The 1987-88 Chicago Bulls season marked a pivotal moment in the franchise’s history, laying the groundwork for future dominance in the NBA. Under the leadership of head coach Doug Collins, the Bulls finished the regular season with a 50-32 record, earning them third place in the Central Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
The standout performer for the Bulls was Michael Jordan, who continued to establish himself as one of the league’s premier talents. Jordan’s remarkable season saw him lead the NBA in scoring with an average of 35.0 points per game. His efforts earned him the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, the first of five he would win during his illustrious career. Jordan also showcased his defensive prowess, earning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, making him the first player ever to win both honors in the same season.
Aside from Jordan’s individual brilliance, the Bulls saw key contributions from players like Scottie Pippen, who was in his rookie year, and Horace Grant, who provided solid support. The team also benefited from the leadership of seasoned veteran Charles Oakley, who averaged a double-double with 12.4 points and 13.0 rebounds per game.
In the playoffs, the Bulls faced a challenging path. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in a tightly contested first-round series, prevailing in five games. However, their journey ended in the Eastern Conference Semifinals where they faced the Detroit Pistons, a rising force in the league. The Pistons, known for their physical “Bad Boys” style, defeated the Bulls in five games, underscoring the need for further growth and development for Chicago to become a championship contender.
The 1987-88 season was a stepping stone for the Chicago Bulls, highlighting Michael Jordan’s burgeoning greatness and setting the stage for the dynasty that would define the 1990s. The experiences and lessons from this season were instrumental in shaping the team’s future successes.
- Regular Season Record: 50-32
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Michael Jordan | 82 | 35.0 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 13.2 | 10 | 36.3 | 7.1 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 33.3 |
| Sam Vincent | 29 | 13.0 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 37.5 | 10 | 10.2 | 1.9 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Charles Oakley | 82 | 12.4 | 13.0 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 25.0 | 10 | 10.1 | 12.8 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Dave Corzine | 80 | 10.1 | 6.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 11.1 | 10 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Brad Sellers | 82 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 14.3 | 10 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Scottie Pippen | 79 | 7.9 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 17.4 | 10 | 10.0 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 50.0 |
| John Paxson | 81 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 35.1 | 10 | 4.6 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 16.7 |
| Horace Grant | 81 | 7.7 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 10 | 10.1 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Sedale Threatt | 45 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rory Sparrow | 55 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 16.7 | 7 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Mike Brown | 46 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Artis Gilmore | 24 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Elston Turner | 17 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Granville Waiters | 22 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tony White | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Chicago Bulls in the 1988 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
In the first round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in a compelling five-game series. Michael Jordan delivered a spectacular performance, averaging 45.2 points per game, including a memorable 50-point explosion in Game 1 and 55 points in Game 2. The Bulls ultimately triumphed over the Cavaliers, winning the series 3-2 and setting the stage for Jordan's legendary playoff career.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-93 | |
| May 01, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-101 | |
| May 03, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 110-102 | |
| May 05, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 97-91 | |
| May 08, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-101 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls faced off against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series was a hard-fought battle that showcased Michael Jordan's incredible talent, as he averaged over 27 points per game. Despite his efforts, the Bulls were ultimately outmatched by the Pistons' physical u0022Bad Boysu0022 style of play, falling in five games, which highlighted the need for Chicago to build a stronger supporting cast around their superstar.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 93-82 | |
| May 12, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 105-95 | |
| May 14, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 101-79 | |
| May 15, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 96-77 | |
| May 18, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-95 |
Chicago Bulls 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 07, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-94 | |
| Nov 10, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 105-95 | |
| Nov 11, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-96 | |
| Nov 13, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 103-85 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 111-110 | |
| Nov 17, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 105-101 | |
| Nov 18, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | W 84-82 | |
| Nov 20, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 94-92 | |
| Nov 21, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 144-132 | |
| Nov 23, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | W 107-102 | |
| Nov 25, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 103-101 | |
| Nov 27, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 94-93 | |
| Nov 28, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 98-86 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 98-97 | |
| Dec 02, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | W 105-101 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 105-89 | |
| Dec 05, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-101 | |
| Dec 08, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-96 | |
| Dec 10, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-105 | |
| Dec 12, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 112-103 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 127-123 | |
| Dec 17, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-100 | |
| Dec 19, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 109-96 | |
| Dec 22, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 111-100 | |
| Dec 23, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 90-89 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 106-92 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 108-98 | |
| Jan 02, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 116-93 | |
| Jan 05, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 93-77 | |
| Jan 07, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 100-96 | |
| Jan 09, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 113-91 | |
| Jan 12, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 104-97 | |
| Jan 14, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 91-88 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 115-99 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 117-103 | |
| Jan 19, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-94 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-108 | |
| Jan 23, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 121-94 | |
| Jan 26, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 97-93 | |
| Jan 27, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-109 | |
| Jan 29, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 120-93 | |
| Jan 30, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 97-95 | |
| Feb 01, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 97-95 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-101 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 113-101 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 89-74 | |
| Feb 10, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 93-84 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 95-93 | |
| Feb 13, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 82-73 | |
| Feb 15, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 126-107 | |
| Feb 19, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-90 | |
| Feb 21, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-111 | |
| Feb 23, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-97 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 104-96 | |
| Feb 27, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 94-91 | |
| Feb 29, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-101 | |
| Mar 03, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 97-93 | |
| Mar 05, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 100-76 | |
| Mar 07, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-98 | |
| Mar 10, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 128-107 | |
| Mar 12, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-92 | |
| Mar 15, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-89 | |
| Mar 16, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 18, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-103 | |
| Mar 20, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 137-107 | |
| Mar 23, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-102 | |
| Mar 25, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-110 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 109-100 | |
| Mar 29, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 30, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-94 | |
| Apr 01, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-101 | |
| Apr 03, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 112-110 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 105-94 | |
| Apr 06, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-110 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 131-122 | |
| Apr 14, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 116-110 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-99 | |
| Apr 17, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-97 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | W 121-118 | |
| Apr 21, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-119 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-103 | |
| Apr 24, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 115-108 |