1986–87 NBA season

41st NBA season August 2023 1986–87 NBA season National Basketball Association Basketball October 31, 1986 – April 19, 1987April 23 – May 30, 1987 (Playoffs)June 2–14, 1987 (Finals) 23 CBS, TBS Draft 1986 NBA Draft List of first overall NBA draft picks Brad Daugherty Cleveland Cavaliers Regular season Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson (L.A. Lakers) NBA MVP Michael Jordan (Chicago) Playoffs 1987 NBA Playoffs Eastern Eastern Conference (NBA) Boston Celtics Detroit Pistons Western Western Conference (NBA) Los Angeles Lakers Seattle SuperSonics Finals 1987 NBA Finals Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Magic Johnson (L.A. Lakers) NBA Finals MVP List of NBA seasons NBA 1985–86 NBA season 1985–86 1987–88 NBA season 1987–88 The 1986–87 NBA season was the 41st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their fourth championship of the decade, beating the Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Notable occurrences +Coaching changesOffseason Team 1985–86 coach 1986–87 coach San Antonio Spurs Cotton Fitzsimmons Bob Weiss Portland Trail Blazers Jack Ramsay Mike Schuler Chicago Bulls Stan Albeck Doug Collins Cleveland Cavaliers Gene Littles Lenny Wilkens Indiana Pacers George Irvine Jack Ramsay Golden State Warriors Johnny Bach George KarlIn-season Team Outgoing coach Incoming coach New York Knicks Hubie Brown Bob Hill Phoenix Suns John MacLeod Dick Van Arsdale Sacramento Kings Phil Johnson Jerry Reynolds Boston Celtics' top draft pick Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose barely two days after the draft. In the wake of Micheal Ray Richardson's lifetime suspension, several NBA players were suspended for violations of the anti-drug policy; among them Houston Rockets forward Lewis Lloyd and guard Mitchell Wiggins. On April 17, three Phoenix Suns players (James Edwards, Jay Humphries, and Grant Gondrezick) and two former players (Gar Heard and Mike Bratz) were indicted for cocaine trafficking at a popular Phoenix nightclub. Several other players were also involved in the scandal.https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/18/sports/3-suns-players-are-indicted-in-drug-investigation.html 3 SUNS PLAYERS ARE INDICTED IN DRUG INVESTIGATION AP nytimes.com 5 May 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20171106093328/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/18/sports/3-suns-players-are-indicted-in-drug-investigation.html 6 November 2017https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-09-sp-4689-story.html More NBA Players Linked to Arizona Drug/Gambling Probe Times Wire Services 9 May 1987 5 May 2018 LA Times live https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033135/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-05-09/sports/sp-4689_1_nba-players 17 November 2015 When Mychal Thompson joined the Lakers this season alongside the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy, the Lakers became the first team to ever have four different #1 draft picks join the same team. The 1987 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Kingdome in Seattle, with the West defeating the East 154–149 in overtime. To the delight of the Seattle crowd, the SuperSonics' Tom Chambers won the game's MVP award. Michael Jordan won his first Slam Dunk Contest. This was the final NBA season for Philadelphia's Julius Erving who announced his retirement that year. NBA arenas paid tribute to Erving's retirement by staging special events for him. The New Jersey Nets, in particular, retired Erving's No. 32 jersey for his contributions with the franchise. Thus Erving became the only player to have his number retired by a team while still an active player. Michael Jordan joined Wilt Chamberlain as only the second player in NBA history to score 3000 points in a season. With a 37.1 ppg, Jordan also began a seven-year reign as the NBA's scoring champion, tied with Chamberlain for the league record. This was the last season the Lakers and Celtics matched up in the NBA Finals until 2008. The 1986–87 season was also known as the "Golden Era" of the NBA. The 1987 NBA season featured up to 24 Hall of Fame players such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, Akeem Olajuwon,http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065427/index.htm https://archive.today/20131009002817/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065427/index.htm dead October 9, 2013 Twin Towers On The Rise Sports Illustrated 65 18 November 3, 1986 October 8, 2013https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-03-sp-8613-story.html NBA Playoffs : Hot Sonics Beat Rockets in Overtime, 111–106 Los Angeles Times Times Wire Services May 3, 1987 October 8, 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195047/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-05-03/sports/sp-8613_1_houston-rockets June 10, 2015 https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/01/sports/nba-playoffs-mavericks-eliminated-by-sonics.html N.B.A. Playoffs; Mavericks Eliminated By Sonics May 1, 1987 New York Times Associated Press October 8, 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150524203017/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/01/sports/nba-playoffs-mavericks-eliminated-by-sonics.html May 24, 2015 Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Alex English, Patrick Ewing, Artis Gilmore, Adrian Dantley, Joe Dumars, Dennis Johnson and Dennis Rodman. Despite finishing with a sub-.500 record, the Seattle SuperSonics were able to upset the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets before bowing down to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in a four-game sweep. In a game on February 4, 1987, the Los Angeles Lakers set two NBA records by jumping out to a 29–0 lead over the Sacramento Kings and leading by 36 points (40–4) at the end of the first quarter. The Lakers went on to win, 128–92. The NBA logo was prominently displayed on the uniforms for the first time (usually on the left side of the