“Michael Jordan averaged 35 with 3 steals a game! MVP and DPOY? Put it in the bag!”: When the Bulls legend set the NBA ablaze in the 1987-88 season 

There are great individual seasons and then there are untouchable seasons. In 1987-88, Michael Jordan won the MVP and DPOY. Transcendent. 

When certain players decide to torch the basketball court, there is not much you can do about it. Most of the time players can do this every now and then. Michael Jordan did it for a whole season!

Imagine going out and facing a guy who will score 35 points and who will also steal the ball 3 times from you – every game! We think the NBA was in catatonic shock during Jordan’s reign.

Jordan’s numbers have always been absurd. They are so inhuman and godlike that players today cannot even fathom averaging them.

The 1987-88 season contained the stuff that made legends. MJ was entering his fourth season. He had never made it past the first round of the playoffs. All of that was about to change.

Also read: “I’ll see you tomorrow”: When Michael Jordan took Shaq’s beatdown personally en route to the Bulls’ 72 win season in 1996

Michael Jordan’s 87/88 Season 🔥

MVP
DPOY
All-Star Game MVP
82 GMS
40.4 MPG (NBA High)
35 PTS (NBA High)
3.2 STL (NBA High)
1.6 BLK
5.9 AST
5.5 REB
54% FG

59 PTS, 78% FG
52 PTS, 65% FG
44 PTS, 9 AST, 5 BLK, 5 STL
32 PTS, 10 STL in 27 MINSpic.twitter.com/zIudTgNo2C

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 18, 2021

Michael Jordan won both MVP and DPOY! And even took a lopsided Chicago Bulls team to 50 wins!

At the time, the Bulls were abysmally bad. Scottie Pippen had not even emerged from his chrysalis yet. Michael Jordan had to carry his team on his back.

And carry he did. Not only did he average 35, but he also put up a stunning 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks every game. Those were enough to fetch him the Defensive Player of the Year.

He also played all 82 games that season. Jordan scooping up the MVP award along with the DPOY was a testament to his dominance.

That year, the Chicago Bulls made it out of the first round, it was the first time Michael did in his career. However, they were derailed in the next round by the Detroit Pistons. But this point marked the start of Jordan’s ascent to the very top of the NBA.

In ‘87-‘88 Michael Jordan recorded:

– 45 games with 30+ points / 50%FG

A guard shooting 50% on 30+ points for majority of the season..

Unreal

— The Ballfather (@StevenKelsey13) February 2, 2020

We reckon that the feats that Jordan pulled off in that season will never be replicated. Nor will anyone even come close. Jinx? We don’t know. But we do know that Jordan’s feats should be celebrated, after all, he is The Greatest of All Time.

Also read: “The Bulls won’t have won 7 rings in a row, even if Michael Jordan didn’t retire!”: When Steve Kerr talked about the fatigue deep postseason runs give and the 90s Bulls