1988–89 Chicago Bulls season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the Bulls' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Bulls acquired Bill Cartwright from the New York Knicks,  then later on acquired three-point specialist Craig Hodges from the Phoenix Suns in December. The Bulls struggled with a 6–8 start to the season, but later on held a 27–19 record at the All-Star break. Despite losing eight of their final ten games, the team finished fifth in the Central Division with a 47–35 record.

Michael Jordan led the league in scoring averaging 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team, was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game,    and finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting behind Magic Johnson. In addition, second-year forward Scottie Pippen showed improvement, replacing Brad Sellers as the team's starting small forward during the season, and averaging 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, while Cartwright provided the team with 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and second-year forward Horace Grant provided with 12.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Hodges contributed 10.0 points per game in 49 games with the Bulls, while Sam Vincent provided with 9.4 points and 4.8 assists per game, John Paxson contributed 7.3 points and 3.9 assists per game, and Sellers contributed 6.9 points per game.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the heavily favored, and 3rd-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games,   and the heavily favored, and 2nd-seeded New York Knicks in six games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. However, they would lose to the heavily favored, and top-seeded Detroit Pistons four games to two in the Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons would reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, and defeat the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games, winning their first ever championship.

Following the season, head coach Doug Collins was fired after three seasons with the Bulls,   while Vincent was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Orlando Magic,     and Sellers was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics.

Regular season
In the 1988–89 season, Jordan again led the league in scoring, averaging 32.5 ppg on 53.8% shooting from the field. The Bulls finished with a 47–35 record, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. On March 11, 1989, head coach Doug Collins moved Jordan to the point guard position. Two days later, Jordan finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists in just 30 minutes of a blowout win against the Pacers. Jordan continued at point guard through the rest of the regular season.

Regular season

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * November 4, 1988
 * Detroit
 * L 94–107
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * November 8, 1988
 * @ New York
 * L 117–126
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 13
 * November 29, 1988
 * @ Golden State
 * L 99–109
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 6–7
 * 13
 * November 29, 1988
 * @ Golden State
 * L 99–109
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 6–7
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 6–7
 * 6–7


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * December 7, 1988
 * @ Detroit
 * L 89–102
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 8–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * December 9, 1988
 * Milwaukee
 * W 118–100
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 9–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22
 * December 17, 1988
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 112–93
 * Bradley Center
 * 12–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23
 * December 20, 1988
 * L.A. Lakers
 * W 116–103
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 13–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 26
 * December 29, 1988
 * New York
 * W 108–106
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 14–12
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 13–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 26
 * December 29, 1988
 * New York
 * W 108–106
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 14–12
 * W 108–106
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 14–12
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 14–12
 * 14–12


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 37
 * January 21, 1989
 * Phoenix
 * L 107–116
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 22–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 41
 * January 31, 1989
 * Detroit
 * L 98–104 (OT)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 24–17
 * L 98–104 (OT)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 24–17
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 24–17
 * 24–17


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 44
 * February 5, 1989
 * @ Detroit
 * L 102–113
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 25–19
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * February 16, 1989
 * Milwaukee
 * W 117–116
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 28–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 49
 * February 19, 1989
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 108–106
 * Bradley Center
 * 29–20
 * 49
 * February 19, 1989
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 108–106
 * Bradley Center
 * 29–20
 * Bradley Center
 * 29–20
 * 29–20


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * March 3, 1989
 * Milwaukee
 * W 102–96
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 34–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * March 4, 1989
 * @ New York
 * L 104–122
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 34–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 59
 * March 11, 1989
 * Seattle
 * W 105–88
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 35–24
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * March 17, 1989
 * New York
 * W 129–124
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 37–25
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * March 21, 1989
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * W 104–103
 * Great Western Forum
 * 38–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 65
 * March 22, 1989
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 112–111
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 39–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 67
 * March 25, 1989
 * @ Seattle
 * W 111–110
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 41–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 68
 * March 28, 1989
 * Golden State
 * W 115–106
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 42–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69
 * March 29, 1989
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 106–102
 * Bradley Center
 * 43–26
 * @ Seattle
 * W 111–110
 * Seattle Center Coliseum
 * 41–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 68
 * March 28, 1989
 * Golden State
 * W 115–106
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 42–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69
 * March 29, 1989
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 106–102
 * Bradley Center
 * 43–26
 * 69
 * March 29, 1989
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 106–102
 * Bradley Center
 * 43–26
 * Bradley Center
 * 43–26
 * 43–26


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 73
 * April 6, 1989
 * @ Detroit
 * L 108–115
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 45–28
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * April 7, 1989
 * Detroit
 * L 112–114 (OT)
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 45–29
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 79
 * April 17, 1989
 * New York
 * W 104–100
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 46–33
 * 79
 * April 17, 1989
 * New York
 * W 104–100
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 46–33
 * Chicago Stadium
 * 46–33
 * 46–33

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 28, 1989
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 95–88
 * Jordan (31)
 * Grant (13)
 * Jordan (11)
 * Richfield Coliseum 19,312
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * April 30, 1989
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 88–96
 * Jordan (30)
 * Grant (14)
 * Jordan (10)
 * Richfield Coliseum 20,273
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 3, 1989
 * Cleveland
 * W 101–94
 * Jordan (44)
 * Grant (17)
 * Jordan (10)
 * Chicago Stadium 17,721
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 5, 1989
 * Cleveland
 * L 105–108 (OT)
 * Jordan (50)
 * Grant (16)
 * Hodges, Pippen (5)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,264
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * May 7, 1989
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 101–100
 * Jordan (44)
 * Pippen (10)
 * Jordan (6)
 * Richfield Coliseum 20,273
 * 3–2


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 9, 1989
 * @ New York
 * W 120–109 (OT)
 * Jordan (34)
 * Cartwright (14)
 * Jordan (12)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * May 11, 1989
 * @ New York
 * L 97–114
 * Paxson (16)
 * Davis (9)
 * Pippen (5)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 13, 1989
 * New York
 * W 111–88
 * Jordan (40)
 * Jordan (15)
 * Jordan (9)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,599
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 14, 1989
 * New York
 * W 106–93
 * Jordan (47)
 * Jordan (11)
 * Pippen (8)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,637
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * May 16, 1989
 * @ New York
 * L 114–121
 * Jordan (38)
 * Pippen (9)
 * Jordan (10)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * May 19, 1989
 * New York
 * W 113–111
 * Jordan (40)
 * Cartwright (8)
 * Jordan (10)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,676
 * 4–2
 * 4–2


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 21, 1989
 * @ Detroit
 * W 94–88
 * Jordan (32)
 * Jordan, Pippen (11)
 * Pippen (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * May 23, 1989
 * @ Detroit
 * L 91–100
 * Jordan (27)
 * Grant (20)
 * Paxson (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 27, 1989
 * Detroit
 * W 99–97
 * Jordan (46)
 * Pippen (8)
 * Hodges, Jordan (5)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,676
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 29, 1989
 * Detroit
 * L 80–86
 * Jordan (23)
 * Grant (12)
 * Hodges (5)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,676
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * May 31, 1989
 * @ Detroit
 * L 85–94
 * Hodges (19)
 * Cartwright (12)
 * Jordan (9)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
 * 2–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * June 2, 1989
 * Detroit
 * L 94–103
 * Jordan (32)
 * Grant (13)
 * Jordan (13)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,676
 * 2–4
 * 2–4

Awards and honors

 * Craig Hodges, NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout Winner
 * Michael Jordan, All-NBA First Team
 * Michael Jordan, NBA All-Defensive First Team
 * Michael Jordan, NBA All-Star Game