1987–88 Washington Bullets season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Bullets' 27th season in the NBA and their 15th season in the city of Washington, D.C. After Kevin Loughery was replaced by Wes Unseld during the season, the Bullets finished second in the Atlantic Division with a 38–44 record. In the first round of the playoffs, they lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games. This would be their final playoff appearance until 1997. Following the season, Moses Malone, who was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Atlanta Hawks.

1987–88 Washington Bullets season
Head coach	Kevin Loughery (fired) (8–19) Wes Unseld (30–25)
General manager	Bob Ferry
Owner(s)	Abe Pollin
Arena	Capital Centre
Results
Record	38–44 (.463)
Place	Division: 2nd (Atlantic) Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Pistons 2–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WDCA Home Team Sports
Radio	WTOP

This season saw the team draft 5'3 Muggsy Bogues with the 12th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft. He is the shortest player in NBA history. After his rookie season, Bogues left for the 1988 Expansion Draft.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	12	Muggsy Bogues	PG	United States	Wake Forest
2	36	Duane Washington		United States	Middle Tennessee State
2	37	Derrick Dowell		United States	Southern California
3	59	Danny Pearson		United States	Jacksonville
4	81	Scott Thompson	C	United States	San Diego
5	106	Patrick Fairs		United States	Texas
6	128	Dwayne Scholten		United States	Washington State
7	150	Jamie Dixon		United States	Texas Christian

Roster

1987–88 Washington Bullets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PF 31 Alarie, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1963-12-11 Duke PG 1 Bogues, Muggsy 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) 136 lb (62 kg) 1965-01-09 Wake Forest C 10 Bol, Manute 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1962-10-16 Bridgeport PF 33 Catledge, Terry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963-08-22 South Alabama PG 20 Colter, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1962-07-24 New Mexico State PG 15 Johnson, Frank 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958-11-23 Wake Forest PF 23 Jones, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957-04-03 Albany State SF 30 King, Bernard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1956-12-04 Tennessee SG 24 Malone, Jeff 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1961-06-28 Mississippi State C 4 Malone, Moses 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1955-03-23 Petersburg HS (VA) PF 42 Murphy, Jay 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962-06-26 Boston College SG 5 Walker, Darrell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961-03-09 Arkansas SF 34 Williams, John 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1966-10-26 LSU

Head coach Kevin Loughery (fired) Wes Unseld Assistant coach(es) Bill Blair Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: January 21, 1988

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	57	25	.695	–	36–5	21–20	19–5
x-Washington Bullets	38	44	.463	19	25–16	13–28	13–11
x-New York Knicks	38	44	.463	19	29–12	9–32	10–14
Philadelphia 76ers	36	46	.439	21	27–14	9–32	12–12
New Jersey Nets	19	63	.232	38	16–25	3–38	6–18

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Boston Celtics	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	3
3	x-Chicago Bulls	50	32	.610	7
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	7
5	x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	15
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	15
7	x-Washington Bullets	38	44	.463	19
8	x-New York Knicks	38	44	.463	19
9	Indiana Pacers	38	44	.463	19
10	Philadelphia 76ers	36	46	.439	21
11	New Jersey Nets	19	63	.232	38

