1987–88 NBA season

1987–88 NBA season
League	National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
Duration	Nov 6, 1987 – Apr 24, 1988 Apr 28 – Jun 4, 1988 (Playoffs) Jun 7–21, 1988 (Finals)
Number of teams	23
TV partner(s)	CBS, TBS
Draft
Top draft pick	David Robinson (didn't play until 89–90 season)
Picked by	San Antonio Spurs
Regular season
Top seed	Los Angeles Lakers
Season MVP	Michael Jordan (Chicago)
Top scorer	Michael Jordan (Chicago)
Playoffs
Eastern champions	Detroit Pistons
Eastern runners-up	Boston Celtics
Western champions	Los Angeles Lakers
Western runners-up	Dallas Mavericks
Finals
Champions	Los Angeles Lakers
Runners-up	Detroit Pistons
Finals MVP	James Worthy (L.A. Lakers)

A ticket for Game 1 of the 1988 NBA Finals at The Forum.

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.

Notable occurrences

Coaching changes
Offseason
Team	1986-87 coach	1987-88 coach
Dallas Mavericks	Dick Motta	John MacLeod
Phoenix Suns	Dick Van Arsdale	John Wetzel
Milwaukee Bucks	Don Nelson	Del Harris
New York Knicks	Bob Hill	Rick Pitino
Sacramento Kings	Jerry Reynolds	Bill Russell
Los Angeles Clippers	Don Chaney	Gene Shue
In-season
Team	Outgoing coach	Incoming coach
Golden State Warriors	George Karl	Ed Gregory
Philadelphia 76ers	Matt Guokas	Jim Lynam
New Jersey Nets	Dave Wohl	Bob MacKinnon
New Jersey Nets	Bob MacKinnon	Willis Reed
Sacramento Kings	Bill Russell	Jerry Reynolds
Washington Bullets	Kevin Loughery	Wes Unseld

The 1988 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 Minneapolis and Orlando would begin play in the 1989–90 NBA season.
The New Jersey Nets had 3 different head coaches during the season, a rare occurrence. Interestingly, the Indiana Pacers would have 4 different head coaches during the following season.
The San Antonio Spurs are the last team in NBA history to lose 50 or more games in a season, and still make the playoffs.
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 overcame the Utah Jazz in the semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals, and the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. The Mavs' appearance in the conference finals was the team's first of three appearances.
On January 5, 1988, Hall of Famer Pete Maravich died of a heart attack during a pickup game. He was 40 years old. The Utah Jazz subsequently honored him by sporting a patch containing his jersey No. 7.
The Phoenix Suns mourned the loss of center Nick Vanos, killed in an airline crash on August 16, 1987. The Suns sported black circular patches with his jersey No. 30 on their uniforms for the season.
The Detroit Pistons play their final season at Pontiac Silverdome.
The Milwaukee Bucks play their final season at MECCA (Milwaukee Arena).
The Sacramento Kings play their final season at ARCO Arena I.
The Muggsy Bogues, the league's shortest player.

Final standings

By division

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1987–88 NBA season