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1988 NBA Finals

Team Coach Wins Los Angeles Lakers Pat Riley 4 Detroit Pistons Chuck Daly 3
Dates	June 7–21
MVP	James Worthy (Los Angeles Lakers)
Television	CBS (U.S.)
Announcers	Dick Stockton and Billy Cunningham
Radio network	KLAC (LAL) WCXI (DET)
Announcers	Chick Hearn and Stu Lantz (LAL) George Blaha, Fred McLeod and Dick Motta (DET)
Referees
Game 1: Darell Garretson and Joe Crawford Game 2: Ed T. Rush and Jess Kersey Game 3: Earl Strom and Hugh Evans Game 4: Jake O'Donnell and Jack Madden Game 5: Darell Garretson and Joe Crawford Game 6: Hugh Evans and Ed T. Rush Game 7 Earl Strom and Jake O'Donnell
Hall of Famers	Pistons: Adrian Dantley (2008) Joe Dumars (2006) Dennis Rodman (2011) Isiah Thomas (2000) Lakers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1995) Magic Johnson (2002) James Worthy (2003) Coaches: Chuck Daly (1994) Pat Riley (2008) Officials: Darell Garretson (2016) Earl Strom (1995)
Eastern Finals	Pistons defeat Celtics, 4–2
Western Finals	Lakers defeat Mavericks, 4–3
< 1987 NBA Finals 1989 >

The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1987–88 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons 4 games to 3.

One of Los Angeles Lakers head coach Pat Riley's most famous moments came when he promised the crowd a repeat championship during the Lakers' 1986-87 championship parade in downtown Los Angeles. With every team in the league now gunning for them, the Los Angeles Lakers still found a way to win, taking their seventh consecutive Pacific Division title. While the 1988 Lakers did not produce as many wins in the regular season as the 1987 Lakers, they were just as successful in the playoffs, becoming the first team in 19 years to repeat as champions. The Lakers met the physical Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals.

One of Pistons guard Isiah Thomas's career-defining performances came in Game 6. Despite badly twisting his ankle midway through the period, Thomas scored an NBA Finals record 25 third-quarter points, as Detroit fell valiantly, 103-102, to the Lakers at the Forum.

Thomas still managed to score 10 first-half points in Game 7, as Detroit built a 5-point lead. In the 3rd quarter, the Lakers, inspired by Finals MVP James Worthy and Byron Scott (14 3rd-quarter points), exploded as they built a 10-point lead entering the final period. The lead swelled to 15 before Detroit mounted a furious 4th-quarter rally, trimming the lead to two points on several occasions. Still, several Detroit miscues enabled the Lakers to win, 108-105.

Background

A ticket for Game 1 of the 1988 NBA Finals at The Forum.

Los Angeles Lakers

During the 1987 championship parade in Los Angeles, Lakers coach Pat Riley guaranteed a repeat championship, a feat that had not been achieved since the Boston Celtics won the 1969 NBA Finals. Motivated by their coach's boast, the Lakers once again earned the league's best record in the 1987–88 season (62–20), despite winning three games less than the previous year.

The playoffs proved to be a difficult climb for the Lakers, however. After sweeping the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, they were pushed to the brink in the next two rounds by the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers eventually prevailed in both series thanks to their championship experience.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons of head coach Chuck Daly were an up-and-coming team that gradually moved up the Eastern Conference ranks. Known as the "Bad Boys" for their physical and defensive-minded style of play, the Pistons' core featured guards Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, forwards Adrian Dantley and Rick Mahorn, center Bill Laimbeer, and bench players Vinnie Johnson, Dennis Rodman and John Salley. Midway through the season, Detroit gained a valuable backup to Laimbeer and Mahorn when they acquired James Edwards.

The 1987–88 season marked a further ascension for the franchise, as Detroit won the Central Division title with a 54–28 record. The second-seeded Pistons overcame the Washington Bullets and the Chicago Bulls in five games each, before facing the Boston Celtics once again in the conference finals. This time, the Pistons were the better team, eliminating the Celtics in six games for their first NBA Finals appearance since 1956.

Road to the Finals

Regular season series

The Los Angeles Lakers won both games in the regular season series:

Series summary

Game 1

The Pistons had just dispatched the Celtics in six games, while the Lakers were coming off back-to-back seven-game wins over the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers were tired, and it showed. Adrian Dantley scored 34 points, hitting 14 of 16 shots from the field. The Pistons took control of the game with four seconds left in the first half when Bill Laimbeer hit a three-point shot to put the Pistons up 54-40. Isiah Thomas then stole Kareem's inbound pass at half court and let fly with another three-pointer which hit nothing but net at the halftime buzzer. The Pistons had a 57-40 halftime lead and never looked back, stealing Game 1 with a 105-93 win.

