NBA 1987/88

National Basketball Association
◄ previous	1987/88 season		next ►
Duration		November 6, 1987 - April 24, 1988
Season games per team		82
Number of teams		23
Regular season
Best record		Los Angeles Lakers
Season MVP		Michael Jordan
Playoffs
Eastern - Champion		Detroit Pistons
Runner-up team		Boston Celtics
Western - Champion		Los Angeles Lakers
Runner-up team		Dallas Mavericks
Finals
NBA champions		Los Angeles Lakers
Runner-up		Detroit Pistons
Finals MVP		James Worthy

The 1987-88 NBA season was the National Basketball Association's 42nd season . The regular season began on November 6, 1987 and ended on April 24, 1988. This was followed by the NBA playoffs on April 28, 1988, which ended in mid-June with the NBA finals . The Los Angeles Lakers won the championship with a 4: 3 in the series against the Detroit Pistons .

Draft

The 1987 NBA Draft took place in New York City on June 22, 1987 . David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs was elected in first position .

All-Star Game

The 1988 All-Star Game was played on February 7, 1988 at Chicago Stadium . The East won with 138 to 133. For MVP was Michael Jordan selected.

Final results

S = wins, N = defeats, PCT = percentage of wins, P = deficit on division leaders

The placements in the seed lists of the respective conference playoffs are listed in brackets.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division # team S. N PCT P 1 Boston Celtics (1) 57 25th .695 - 2 Washington Bullets (7) 38 44 .463 19th 3 New York Knicks (8) 38 44 .463 19th 4th Philadelphia 76ers 36 46 .439 21st 5 New Jersey Nets 19th 63 .232 38 Central Division # team S. N PCT P 1 Detroit Pistons (2) 54 28 .659 - 2 Chicago Bulls (3) 50 32 .610 4th 3 Atlanta Hawks (4) 50 32 .610 4th 4th Milwaukee Bucks (5) 42 40 .512 12 5 Cleveland Cavaliers (6) 42 40 .512 12 6th Indiana Pacers 38 44 .463 16

Western Conference Midwest Division # team S. N PCT P 1 Denver Nuggets (2) 54 28 .659 - 2 Dallas Mavericks (3) 53 29 .646 1 3 Utah Jazz (5) 47 35 .573 7th 4th Houston Rockets (6) 46 36 .561 8th 5 San Antonio Spurs (8) 31 51 .378 23 6th Sacramento Kings 24 58 .293 30th Pacific Division # team S. N PCT P 1 Los Angeles Lakers (1) 62 20th .756 - 2 Portland Trail Blazers (4) 53 29 .646 9 3 Seattle SuperSonics (7) 44 38 .537 18th 4th Phoenix Suns 28 54 .341 34 5 Golden State Warriors 20th 62 .244 42 6th Los Angeles Clippers 17th 65 .207 45

NBA awards

• 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 - Charles Barkley , Philadelphia 76ers
  • F - Larry Bird , Boston Celtics
  • C - Hakeem Olajuwon , Houston Rockets
  • G - Michael Jordan , Chicago Bulls
  • G - Magic Johnson , Los Angeles Lakers
• All-NBA Second Team:
  • F - Patrick Ewing , New York Knicks
  • F - Karl Malone , Utah Jazz
  • F - Buck Williams , New Jersey Nets
  • C - Mark Eaton , Utah Jazz
  • G - Fat Lever , Denver Nuggets
  • G - Alvin Robertson , San Antonio Spurs
• All-NBA Rookie Team:
  • Greg Anderson , San Antonio Spurs
  • Poor Gilliam , Phoenix Suns
  • Mark Jackson , New York Knicks
  • Derrick McKey , Seattle SuperSonics
  • Kenny Smith , Sacramento Kings
• NBA All-Defensive First Team:
  • Michael Cooper , Los Angeles Lakers
  • Michael Jordan , Chicago Bulls
  • Rodney McCray , Houston Rockets
  • Kevin McHale , Boston Celtics
  • Hakeem Olajuwon , Houston Rockets
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
  • Mark Eaton , Utah Jazz
  • Patrick Ewing , New York Knicks
  • Fat Lever , Denver Nuggets
  • Karl Malone , Utah Jazz
  • Alvin Robertson , San Antonio Spurs
  • Buck Williams , New Jersey Nets

Playoffs

In the first round, the game was played in the best-of-five system , and from the second round in the best-of-seven system.

	First round					Conference semifinals					Conference Finals					NBA finals
	1	Boston	3
	8th	new York	1
						1	Boston	4th
						4th	Atlanta	3
	4th	Atlanta	3
	5	Milwaukee	2
											1	Boston	2
	Eastern Conference
											2	Detroit	4th
	3	Chicago	3
	6th	Cleveland	2
						3	Chicago	1
						2	Detroit	4th
	2	Detroit	3
	7th	Washington	2
																E1	Detroit	3
																W1	LA Lakers	4th
	1	LA Lakers	3
	8th	San Antonio	0
						1	LA Lakers	4th
						5	Utah	3
	4th	Portland	1
	5	Utah	3
											1	LA Lakers	4th
	Western Conference
											3	Dallas	3
	3	Dallas	3
	6th	Houston	1
						3	Dallas	4th
						2	Denver	2
	2	Denver	3
	7th	Seattle	2

Web links

• The 1987/88 season at basketball-reference.com