Editorial archive dedicated to Michael Jordan · 1987-88 season
Chicago Bulls · Season archive

Season 1987-88

The leap from great scorer to the league's most complete player.

Bulls record50-32
Scoring average35,0
Major awardsMVP + DPOY

Editorial recap

The 1987-88 campaign was the great takeoff point for the project that would later dominate the decade. Chicago added Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, made a major competitive leap and Jordan won almost everything an individual player could win.

He led the NBA in scoring at 35 points per game and in steals, won regular-season MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star Game MVP, and won the Dunk Contest. The Bulls also advanced past the first playoff round for the first time since the beginning of the decade.

Regular-season averages

GPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKPTS
828240,453,513,284,11,73,85,55,93,161,6035,0

GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.

Playoff averages

GPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKPTS
101042,753,133,386,92,34,87,14,72,401,1036,3

GP = games played · GS = games started · MPG = minutes per game · FG% = field-goal percentage · 3P% = three-point percentage · FT% = free-throw percentage · ORB = offensive rebounds · DRB = defensive rebounds · TRB = total rebounds · AST = assists · STL = steals · BLK = blocks · PTS = points.

Key moments

  • First time in history that the same player won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
  • Chicago advanced beyond the first playoff round again.
  • Pippen and Grant began integrating into the team's competitive core.

Honors and distinctions

  • Regular-season MVP.
  • Defensive Player of the Year.
  • All-NBA First Team.
  • All-Defensive First Team.
  • All-Star Game starter.
  • All-Star Game MVP.
  • Dunk Contest champion.