Throughout his career, the iconic Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls was practically a guaranteed selection for the All-Star Game. However, it was the year 1988 that truly showcased his exceptional abilities, as he made the annual showcase of NBA stars his personal playground.
Homecourt advantage
The game took place on February 7, 1988, at the Chicago Stadium—the Bulls’ home court. While the court was filled with legendary players like Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkins, Magic Johnson, and Hakeem Olajuwon, it was Jordan who stood out from the field, dominating the All-Star Game like none other.’
In just under 30 minutes of playtime, Jordan scored a whopping 40 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists, recorded four steals, and swatted away four shots. His impressive stats helped lead the East to a 138-133 victory over the West.
Dominated down the stretch
Apart from the number of points Jordan scored, it was when he scored them that made the difference. With just over five minutes left in the game, Jordan took it upon himself to ignite the East squad, scoring 16 points in crunchtime to help them pull away and snatch the victory. Naturally, Jordan was named the All-Star Game MVP—the first of three such awards he would receive in his career.
The All-Star Game MVP was but one of numerous awards Jordan received in 1988. It was a banner season for His Airness as he was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player and the Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the league in scoring and steals.