Game 2

Facing the possibility of going down 2-0 with three games to play in Detroit, the veteran Lakers found resolve with a 108-96 win. James Worthy led the Lakers with 26 points, Byron Scott had 24, and Magic Johnson 23 despite battling the flu.

Game 3

With Magic still battling the flu, the Lakers got a key win in Detroit, 99-86, to go up 2-1 in games. The Lakers took control of the game in the third period, outscoring the Pistons 31-18. Despite his illness, Magic had 18 points, 14 assists, and six rebounds.

Game 4

With pride in front of their home fans, the Pistons tied the series at 2-2 with a 111-86 blowout win. The Pistons decided to attack the basket and make Magic Johnson defend. Johnson wound up on the bench early in the second half with foul trouble.

With Magic out of the game, the Pistons built a substantial lead. During timeouts, Bill Laimbeer was almost frantic. He kept saying, "No letup! We don't let up!" They didn't, and blew out the defending NBA champions by 25 points.

Left open by the trapping Lakers defense, Dantley led the team with 27 points. Vinnie Johnson came off the bench to add 16 while James Edwards had 14 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Game 5

The Pistons' 104-94 victory was a perfect farewell to the Pontiac Silverdome. Bill Laimbeer told Joe Dumars with a minute left in the game to "look around and enjoy this because you'll never see anything like it again". He went on to say, "Forty-one thousand people waving towels and standing. It was awesome."

The Lakers opened Game 5 with a fury of physical intimidation, scoring the game's first 12 points. But that approach soon backfired, as the Laker big men got into foul trouble.

Dantley played a major role in the turnaround, scoring 25 points, 19 of them in the first half, to rally the Pistons to a 59-50 halftime lead. Vinnie Johnson added 12 of his 16 points in the first half to keep Detroit moving.

Joe Dumars added 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting to send the Pistons back to Los Angeles, one win away from their first NBA title.

Games 3, 4, and 5 were the last NBA Finals games to be contested in a domed stadium built primarily for football until the 1999 NBA Finals in which Games 1 and 2 were played at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Pistons left the Pontiac Silverdome after the 1987-88 season and moved into The Palace of Auburn Hills for the 1988-89 NBA season.

Game 6

This game turned out to be a classic confrontation between a team hungry for their first title (Detroit) and a veteran team on a mission with their backs to the wall (the Lakers).

The Lakers led 56-48 in the third quarter when Isiah Thomas suddenly began a classic performance. He scored his team's next 14 points, hitting two free throws, a driving layup, four jump shots, and a running bank shot.

With a little less than 5 minutes left in the period and the score 70-64, Lakers, Thomas rolled his right ankle while passing off to Joe Dumars for a basket. Thomas tried to run upcourt, but collapsed while the Lakers scored again. Despite a severe sprain, Thomas returned to the game with 3:44 left and the Lakers up 74-66. Thomas, with his bad ankle, scored 11 of the Pistons' last 15 points of the quarter to finish with 25, an NBA Finals record for one quarter, on 11-of-13 shooting. Even better, the Pistons outscored the Lakers 15-5 to take an 81-79 lead.

The fourth quarter was nip-and-tuck; with 1:17 left, Thomas, sore ankle and all, hit a baseline jumper for his 42nd and 43rd points to give the Pistons a 100-99 lead. The Lakers came down and Magic Johnson got the ball inside to James Worthy, but his layup attempt was blocked by Dennis Rodman. Joe Dumars penetrated inside on the ensuing possession, was fouled, and hit the two free throws for a three-point lead at 102-99 with a minute left.

The Lakers called timeout, and on the next possession, Byron Scott pump-faked Dumars at the top of the key and hit a 14-footer to cut the lead to one with 45 seconds left. Thomas then missed another baseline jumper and Worthy rebounded with 27 seconds remaining. The Lakers then set up and Scott got it to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was fouled by Bill Laimbeer (his sixth) as he wheeled for a skyhook on the right baseline. Many refer to this as a "phantom foul,"^[1] as Laimbeer appeared to make no illegal contact. Abdul-Jabbar hit the two free throws for a 103-102 lead with 14 seconds left.

