1987–88 NBA season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the 42nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their second straight Championship, beating the Detroit Pistons in seven hard fought games in the NBA Finals, becoming the NBA's first repeat champions since the Boston Celtics did it in the 1968-69 NBA season.

[edit] Notable occurrences

The NBA All-Star Game was played at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, with the East defeating the West 138-133. Local hero Michael Jordan steals the show during the week-end, taking home the game's MVP award, after winning the slam dunk contest earlier in the week.

Michael Jordan becomes the only player in NBA history to win both the scoring title and Defensive Player of the Year honors. He is also the only player in NBA history to combine these awards with the season's Most Valuable Player award.

James Worthy records the first ever Game Seven triple double as he records 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The league awards expansion franchises to Charlotte, Miami, Minneapolis, and Orlando. The Charlotte and Miami franchises would debut in the 1988-89 NBA season, while the Minneapolis and Orlando franchises would debut at the beginning of the 1989-90 NBA season.

With the exception of a first round sweep of San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers played seven-game series the rest of the way. During the run, they overcome the Utah Jazz in the semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals, and the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.

'C - NBA Champions'

Category	Player	Team	Stat
Points per game	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	35.0
Rebounds per game	Michael Cage	Los Angeles Clippers	13.03
Assists per game	John Stockton	Utah Jazz	13.8
Steals per game	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls	3.2
Blocks per game	Mark Eaton	Utah Jazz	3.8
FG%	Kevin McHale	Boston Celtics	60.4
FT%	Jack Sikma	Milwaukee Bucks	92.2
3FG%	Craig Hodges	Milwaukee Bucks	49.2

Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Rookie of the Year: Mark Jackson, New York Knicks
Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Sixth Man of the Year: Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks
Most Improved Player: Kevin Duckworth, Portland Trail Blazers
Coach of the Year: Doug Moe, Denver Nuggets
All-NBA First Team:
- F - Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
- F - Charles Barkley, Philadelphia 76ers
- C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
- G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- G - Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
All-NBA Second Team:
- F - Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
- F - Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks
- C - Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
- G - Clyde Drexler, Portland Trailblazers
- G - John Stockton, Utah Jazz
All-NBA Rookie Team:
NBA All-Defensive First Team:
NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
- Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets
- Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
- Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz (tie)
- Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks (tie)
- Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs
- Lafayette Lever, Denver Nuggets

Note: All information on this page was obtained on the History section on NBA.com

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Also this year: 1987 Draft • 1988 Playoffs • 1988 Finals • 1988 in sports
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1987–88 NBA season by team

1987 NBA Draft • All-Star Game • Playoffs • Finals • Transactions

Atlantic	Boston • New Jersey • New York • Philadelphia • Washington

Central	Atlanta • Chicago • Cleveland • Detroit • Indiana • Milwaukee

Midwest	Dallas • Denver • Houston • Sacramento • San Antonio • Utah

Pacific	Golden State • L.A. Clippers • L.A. Lakers • Phoenix • Portland • Seattle