jersey; it was moved to the top rear in 2014), becoming the first sports league in North America to do so. The practice of placing the league logo on the jerseys eventually spreads to the NFL, NHL and MLB. Fernando Martín became the first Spanish player to play in the NBA when he debuted for the Portland Trail Blazers in December 1986. He would pave the way for future Spanish players in the league, including five-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol. Los Angeles Clippers becoming the second team in NBA history to lose 70 or more games joining the 1972–73 76ers, the latter was (1992–93 Mavericks, 1997–98 Nuggets, 2009–10 Nets (including losing 18 straight games to start the season), and the 2015–16 76ers (including a record–tying 26–game losing streak also including losing 18 straight games to start the season). Michael Jordan becomes the first player in NBA history to accumulate over 200 steals with over 100 blocks in a season. Larry Bird becomes the first player in NBA history to enter the 50–40–90 club. 1986–87 NBA changes The Milwaukee Bucks changed their uniforms removing the red areas on the side panels to their jerseys and shorts. Final standings By division By conference Notes z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs y – Clinched division title x – Clinched playoff spot Playoffs 1987 NBA playoffs Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics. 1987 NBA playoffs Bracket yes no Statistics leaders + Category Player Team Stat Points per game Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 37.1 Rebounds per game Charles Barkley Philadelphia 76ers 14.6 Assists per game Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers 12.2 Steals per game Alvin Robertson San Antonio Spurs 3.21 Blocks per game Mark Eaton Utah Jazz 4.06 FG% Kevin McHale Boston Celtics .604 FT% Larry Bird Boston Celtics .910 3FG% Kiki Vandeweghe Portland Trail Blazers .481 NBA awards Yearly awards Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers Rookie of the Year: Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers Sixth Man of the Year: Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks Most Improved Player: Dale Ellis, Seattle SuperSonics Coach of the Year: Mike Schuler, Portland Trail Blazers 66% 33% All-NBA First Team: F – Larry Bird, Boston Celtics F – Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics C – Akeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets G – Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls G – Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers 33% All-NBA Second Team: F – Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks F – Charles Barkley, Philadelphia 76ers C – Moses Malone, Washington Bullets G – Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons G – Fat Lever, Denver Nuggets 33% 33% All-NBA Rookie Team: John "Hot Rod" Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers Brad Daugherty, Cleveland Cavaliers Ron Harper, Cleveland Cavaliers 66% 33% NBA All-Defensive First Team: Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers Akeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs Dennis Johnson, Boston Celtics 33% NBA All-Defensive Second Team: Paul Pressey, Milwaukee Bucks Rodney McCray, Houston Rockets Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz Maurice Cheeks, Philadelphia 76ers Derek Harper, Dallas Mavericks Player of the week The following players were named NBA Player of the Week. WeekPlayerOctober 31 – November 9Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)November 10 – November 16Robert Parish (Boston Celtics)November 17 – November 23Alvin Robertson (San Antonio Spurs)November 24 – November 30Hot Rod Williams (Cleveland Cavaliers)December 1 – December 7Tom Chambers (Seattle SuperSonics)December 8 – December 14Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta Hawks)December 15 – December 21Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)December 22 – December 28Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks)December 29 – January 4Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)January 5 – January 11Isiah Thomas (Detroit Pistons)January 12 – January 19Otis Thorpe (Sacramento Kings)January 20 – January 26Alex English (Denver Nuggets)January 27 – February 1Fat Lever (Denver Nuggets)February 2 – February 15Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)February 16 – February 22Moses Malone (Washington Bullets)February 23 – March 1Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)March 2 – March 8Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)March 9 – March 15Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)March 16 – March 22Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)March 23 – March 29Larry Smith (Golden State Warriors)March 30 – April 5Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)April 6 – April 12Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)April 13 – April 15Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers) Player of the month The following players were named NBA Player of the Month. MonthPlayerNovemberMichael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)DecemberMagic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)JanuaryCharles Barkley (Philadelphia 76ers)FebruaryMichael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)MarchMagic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers) Rookie of the month The following players were named NBA Rookie of the Month. MonthRookieNovemberChuck Person (Indiana Pacers)DecemberRon Harper (Cleveland Cavaliers)JanuaryRon Harper (Cleveland Cavaliers)FebruaryChuck Person (Indiana Pacers)MarchBrad Daugherty (Cleveland Cavaliers) Coach of the month The following coaches were named NBA Coach of the Month. MonthCoachNovemberPat Riley (Los Angeles Lakers)DecemberFrank Layden (Utah Jazz)JanuaryBill Fitch (Houston Rockets)FebruaryMike Schuler (Portland Trail Blazers)MarchGeorge Karl (Golden State Warriors) See also List of NBA regular season records References Category:1986–87 in American basketball by league