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–4	2–3	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–0	3–3	6–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3
Boston	4–2	–	3–3	2–3	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–1
Chicago	3–2	3–3	–	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	5–1	3–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Cleveland	1–5	3–2	3–3	–	1–1	1–1	1–5	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	5–1	2–4	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	6–0
Dallas	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	–	3–3	1–1	4–1	4–2	2–0	5–0	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	5–1	5–1	3–2	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	–	1–1	4–1	4–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–3	4–2	5–1	4–1	2–4	2–0
Detroit	4–2	3–3	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–4	0–2	–	0–5	0–2	3–3	0–6	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–5	2–3	3–2	1–5	1–4	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	5–0	–	2–0	3–2	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	4–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	2–0
Indiana	2–4	0–5	3–3	2–4	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	3–3	6–0	2–3	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	1–1	3–3	2–3	1–1	–	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	0–6	3–2	0–5	1–5	1–4	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–3	2–0	6–0	4–1	1–1	5–1	–	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–1	3–3	4–1	5–0	4–2	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	1–5	4–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	2–0	–	3–2	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	0–5	1–5	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–6	2–0	0–2	2–3	–	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–6
New York	3–3	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	–	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	0–6	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	2–3	0–2	4–2	1–4	0–2	4–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	–	0–6	3–2	2–3	2–4	2–3	0–2
Portland	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	1–1	5–1	1–4	2–0	6–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	–	4–1	5–0	3–3	1–4	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	0–2	3–2	2–4	0–2	2–3	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	–	3–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–5	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	5–0	0–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–5	3–3	–	3–2	3–3	0–2
Seattle	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–1	2–3	–	1–4	2–0
Utah	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	0–2	4–1	3–3	1–1	4–1	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–2	4–1	5–1	3–3	4–1	–	2–0
Washington	3–3	1–5	3–3	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–0	0–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–4	6–0	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 38–44 (home: 25–16; road: 13–28)
November: 4–8 (home: 2–2; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 6, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST @ Atlanta L 97–114 M. Malone (32) M. Malone (12) Bogues (6) The Omni 16,064 0–1 2 November 7, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST Boston L 139–140 (2OT) M. Malone (32) M. Malone (13) Bogues (7) Capital Centre 19,643 0–2 3 November 10, 1987 8:30 p.m. CST @ Milwaukee L 100–115 J. Malone (18) M. Malone (14) Bogues (11) MECCA Arena 10,586 0–3 4 November 13 New York W 108–101 Capital Centre 1–3 5 November 15 @ New Jersey W 113–109 Brendan Byrne Arena 2–3 6 November 17, 1987 8:30 p.m. EST @ Chicago L 101–105 J. Malone (26) M. Malone (9) Bogues (6) Chicago Stadium 17,081 2–4 7 November 18, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST Chicago L 82–84 Williams (17) Williams (14) Bogues (6) Capital Centre 13,721 2–5 8 November 20 @ Portland L 101–120 Memorial Coliseum 2–6 9 November 21 @ Seattle L 103–124 Seattle Center Coliseum 2–7 10 November 24, 1987 9:30 p.m. EST @ Utah L 83–100 M. Malone (17) M. Malone (10) Walker (4) Salt Palace 12,212 2–8 11 November 25 @ L.A. Clippers W 101–96 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 3–8 12 November 28, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST Detroit W 124–102 Williams (21) M. Malone (9) Johnson (7) Capital Centre 13,028 4–8
December: 4–9 (home: 3–5; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 13 December 2 @ Indiana L 102–108 Market Square Arena 4–9 14 December 3, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST Atlanta L 94–102 J. Malone (28) M. Malone (15) Bogues (7) Capital Centre 6,464 4–10 15 December 5 Seattle L 99–115 Capital Centre 4–11 16 December 8 @ New York L 92–116 Madison Square Garden 4–12 17 December 9, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST L.A. Lakers W 120–112 (OT) J. Malone (29) Catledge (15) Bogues (9) Capital Centre 18,643 5–12 18 December 11, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST @ Detroit L 108–114 Catledge (26) Bol, Catledge, M. Malone (8) Bogues, Johnson, Walker (4) Pontiac Silverdome 17,884 5–13 19 December 12 @ New Jersey W 122–107 Brendan Byrne Arena 6–13 20 December 15, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST Boston L 102–122 M. Malone (21) M. Malone (10) Walker (5) Capital Centre 15,890 6–14 21 December 17 Indiana W 115–111 (OT) Capital Centre 7–14 22 December 19, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST Chicago W 109–96 King (28) M. Malone (9) Johnson (11) Capital Centre 14,353 8–14 23 December 22, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST Cleveland L 102–106 J. Malone (27) M. Malone (12) Johnson (9) Capital Centre 4,464 8–15 24 December 26, 1987 9:00 p.m. EST @ Milwaukee L 97–102 King (24) Bol (8) J. Malone, Williams (5) MECCA Arena 11,052 8–16 25 December 30 Portland L 112–117 Capital Centre 8–17
