Notable occurrences

• The 1987 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington, with the West defeating the East 154-149 in overtime. It was the highest scoring All-Star Game in NBA history with 303 total points. 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.
• Michael Jordan joined Wilt Chamberlain as only the second player in NBA history to score 3000 points in a season.
• 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 20 Hall Of Fame players such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Alex English, Patrick Ewing, Adrian Dantley, and Joe Dumars.
• The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals in 6 games.
• Despite finishing with a sub-.500 reacord, 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 4th, 1987, the Los Angeles Lakers set an NBA record by leading the Sacramento Kings 40 to 4 at the end of the first quarter.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

1986-87 NBA statistics leaders

NBA 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
• All-NBA First Team:
  • F - Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
  • F - Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
  • C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  • G - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
  • G - Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 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
• All-NBA Rookie Team:
  • John Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks
  • Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers
  • Brad Daugherty, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Ron Harper, Cleveland Cavaliers
• NBA All-Defensive First Team:
  • Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
  • Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
  • Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs
  • Dennis Johnson, Boston Celtics
• 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

See also