1987–88 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachDoug Collins
General managerJerry Krause
Owner(s)Jerry Reinsdorf
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Pistons 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWFLD
Sportsvision
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
RadioWMAQ
(Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)

The 1987–88 Chicago Bulls season was the 22nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Bulls finished second in the Central Division with a 50–32 record. Michael Jordan was named the league's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the All-Star Game MVP and Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend, which was held in Chicago. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, but lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games in the semifinals. Following the season, Charles Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks. The Bulls had the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.

NBA draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round, and notable post-first-round picks.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 8 Olden Polynice (traded to Seattle) C  Haiti Virginia
1 10 Horace Grant PF  United States Clemson
2 28 Rickie Winslow F  United States Houston
4 79 Jack Haley C  United States UCLA

Roster

1987–88 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 17 Brown, Mike 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1963–07–19 George Washington
C 40 Corzine, Dave 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1956–04–25 DePaul
F 54 Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson
G 23 Jordan, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 216 lb (98 kg) 1963–02–17 North Carolina
F 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
G 5 Paxson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960–09–29 Notre Dame
F 33 Pippen, Scottie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–09–25 Central Arkansas
F 6 Sellers, Brad 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–12–17 Ohio State
G 2 Sparrow, Rory 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–06–12 Villanova
F 21 Turner, Elston 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959–06–10 Mississippi
G 11 Vincent, Sam 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–05–18 Michigan State
C 31 Waiters, Granville 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–01–08 Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 25, 1988

Regular season

Jordan was indisputably great, and Oakley, who led the league in total rebounds (1,066), was outstanding. Still, the Bulls lacked a quality supporting cast. They took a major step toward alleviating that problem at the 1987 NBA draft, when Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause acquired two players who would be vital cogs in Chicago's future championship machine. With two picks in the top 10, Krause selected Olden Polynice at No. 8 and Horace Grant at No. 10. He then traded Polynice and draft considerations to the Seattle SuperSonics for Scottie Pippen, whom the Sonics had grabbed with the fifth pick.

With Grant and Pippen on board the Bulls began to show their stuff in 1987–88, forging a 50–32 record, their best mark since 1973-74. Chicago finished in a second-place tie with Atlanta in a competitive Central Division won by the surging Detroit Pistons. The Bulls made some noise in the playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-game first-round series, but then fell to Detroit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Oakley and the Los Angeles Clippers' Michael Cage engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle for the league's rebounding title, which came down to the last day of the regular season. On April 22 against Cleveland, Oakley put the pressure on Cage by pulling down 35 rebounds, the second-highest total in Bulls history behind Tom Boerwinkle's 37 in 1970. Two days later, however, Cage grabbed 30 boards in a game against Seattle, just enough to edge Oakley by the slimmest of margins, 13.03 per game to 13.00. Cage played in 10 fewer games than Oakley, however, so Oakley led the NBA in total rebounds for the second consecutive year, with 1,066.

Jordan led the league in scoring (35.0 ppg) and steals (3.16 per game). He won almost every major award, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team Honors and NBA All-Defensive First Team Honors. However, the finals and most important prizes eluded him until the 1990–1991 season.

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 5428.659–34–720–2120–10
x-Chicago Bulls 5032.610430–1120–2116–13
x-Atlanta Hawks 5032.610430-1120-2116–13
x-Milwaukee Bucks 4240.5121230–1112–2913–17
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4240.5121231–1011–3011–19
Indiana Pacers 3844.4631625–1613–2813–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Boston Celtics5725.695–
2 y-Detroit Pistons5428.6593
3 x-Chicago Bulls5032.6107
4 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.6107
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks4240.51215
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51215
7 x-Washington Bullets3844.46319
8 x-New York Knicks3844.46319
9 Indiana Pacers3844.46319
10 Philadelphia 76ers3646.43921
11 New Jersey Nets1963.23238