After a time out, the Pistons set up for a final shot. Thomas stumbled over Rodman after inbounding the ball, and Dumars put up a wild shot that missed badly. After a mad scramble, Scott came up with the ball for the Lakers and was shoved out of bounds by Rodman, inciting a near-fight. After control was maintained, Scott missed the two foul shots, but it hardly mattered as the Pistons missed from halfcourt at the buzzer.

Thomas would end up with 43 points and eight assists in a heroic performance.

Game 7

This was the first Game 7 since the NBA adopted the 2-3-2 format in 1985 and first overall since 1984.

In the final game, Thomas' ankle was still sore, as evidenced by his limping badly in warm-ups. He did manage to play the first half, scoring 10 points and leading the Pistons to a 52-47 halftime lead. But, the delay between halves caused the ankle to stiffen, and Thomas played little in the second half. With Isiah on the bench, the Lakers turned the halftime deficit into a 90-75 lead early in the 4th quarter. A key factor was Laker guard Michael Cooper; he had been mired in a terrible shooting slump all series, but suddenly caught fire, hitting three 3-point baskets.

Chuck Daly then went to a faster lineup with Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Joe Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson that created matchup problems for the Lakers and enabled the Pistons to score at a torrid pace. With 3:54 left, Salley canned two free throws to cut the Laker lead to 98-92, sending the Forum fans into a panic^{[citation needed]}.

With 1:17 left, Dumars hit a jump shot to cut the lead to 102-100. Magic Johnson then hit a free throw after a Rodman foul to put the Lakers up by three. After the two teams exchanged turnovers, Rodman took an ill-advised jumper with 40 seconds left. Byron Scott rebounded and was fouled. His two free throws pushed the lead to 105-100. After another Pistons' turnover, Michael Cooper had a chance to essentially clinch the victory after being fouled, but he missed both free throws, and the Lakers' lead remained at five.

After Dumars made a layup, James Worthy hit a free throw and Bill Laimbeer canned a 28-foot three-pointer, pushing the score to 106-105 with six seconds showing. A. C. Green completed the scoring with a layup off a length-of-the court pass from Magic, making it 108-105. Laimbeer made a long desperate pass to Thomas who caught the ball trying to shoot a three to send the game to overtime, but Thomas was knocked to the floor in a collision with a moving Johnson, losing the ball as time ran out. Fans were already beginning to storm onto the floor even though time had not expired, but the officials ignored this. Pat Riley and the Laker players hurried back to their dressing room as the players and coaches on both teams were pummeled by the storming fans.

Worthy racked up a monster triple-double: 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. It would prove to be the only triple-double in Worthy's Hall of Fame career.^[2] For that and his earlier efforts in the series, he was named the Finals MVP, cementing his nickname "Big Game James".

Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only members of all 5 Lakers championship teams from the 1980s.

This was the Lakers' first Game 7 Finals victory since 1954; however, it was their first ever Game 7 win in the championship series since moving to Los Angeles in 1960; they were 0-5 in previous Game 7's since moving (1962, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1984). This would end up being the Lakers' last home win in the championship series until 2000.

Quote of the Finals

Isiah Thomas is hurt underneath the basket, I couldn't tell what happened.

— CBS Sports analyst Billy Cunningham calling Thomas's ankle sprain in the third quarter of Game 6.

The game ends! The Lakers have won it...again!!!

— CBS Sports announcer Dick Stockton calling the final moments of Game 7.

The game is over! The Lakers are the world champions!!!

— Los Angeles Lakers announcer Chick Hearn calling the same moment as Stockton above.

Well, would you like to step up here and guarantee a third straight to start this off, coach?

— CBS's Brent Musburger during the Finals awarding ceremonies. Before Pat Riley could answer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar covered his mouth with a towel, after which he laughed.

I will guarantee one thing that we're gonna enjoy this all summer long. It's a wonderful group of guys, Brent, and I could never be proud of a group of guys that have worked this hard. I mean it took 115 games first to get this job done, and we had the challenge, we talked a lot about it, they worked, and they won it, and you got to give them credit for that.

— Pat Riley answering Musburger's question.

