1986–87 NBA season

Notable occurrences

• 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 and two former players were indicted for cocaine trafficking at a popular Phoenix nightclub. Several other players were also involved in the scandal.
• 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, 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 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, 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, and the 2015–16 76ers.
• 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 conference

• 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

NBA awards

Yearly awards

• * 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 LakersAll-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 NuggetsAll-NBA Rookie Team:
• * John "Hot Rod" Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers
• * Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks
• * Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers
• * Brad Daugherty, Cleveland Cavaliers
• * Ron Harper, Cleveland CavaliersNBA 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 CelticsNBA 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

Player of the month

Rookie of the month

Coach of the month