdorf breaks up the team to avoid paying his stars.
"Jerry Reinsdorf broke up the Bulls because he didn't want to pay anybody. The notion that Jerry Krause broke up the Bulls is asinine and absurd."
Five straight losing seasons after dynasty ends. Combined record: 105-305 (.256 win%). Includes worst season in franchise history: 17-65 in 1999-2000.
John Paxson and Gar Forman oversee 17 years of dysfunction, bad trades, and toxic culture.
Arturas Karnisovas hired as savior. Five years later: 196-205 record, one playoff appearance, three straight play-in losses. Everyone gets extended in secret anyway.
The Pattern: Fail for 5 years. Extend everyone in secret. No accountability. No transparency. No championships.
Reinsdorf co-launches Chicago Sports Network to replace NBC Sports Chicago. Promises fans free access via antenna to "reimagine" regional sports coverage. Eight months later, kills free broadcasts for Comcast payday.
New Revenue Stream: While spending bottom-half on roster, Reinsdorf adds another way to monetize fans. Promise accessibility, then paywall it.
The pattern isn't incompetence—it's deliberate. The data proves it goes beyond any single GM or coach. It won't change until he sells.
"I think the important thing to fans is, while they want you to win championships, they want to know that when they get down to the last month of the season, you still have a shot. You're still playing meaningful games. If you can do that consistently, you'll make your fans happy."
After another trade deadline of inaction, a Bulls executive explained to a reporter why the team refuses to rebuild:
"'Your fans,' the executive countered... The Bulls fans the executive was referencing are paying customers... That exchange, albeit brief, provided tremendous insight into the minds that make up the Bulls' management."
— Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic, February 2024
Translation: The paying customers who fill United Center don't care about championships or rebuilds—they'll buy tickets regardless. So why bother competing? Spend just enough to stay "relevant," keep fans "happy" with mediocrity, and maximize profit. Repeat for 26 years.
Dynasty broken up to save money. Seventeen years of GarPax. Five years of AKME mediocrity rewarded with secret extensions. This is calculated failure. #1 in attendance, bottom-half in spending. Don't renew season tickets. Don't buy jerseys. Until he sells.