Team rosters

Los Angeles Lakers

1988 Los Angeles Lakers Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. DOB From C 7001330000000000000♠33 Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem 7000218440000000000♠7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1947–04–16 UCLA G/F 7001190000000000000♠19 Campbell, Tony 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–05–17 Ohio State G/F 7001210000000000000♠21 Cooper, Michael 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1956–04–15 New Mexico PF 7001450000000000000♠45 Green, A. C. 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–10–04 Oregon State PG 7001320000000000000♠32 Johnson, Magic 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1959–08–14 Michigan State G/F 7000300000000000000♠3 Lamp, Jeff 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1959–03–09 Virginia PG 7000100000000000000♠1 Matthews, Wes 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1959–08–24 Wisconsin PF 7001310000000000000♠31 Rambis, Kurt 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1958–02–25 Santa Clara SG 7000400000000000000♠4 Scott, Byron 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1961–03–28 Arizona State C 7001520000000000000♠52 Smrek, Mike 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1962–08–31 Canisius SF 7001550000000000000♠55 Thompson, Billy 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–12–01 Louisville C 7001430000000000000♠43 Thompson, Mychal 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1955–01–30 Minnesota SG 7001200000000000000♠20 Wagner, Milt 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–02–20 Louisville SF 7001420000000000000♠42 Worthy, James 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–02–27 North Carolina	Head coach Pat Riley (Kentucky) Assistant coach(es) Bill Bertka (Kent State) Randy Pfund (Wheaton) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Detroit Pistons

1988 Detroit Pistons Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. DOB From C 5000000000000000000♠00 Bedford, William 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–14 Memphis SF 7001450000000000000♠45 Dantley, Adrian 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1955–02–28 Notre Dame C 7001500000000000000♠50 Dawkins, Darryl 7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 251 lb (114 kg) 1957–01–11 Maynard Evans (HS) SG 7000400000000000000♠4 Dumars, Joe 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–05–24 McNeese State F/C 7001530000000000000♠53 Edwards, James 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington PG 7001150000000000000♠15 Johnson, Vinnie 7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1956–09–01 Baylor C 7001400000000000000♠40 Laimbeer, Bill 7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1957–05–19 Notre Dame SG 7001350000000000000♠35 Lewis, Ralph 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1963–03–08 La Salle F/C 7001440000000000000♠44 Mahorn, Rick 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1958–09–21 Hampton C 7001540000000000000♠54 Moore, Ron 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1962–06–16 West Virginia State C 7001420000000000000♠42 Nevitt, Chuck 7000226059999999999♠7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1959–06–13 North Carolina State SF 7001100000000000000♠10 Rodman, Dennis 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961–05–13 Southeastern Oklahoma State SG 7001230000000000000♠23 Russell, Walker 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1960–10–26 Western Michigan PF 7001220000000000000♠22 Salley, John 7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–05–16 Georgia Tech PG 7001110000000000000♠11 Thomas, Isiah 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–04–30 Indiana	Head coach Chuck Daly (Bloomsburg) Assistant coach(es) Brendan Malone (Iona) Brendan Suhr (Montclair State) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Player statistics

Los Angeles Lakers

Detroit Pistons

Television coverage

The Detroit Pistons season documentary "Bad Boys", narrated by George Blaha recaps Detroit's run to the Finals and how they garnered the "Bad Boys" moniker while the Los Angeles Lakers documentary "Back To Back", narrated by Chick Hearn recaps the Lakers quest to become the first team since the Bill Russell-led Celtics to achieve NBA championships in consecutive years.

That year, CBS Sports used three sideline reporters which were Pat O'Brien (the Pistons' sideline), Lesley Visser (the Lakers' sideline) and James Brown (both teams).

Aftermath

The two teams met again in the 1989 NBA Finals. Heading into the rematch, the Pistons took the league's best record with 63 wins; the Lakers not far behind with 57 wins. However, the Lakers appeared well-rested after sweeping the first three playoff rounds against the Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns, setting a playoff record 11-0 through the first three rounds, an accomplishment the Lakers would also achieve in 2001. The Pistons, on the other hand, won the first seven games of the playoffs, but were pushed by the Chicago Bulls in the conference finals before winning in six games.

The Lakers' chances for a third straight championship took a severe blow when Byron Scott and later Magic Johnson fell prey to hamstring injuries. Without its starting backcourt, the Lakers were no match for the younger Pistons and were swept in four games, ending Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 20-year career.

The Pistons' Finals appearance marked the first time since the American League baseball team Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series that a major professional sports team from Detroit competed for a championship. The Pistons' appearance started a run of at least one Detroit sports team competing for a championship six times within ten years, starting with the Pistons from 1988–90 and ending with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League competing in the 1995, 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup Finals, in both cases winning the final two appearances. The Lakers' championship triumph was followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers of baseball's National League winning the 1988 World Series.

Members of all five Los Angeles Lakers championship teams of the 1980's

• 
  Players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson


• 
  Non-playing personnel: Pat Riley (head coach)†

† – Riley was a assistant coach on the 1980 team, and the head coach on the 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988 teams.

See also

• 1988 NBA Playoffs

Notes

External links

• NBA History