1988 in basketball

Regular Season MVP

 * Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

NBA Finals MVP

 * James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers

Slam Dunk Contest

 * Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls

Three-point Shootout

 * Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

Collegiate awards

 * Men
 * John R. Wooden Award: Danny Manning, Kansas
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Larry Brown (basketball), Kansas
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jerry Johnson (basketball player), Florida Southern
 * Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Hersey Hawkins, Bradley
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Glen Rice, Michigan
 * Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: John Chaney (basketball, born 1932), Temple
 * Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Red Auerbach
 * Women
 * Naismith College Player of the Year: Sue Wicks, Rutgers
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Leon Barmore, Louisiana Tech
 * Wade Trophy: Teresa Weatherspoon, Louisiana Tech
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Suzie McConnell, Penn State
 * NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Erica Westbrooks, Louisiana Tech
 * Carol Eckman Award: Kay Yow, NC State

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

 * Class of 1988:
 * Clyde Lovellette
 * Bobby McDermott
 * Ralph Miller
 * Wes Unseld

Births

 * March 3 — Kaan Üner, Turkish professional basketball player

Deaths

 * January 5 — Pete Maravich, American Hall of Fame NBA player (Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz) (born 1947)
 * February 9 — Joe Reiff, All-American college player (Northwestern) (born 1911)
 * March 8 — Gordon Carpenter, American AAU player and Olympic Gold medalist (1948) (born 1919)
 * April 5 — Swede Halbrook, American NBA player (Syracuse Nationals) (born 1933)
 * April 22 — Victor Holt, All-American college player (Oklahoma) (born 1908)
 * July 4 — Ross McBurney, All-American college player (Wichita State) (born 1906)
 * October 19 — Forrest Sprowl, 69, All-American college player (Purdue) and college coach (Lawrence).
 * December 14 — Charlie T. Black, All-American college player (Kansas) and college coach (Nebraska) (born 1901)