“Michael Jordan’s 1987-88 season is etched in NBA history books as one of the greatest”: His Airness was the league’s best player, scorer, dunker, and defender

His Airness had one of his best NBA seasons in 1988 winning the scoring title and Defensive Player of the Year award 

Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. The 6″6′ guard out of North Carolina was selected 3rd overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and took the league by storm with his arrival.

By the end of his career, Jordan had a resume boasting 6-NBA titles, 6-Finals MVPs, 10-scoring titles, 14 All-Star MVP selections, and a DPOY, to name a few.

While it is difficult to pick out which was Jordan’s best-ever season considering how good he was year after year, many believe that his best season was the 1987-88 season.

Also Read: “If you don’t like Michael Jordan, you don’t like basketball”: Ja Morant is adamant in channeling the Bulls legend’s energy going into Game 2 between Grizzlies and Timberwolves

Jordan was at his peak during the 1987-88 NBA season and looked absolutely unstoppable

“There is nothing like MJ’s 1987-88 season. The combination of being the league’s best player, best scorer, best dunker, and the best defender is unprecedented”, said Chicago sports historian Jack M Silverstein in 2020.

Michael Jordan led the NBA in scoring with 35 points a game in 1988. He was also the Defensive Player of the Year. It’s gonna be a long wait for the next motherfucker to come along who’s the best at offense AND defense. And, in case you wondered, he’s the only one to ever do it. pic.twitter.com/0XYKjsrC4w

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) April 19, 2022

It truly was an incredible season for Jordan who established himself as the league’s best player that year.

Jordan is also one of the three players in NBA history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. The other two being Hakeem Olajuwon and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

He would go on to play all 82 games of the 1987-88 season and averaged 35.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 53.5% from the field and 84.1% from the free-throw line.

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

Although Jordan had a terrific year personally, the Chicago Bulls were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Detroit Pistons.

The only thing that was not on Jordan’s illustrious career resume at that point in time was an NBA Championship which he would go on to win 3-years later.

Also read: “When Michael Jordan retired, you saw Scottie Pippen’s offensive game”: Steve Smith praises the Bulls forward for stepping up in the ‘GOAT’s’ absence