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta —2–42–35–12–01–12–42–01–14–22–00–23–35–03–36–01–10–21–12–02–01–13–3
Boston 4–2—3–32–32–00–23–32–01–15–02–00–23–35–15–14–22–02–02–02–01–12–05–1
Chicago 3–23–3—3–30–21–12–42–02–03–32–01–15–15–13–24–22–01–11–11–11–12–03–3
Cleveland 1–53–23–3—1–11–11–50–21–14–21–11–12–45–12–43–21–11–12–02–01–10–26–0
Dallas 0–20–22–01–1—3–31–14–14–22–05–01–42–01–11–11–15–03–25–15–13–23–31–1
Denver 1–12–01–11–13–3—1–14–14–21–15–03–21–12–01–12–03–22–34–25–14–12–42–0
Detroit 4–23–34–25–11–11–1—2–01–13–31–10–24–25–14–24–12–01–12–01–11–12–03–2
Golden State 0–20–20–22–01–41–40–2—0–50–23–30–60–22–00–21–12–41–52–33–21–51–40–2
Houston 1–11–10–21–12–42–41–15–0—2–03–21–42–01–11–11–14–14–14–22–43–23–32–0
Indiana 2–40–53–32–40–21–13–32–00–2—1–11–13–36–02–32–42–00–22–02–01–11–12–4
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–21–10–50–51–13–32–31–1—1–50–20–20–21–12–40–63–20–51–51–40–2
L.A. Lakers 2–02–01–11–14–12–32–06–04–11–15–1—0–22–02–02–05–13–34–15–04–24–11–1
Milwaukee 3–33–31–54–20–21–12–42–00–23–32–02–0—3–23–32–41–11–12–01–11–11–14–1
New Jersey 0–51–51–51–51–10–21–50–21–10–62–00–22–3—3–32–41–10–21–11–10–21–10–6
New York 3–31–52–34–21–11–12–42–01–13–22–00–23–33–3—3–30–21–11–11–10–21–13–3
Philadelphia 0–62–42–42–31–10–21–41–11–14–21–10–24–24–23–3—1–11–11–11–11–12–03–3
Phoenix 1–10–20–21–10–52–30–24–21–40–24–21–51–11–12–01–1—0–63–22–32–42–30–2
Portland 2–00–21–11–12–33–21–15–11–42–06–03–31–12–01–11–16–0—4–15–03–31–42–0
Sacramento 1–10–21–10–21–52–40–23–22–40–22–31–40–21–11–11–12–31–4—3–31–41–50–2
San Antonio 0–20–21–10–21–51–51–12–34–20–25–00–51–11–11–11–13–20–53–3—3–23–30–2
Seattle 0–21–11–11–12–31–41–15–12–31–15–12–41–12–02–01–14–23–34–12–3—1–42–0
Utah 1–10–20–22–03–34–20–24–13–31–14–11–41–11–11–10–23–24–15–13–34–1—2–0
Washington 3–31–53–30–61–10–22–32–00–24–22–01–11–46–03–33–32–00–22–02–00–20–2—

