RECAP
The Bulls added two talented rookies in 1987-88, drafting Horace Grant and trading for Scottie Pippen. The new blood helped lift Chicago to a 50-32 record, the team's best result since the 1974-75 season. Jordan led the club in scoring in 81 of 82 regular-season games and topped 40 points on 18 occasions. Equally remarkable, he failed to reach 20 points only three times during the year.
Jordan won every major honor, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, selection to the All-NBA First Team, selection to the All-Defensive First Team, an All-Star Game MVP Award (after scoring 40 points), and the NBA Slam-Dunk Championship. He led the league in scoring with 35.0 points per game and steals with 3.16 per contest.

Chicago advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, besting the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the first round before falling to the Detroit Pistons in five games in the conference semifinals. Jordan set a playoff record for field goals made in a game with 24 against Cleveland on May 1, and established another mark in the same game by attempting 25 shots against the Cavs in a single half. In 10 playoff games, he averaged 36.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.