No team captured the imagination of sports fans in the 1990s quite like the Chicago Bulls . With Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading the way with their impressive play on both ends, the Bulls were absolute juggernauts that captured six NBA championships in eight years.
And while the two all-time greats were the undisputed frontrunners, they couldn't have done it without stellar teammates who excelled in their roles. This group included former 12-year veteran Jud Buechler , who played four seasons with the Bulls and won three rings. A steady 6'6" forward who helped keep the ship steady while his famous teammates took a breather, Mr. Fundamental proved to be a valuable piece of the championship puzzle.
Being a member of the Bulls meant enjoying certain privileges, such as getting the best seats at upscale restaurants — something that Jud and his fellow reserves relished. During his appearance on Stacey King's podcast, Buechler recalled how some restaurant owners weren't always thrilled when they showed up.
NBA players today enjoy a ton of perks that teams regularly provide. This includes the option of staying inside their hotel rooms and eating their meals there. However, Jud shared that this wasn't the case for NBA teams back in the day.
"We had to leave the hotel to go get meals back in the day. Now, they have these extravagant buffets. Players don't really have to leave the hotel," Buechler said on the "Gimme the Hot Sauce" podcast.
"So, you know, a few of us — Randy, Randy Brown, Stevie Kerr, Bill Wennington — you know, we would get into it at some place and we'd call our favorite restaurant and be like, 'Hey, you know, four or five of the Bulls want to come for dinner,'" he continued. "'Oh yes, sir. No problem. We'll get the best table for you.'"
The mere mention of some Bulls players coming was enough to send the restaurant staff into a frenzy. From the maitre d' to the waitstaff and chefs, everyone was determined to leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, more often than not, the players they wanted to wait on weren't even the ones who showed up.
"And we'd all roll in, and they'd be disappointed because it wasn't, you know, it wasn't Scottie or Michael," Jud shared, laughing.
Meanwhile, King took a trip down memory lane and shared how amazing it was to see thousands of fans waiting for the Bulls to arrive in every city they played. Granted, all of them were there to get a glimpse of Air Jordan and Pip, but nevertheless, it was a surreal experience for the team.
"I always tell people it's like being in a rock band like U2, you know, the Beatles — you know, going into cities, you come in at one o'clock in Utah and there's like 1,500 people waiting for you to get autographs," King stated. "The whole lobby would be full of people. It was remarkable."
The big man also revealed the time when a woman lay down in front of the Bulls' bus and refused to get out of the way until MJ would come down and take a picture with her.
"We're leaving after playing the Knicks, and a lady lays in front of the bus and says she's not going to get up until Michael comes out and takes a picture with her," he remembered. "And then so, you know, we thought it was a joke. And you know, Phil's like, 'Michael, I need you to go take this picture so we can get out of here,' because you had to get out of New York at a certain time since the airport closed at a certain time. If you didn't, you had to stay the night."
Jud and Stacey were only minor players on those Bulls squads, but they still enjoyed every moment and felt lucky to have a front-row seat to the greatest basketball dynasty of all time.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