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log
Total: 50–32 (home: 30–11; road: 20–21)
November: 10–3 (home: 4–2; road: 6–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 November 7, 1987 Philadelphia W 104–94 Chicago Stadium 1–0
2 November 10, 1987
7:00 p.m. CST		 @ Atlanta W 105–95 Jordan (29) Oakley (15) Jordan (7) The Omni
16,451		 2–0
3 November 11, 1987 @ New Jersey W 105–96 Brendan Byrne Arena 3–0
4 November 13, 1987 New Jersey W 117–103 Chicago Stadium 4–0
5 November 14, 1987 Indiana L 110–101 Chicago Stadium 4–1
6 November 17, 1987
7:30 p.m. CST		 Washington W 105–101 Jordan (26) Oakley (21) Paxson (8) Chicago Stadium
17,081		 5–1
7 November 18, 1987
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Washington W 84–82 Jordan (30) Oakley (24) Jordan (8) Capital Centre
13,721		 6–1
8 November 20, 1987
7:30 p.m. CST		 Atlanta W 94–92 Jordan (33) Oakley (17) Jordan,
Paxson (7)		 Chicago Stadium
18,423		 7–1
9 November 21, 1987
7:30 p.m. CST		 Detroit L 132–144 (OT) Jordan (49) Oakley (12) Jordan (8) Chicago Stadium
18,466		 7–2
10 November 23, 1987
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Boston
(at Hartford, Connecticut)		 W 107–102 Jordan (31) Jordan (10) Paxson (6) Hartford Civic Center
15,134		 8–2
11 November 25, 1987
7:30 p.m. CST		 @ Milwaukee W 103–101 Jordan (33) Oakley (14) Jordan (6) MECCA Arena
11,052		 9–2
12 November 27, 1987
7:00 p.m. CST		 @ Dallas L 93–94 Jordan (26) Oakley (17) Jordan (9) Reunion Arena
17,007		 9–3
13 November 28, 1987 @ Houston W 98–86 The Summit 10–3
December: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
14 December 1, 1987 @ Golden State W 98–97 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11–3
15 December 2, 1987
8:30 p.m. CST		 @ Utah W 105–101 Jordan (47) Oakley (9) Jordan (9) Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,212		 12–3
16 December 4, 1987
8:30 p.m. CST		 @ Denver L 89–105 Jordan (23) Oakley (18) Paxson (6) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022		 12–4
17 December 5, 1987 @ San Antonio L 101–110 HemisFair Arena 12–5
18 December 8, 1987 Philadelphia L 96–109 Chicago Stadium 12–6
19 December 10, 1987
7:30 p.m. CST		 Milwaukee W 111–105 Jordan (32) Oakley (13) Oakley (8) Chicago Stadium
17,820		 13–6
20 December 12, 1987 Houston W 112–103 Chicago Stadium 14–6
21 December 15, 1987
7:00 p.m. CST		 @ Detroit L 123–127 (OT) Jordan (38) Oakley (17) Jordan (12) Pontiac Silverdome
23,729		 14–7
22 December 17, 1987
7:30 p.m. CST		 Cleveland W 111–100 Jordan (52) Corzine (9) Paxson (13) Chicago Stadium
17,650		 15–7
23 December 19, 1987
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Washington L 96–109 Jordan (30) Oakley (16) Jordan (7) Capital Centre
14,353		 15–8
24 December 22, 1987
7:00 p.m. CST		 Dallas L 100–111 Jordan (28) Oakley (10) Paxson (9) Chicago Stadium
18,103		 15–9
25 December 23, 1987 @ New York L 89–90 Madison Square Garden 15–10
26 December 26, 1987 @ Indiana L 92–106 Market Square Arena 15–11
27 December 29, 1987
7:30 p.m. CST		 Atlanta L 98–108 Jordan (39) Oakley (13) Jordan (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 15–12
January: 11–4 (home: 10–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
28 January 2, 1988 New Jersey W 116–93 Chicago Stadium 16–12
29 January 5, 1988 Indiana W 93–77 Chicago Stadium 17–12
30 January 7, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 Denver W 100–96 Jordan (28) Oakley (14) Sparrow (8) Chicago Stadium
17,590		 18–12
31 January 9, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 Utah W 113–91 Jordan (45) Oakley (15) Jordan (8) Chicago Stadium
17,877		 19–12
32 January 12, 1988
7:00 p.m. CST		 Boston L 97–104 Jordan (42) Oakley (11) Oakley (8) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 19–13
