The Statement Game: Jordan's 42-Point Vengeance | Bulls vs Hornets (November 3, 1995)

This is the complete broadcast of the Chicago Bulls' 1995-96 season opener against the Charlotte Hornets, a game that marked the start of their historic 72-10 championship season. In his first full game since returning from baseball, Michael Jordan delivered a commanding 42-point performance, signaling his intent to reclaim his throne. The contest also featured the highly anticipated debut of Dennis Rodman in a Bulls uniform, uniting him with Jordan and Scottie Pippen for the first time in the regular season.

The narrative for this game began the previous spring. After being eliminated by the Orlando Magic in the 1995 playoffs, a failure he took personally, Jordan dedicated his summer to recapturing his peak basketball form. "I felt like I had let the team down," Jordan later recalled of the defeat in The Last Dance. That loss fueled an intense offseason training regimen, conducted between takes while filming Space Jam. As he told the Chicago Tribune after this season-opening victory, "The fact that Orlando beat us last year has been eating at me all summer. I was very disappointed about that."

This opener was the first test for a reloaded Bulls roster. The front office had made a high-risk, high-reward move by acquiring the enigmatic Dennis Rodman to replace Horace Grant at power forward. From the outset, Jordan asserted his dominance, methodically dismantling the Hornets' defense. His performance was a declaration that he was not just back, but better than before. "It's been a long time since I felt that I've been in a rhythm," Jordan said postgame. "Tonight I felt I was in a good rhythm. My shots were falling. I just got into the flow of the game."

While Jordan carried the scoring load, Rodman provided the rebounding and defensive grit the team had been missing, grabbing 11 rebounds in his official debut. Head coach Phil Jackson observed, "Michael had to come out and exert himself, which is good for him to do. He's had a good training camp, and he seems to be in good rhythm." This victory was more than just the first of 72 wins; it was a clear and decisive message sent to the rest of the NBA. The Bulls were back, with a renewed focus and a vengeful leader.