How the Bulls' iconic 'Sirius' anthem shaped their 72-10 season legacy

Luc Longley revealed how the Bulls' pregame anthem 'Sirius' helped him and teammates enter a competitive mindset before games.

The pregame ritual As the lights dimmed inside the United Center and the crowd noise swelled, Luc Longley sat on the Bulls bench, nearing the end of his pregame routine. When Ray Clay reached Pippen and Rodman before announcing Longley with the words, 'The man in the middle, from New Mexico, 7-2, Luc Longley,' the Australian center felt ready. 'I used 'Sirius' to bring myself into the moment of the game, into the moment of competition to be that alter ego of a good basketball player that you can't live in all the time,' Longley explained. 'You have to adopt that camouflage, or whatever you want to call armor going into the game because if you wear it all the time, you're not very much fun to be around.' ## From routine to ritual Thirty years after the Bulls posted a then-NBA record of 72 wins against 10 losses in the regular season and began their second three-peat with Michael Jordan, the combination of 'Sirius' and Chicago's introductions remains unforgettable. The music and presentation have endured across generations, becoming a defining part of basketball history. 'Sirius' was more than a soundtrack; it was the emotional trigger that transformed Longley into a focused competitor each night. ## The song's origins While Alan Parsons Project created 'Sirius,' Ray Clay amplified its impact, but the Bulls had already used the instrumental for years before his arrival in 1990-91. Tommy Edwards, the previous public address announcer, introduced 'Sirius' as the prelude to Bulls player intros during Michael Jordan's rookie debut on October 26, 1984. Edwards reportedly heard the song playing before a movie at the Biograph Theater and immediately recognized its potential as a pregame anthem. ## Evolving into a spectacle By the time the Bulls secured their first title in the 1990-91 season, the pregame introductions had become must-see entertainment. Broadcasters Johnny Kerr and Neil Funk urged fans to arrive early, and NBC began televising the spectacles live when they broadcast Bulls games. When Chicago moved to the United Center in 1994-95 and dominated with a 72-10 record the next season, the combination of 'Sirius,' lasers, and graphics turned introductions into a full production. ## Opponents felt the impact Players like Randy Brown, a reserve guard on the 1995-96 squad, noticed visiting teams fixating on the Jumbotron during introductions. 'I think by the time the video was over and the smoke cleared, we basically had a 15-point lead,' Brown recalled. The intimidation started before tip-off—opposing squads saw the banners, felt the weight of expectations, and then heard 'Sirius' kick in as the lights went dark. ## A home-court fortress Phil Jackson emphasized protecting home court, and the Bulls delivered in 1995-96 with a 39-2 home record. The pregame show was part of that dominance, with opponents already rattled by Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman before the opening tip. Former guard Jud Buechler, who played on six teams but experienced the Bulls' routine, said, 'I just know that when I was on the other side in the early '90s, it was extremely daunting, for sure.' ## The psychology behind the music Luc Longley admitted Michael Jordan might only gain a 2% boost from 'Sirius,' but for less naturally gifted players like himself, the track could provide a 20% edge. 'If you're Michael Jordan, 'Sirius' might have a 2% effect on your pregame ability to get in the zone,' Longley said. 'If you're Luc Longley, and it's really f---ing hard to be as good as you need to be every night because you're not that talented, 'Sirius' can have a 20% effect.' ## A lasting legacy Decades later, the song still triggers vivid reactions. Longley described hearing 'Sirius' now as 'mainlining the past,' evoking emotions no visual could replicate. Jud Buechler experienced chills when a couple was introduced to 'Sirius' at a wedding—proof the anthem transcends basketball. Though the instrumental predates the Bulls' dynasty by years, it became forever linked to one of sports' most iconic teams.