33 January 14, 1988
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Cleveland L 88–91 (OT) Jordan (28) Oakley (17) Jordan (7) Richfield Coliseum
16,648		 19–14
34 January 16, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 Detroit W 115–99 Jordan (36) Jordan,
Oakley (10)		 Jordan (10) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 20–14
35 January 18, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 Washington W 117–103 Jordan (33) Oakley (10) Jordan (7) Chicago Stadium
17,767		 21–14
36 January 19, 1988
7:00 p.m. CST		 @ Atlanta L 94–106 Jordan (38) Corzine (11) Threatt (5) The Omni
16,451		 21–15
37 January 22, 1988 Phoenix W 118–108 Chicago Stadium 22–15
38 January 23, 1988 Golden State W 121–94 Chicago Stadium 23–15
39 January 26, 1988 @ Indiana L 93–97 Market Square Arena 23–16
40 January 27, 1988 @ Philadelphia W 119–109 (OT) The Spectrum 24–16
41 January 29, 1988 New Jersey W 120–93 Chicago Stadium 25–16
42 January 30, 1988 New York W 97–95 (OT) Chicago Stadium 26–16
February: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
43 February 1, 1988 @ Sacramento L 95–97 ARCO Arena 26–17
44 February 2, 1988
9:30 p.m. CST		 @ L.A. Lakers L 101–110 Jordan (39) Grant (8) Jordan,
Pippen,
Threatt (4)		 The Forum
17,505		 26–18
45 February 4, 1988 @ Phoenix W 113–101 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 27–18
All-Star Break
46 February 9, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 Detroit L 74–89 Jordan (20) Oakley (13) Jordan (9) Chicago Stadium
17,846		 27–19
47 February 10, 1988 @ New Jersey L 84–93 Brendan Byrne Arena 27–20
48 February 12, 1988
8:00 p.m. CST		 @ Milwaukee W 95–93 Jordan (27) Oakley (14) Jordan (8) MECCA Arena
11,052		 28–20
49 February 13, 1988
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Detroit L 73–82 Jordan (27) Oakley (10) Oakley,
Paxson,
Sparrow,
Threatt (4)		 Pontiac Silverdome
40,369		 28–21
50 February 15, 1988
12:30 p.m. CST		 Atlanta W 126–107 Jordan (32) Jordan (13) Jordan,
Sellers (8)		 Chicago Stadium
17,704		 29–21
51 February 19, 1988 Sacramento W 116–101 Chicago Stadium 30–21
52 February 21, 1988
12 Noon CST		 @ Cleveland L 111–113 Jordan (46) Corzine (9) Jordan (9) Richfield Coliseum
20,089		 30–22
53 February 23, 1988 Seattle W 104–97 (OT) Chicago Stadium 31–22
54 February 26, 1988 Portland L 96–104 Chicago Stadium 33–21
55 February 27, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 Milwaukee L 91–94 Jordan (38) Oakley (12) Vincent (9) Chicago Stadium
18,243		 33–22
56 February 29, 1988 @ Philadelphia L 101–102 The Spectrum 33–23
March: 10–4 (home: 7–0; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
57 March 3, 1988 Philadelphia W 97–93 Chicago Stadium 33–24
58 March 5, 1988 L.A. Clippers W 100–76 Chicago Stadium 34–24
59 March 7, 1988 @ New York L 98–110 Madison Square Garden 34–25
60 March 10, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 L.A. Lakers W 128–107 Jordan (38) Grant,
Oakley (11)		 Vincent (11) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 35–25
61 March 12, 1988 San Antonio W 112–92 Chicago Stadium 36–25
62 March 15, 1988
7:00 p.m. CST		 Cleveland W 108–89 Jordan (38) Oakley (14) Vincent (11) Chicago Stadium
17,752		 37–25
63 March 16, 1988
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Washington L 103–106 Jordan (25) Oakley (9) Vincent (7) Capital Centre
16,515		 37–26
64 March 18, 1988
7:30 p.m. CST		 Boston W 113–103 Jordan (50) Oakley (12) Jordan (9) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 38–26
65 March 20, 1988
12 Noon CST		 @ Boston L 107–137 Jordan (26) Oakley (9) Jordan (7) Boston Garden
14,890		 38–27
66 March 23, 1988 @ Philadelphia W 118–102 The Spectrum 39–27
67 March 25, 1988
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Cleveland W 111–110 (OT) Jordan (39) Oakley (19) Vincent (8) Richfield Coliseum
19,876		 40–27
68 March 26, 1988 Indiana W 109–100 Chicago Stadium 41–27
69 March 29, 1988 @ Seattle L 103–106 Seattle Center Coliseum 41–28
70 March 30, 1988 @ L.A. Clippers W 111–94 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 41–29
April: 9–3 (home: 3–2; road: 6–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
71 April 1, 1988 @ Portland W 116–101 Memorial Coliseum 42–29
72 April 3, 1988
12:30 p.m. CDT		 @ Detroit W 112–110 Jordan (59) Corzine (12) Vincent (13) Pontiac Silverdome
23,712		 43–29
73 April 5, 1988
7:30 p.m. CDT		 Washington L 94–105 Jordan (29) Oakley (8) Vincent (9) Chicago Stadium
17,773		 44–29
74 April 6, 1988
7:30 p.m. CDT		 @ Milwaukee W 119–110 Jordan (37) Oakley (12) Jordan (6) MECCA Arena
11,052		 44–30
75 April 8, 1988 New York W 131–122 Chicago Stadium 45–30
76 April 14, 1988 @ Indiana W 116–110 Market Square Arena 46–30
77 April 15, 1988 @ New Jersey W 100–99 Brendan Byrne Arena 47–30
78 April 17, 1988
12:30 p.m. CDT		 Milwaukee W 105–97 Jordan (44) Oakley (14) Vincent (10) Chicago Stadium
18,551		 48–30
79 April 19, 1988 @ New York W 121–118 Madison Square Garden 49–30
80 April 21, 1988
6:30 p.m. CDT		 @ Boston L 119–126 Jordan (39) Oakley (17) Vincent (9) Boston Garden
14,890		 49–31
81 April 22, 1988
7:30 p.m. CDT		 Cleveland L 103–107 Jordan,
Oakley (26)		 Oakley (35) Jordan,
Vincent (7)		 Chicago Stadium
17,726		 49–32
82 April 24, 1988
2:30 p.m. CDT		 Boston W 115–108 Jordan (46) Oakley (21) Jordan,
Vincent (6)		 Chicago Stadium
18,636		 50–32
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 28, 1988
7:00 p.m. CDT		 Cleveland W 104–93 Jordan (50) Oakley (15) Paxson (7) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 1–0
2 May 1, 1988
2:30 p.m. CDT		 Cleveland W 106–101 Jordan (55) Oakley (12) Vincent (14) Chicago Stadium
18,645		 2–0
3 May 3, 1988
7:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Cleveland L 102–110 Jordan (38) Oakley (9) Jordan (9) Richfield Coliseum
20,068		 2–1
4 May 5, 1988
7:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Cleveland L 91–97 Jordan (44) Oakley (10) Vincent (5) Richfield Coliseum
20,026		 2–2
5 May 8, 1988
12 Noon CDT		 Cleveland W 107–101 Jordan (39) Oakley (20) Sparrow (7) Chicago Stadium
18,008		 3–2
Eastern Conference semifinals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 10, 1988
7:30 p.m. CDT		 @ Detroit L 82–93 Jordan (29) Oakley (13) Jordan (6) Pontiac Silverdome
18,312		 0–1
2 May 12, 1988
7:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Detroit W 105–95 Jordan (36) Oakley (12) Pippen,
Vincent (5)		 Pontiac Silverdome
20,281		 1–1
3 May 14, 1988
12 Noon CDT		 Detroit L 79–101 Jordan (24) Oakley (12) Vincent (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 1–2
4 May 15, 1988
2:30 p.m. CDT		 Detroit L 77–96 Jordan (23) Oakley (10) Jordan (5) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 1–3
5 May 18, 1988
7:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Detroit L 95–102 Jordan (25) Oakley (15) Jordan,
Paxson (8)		 Pontiac Silverdome
21,371		 1–4
1988 schedule

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Charles Oakley 14.3 ppg 15.6 reb 1.3 stl 2.4 blk 2.3 to

Awards and records

Transactions

1st Round, 8th overall Center Olden Polynice was drafted by the Bulls, but traded that same night with draft picks to the Seattle SuperSonics and the rights to the 5th overall pick Forward Scottie Pippen and draft picks.

Forward Horace Grant was drafted in the 1st Round, 10th overall by the Bulls.

References

See also

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