January: 9–6 (home: 8–2; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 January 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST Denver L 109–124 Catledge (27) M. Malone (15) Bogues (10) Capital Centre 5,326 8–18 27 January 2 Houston L 100–111 Capital Centre 8–19 28 January 5 New Jersey W 101–97 Capital Centre 9–19 29 January 8, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST @ Boston L 109–125 J. Malone (31) M. Malone (13) Colter, J. Malone (5) Boston Garden 14,890 9–20 30 January 9 L.A. Clippers W 108–76 Capital Centre 10–20 31 January 14, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST Milwaukee W 136–107 M. Malone (36) M. Malone (14) Bogues (9) Capital Centre 8,316 11–20 32 January 17 Sacramento W 130–113 Capital Centre 12–20 33 January 18, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST @ Chicago L 103–117 King (25) Catledge, M. Malone (8) Colter (7) Chicago Stadium 17,767 12–21 34 January 20 @ Philadelphia W 110–98 The Spectrum 13–21 35 January 22 Golden State W 115–91 Capital Centre 14–21 36 January 24 Philadelphia W 131–99 Capital Centre 15–21 37 January 25 Philadelphia W 118–117 (OT) Capital Centre 16–21 38 January 27, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST @ Boston L 100–106 King (32) M. Malone (11) Bogues (5) Boston Garden 14,890 16–22 39 January 28 New York W 104–90 Capital Centre 17–22 40 January 30, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST @ Cleveland L 126–128 (OT) Catledge (23) Catledge (13) Bogues (12) Richfield Coliseum 18,749 17–23
February: 5–9 (home: 1–2; road: 4–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 41 February 2 @ New York L 106–110 Madison Square Garden 17–24 42 February 3, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST Cleveland L 106–107 J. Malone (27) M. Malone (13) Colter, King (5) Capital Centre 6,806 17–25 All-Star Break 43 February 9 New Jersey W 126–117 (OT) Capital Centre 18–25 44 February 10, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST @ Cleveland L 102–118 J. Malone (34) Catledge (10) J. Malone (7) Richfield Coliseum 9,179 18–26 45 February 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST @ Atlanta L 103–105 J. Malone (29) Williams (10) Colter (5) The Omni 16,451 18–27 46 February 15, 1988 1:00 p.m. EST Milwaukee L 110–114 Williams (28) Williams (8) Bogues (4) Capital Centre 9,564 18–28 47 February 17, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST @ Dallas L 108–123 Williams (22) Jones, M. Malone (10) Catledge, Colter, King, J. Malone (4) Reunion Arena 17,007 18–29 48 February 19 @ San Antonio W 106–102 HemisFair Arena 19–29 49 February 20 @ Houston L 109–115 The Summit 19–30 50 February 22, 1988 9:30 p.m. EST @ Denver L 87–100 Johnson, M. Malone (17) M. Malone (13) Johnson (6) McNichols Sports Arena 10,553 19–31 51 February 23, 1988 10:30 p.m. EST @ L.A. Lakers L 100–111 J. Malone (26) Jones (14) Colter (8) The Forum 17,505 19–32 52 February 25 @ Sacramento W 129–110 ARCO Arena 20–32 53 February 27 @ Phoenix W 116–106 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 21–32 54 February 29 @ Golden State W 110–105 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 22–32
March: 8–7 (home: 7–3; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 55 March 2 Indiana W 111–102 Capital Centre 23–32 56 March 4 @ Indiana W 95–88 Market Square Arena 24–32 57 March 5, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST Detroit W 101–97 J. Malone, M. Malone (21) M. Malone (13) Bogues (6) Capital Centre 15,656 25–32 58 March 9 Phoenix W 115–111 Capital Centre 26–32 59 March 11, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST Utah L 107–109 J. Malone (31) M. Malone (17) Colter, Williams (5) Capital Centre 10,775 26–33 60 March 13 @ Philadelphia L 96–104 The Spectrum 26–34 61 March 14 San Antonio W 112–106 Capital Centre 27–34 62 March 16, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST Chicago W 106–103 J. Malone, Williams (28) M. Malone (13) Colter (8) Capital Centre 16,515 28–34 63 March 17 @ Indiana L 95–99 Market Square Arena 28–35 64 March 19 Philadelphia L 89–94 Capital Centre 28–36 65 March 20, 1988 7:00 p.m. EST @ Detroit L 110–118 J. Malone (39) M. Malone (11) Colter (8) Pontiac Silverdome 22,075 28–37 66 March 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST @ Boston L 89–104 Williams (27) M. Malone (8) Bogues (8) Boston Garden 14,890 28–38 67 March 24, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST Atlanta W 94–91 J. Malone (21) M. Malone (11) J. Malone (5) Capital Centre 13,629 29–38 68 March 26 New Jersey W 99–88 Capital Centre 30–38 69 March 30, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST Cleveland L 96–107 J. Malone (20) M. Malone (15) Bogues, Colter, Williams (5) Capital Centre 8,387 30–39
April: 7–5 (home: 3–2; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 70 April 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST Dallas W 118–103 M. Malone (27) M. Malone (9) Bogues (7) Capital Centre 13,783 31–39 71 April 3 @ New Jersey W 105–103 Brendan Byrne Arena 32–39 72 April 5, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT @ Chicago W 105–94 Williams (23) M. Malone (13) Bogues (12) Chicago Stadium 17,773 33–39 73 April 6, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Cleveland L 87–98 Colter (29) Jones (8) Williams (5) Richfield Coliseum 10,165 33–40 74 April 8 Indiana W 107–100 Capital Centre 34–40 75 April 10 New York L 98–118 Capital Centre 35–40 76 April 11, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Atlanta W 86–85 Walker (19) Williams (14) J. Malone (9) The Omni 10,473 35–41 77 April 13 @ Philadelphia L 97–98 (OT) The Spectrum 35–42 78 April 15 @ New York W 106–97 Madison Square Garden 36–42 79 April 17, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT Boston W 98–92 M. Malone (24) M. Malone (14) Walker (7) Capital Centre 18,643 37–42 80 April 20, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT @ Milwaukee L 94–132 Alarie, King (14) Bol (8) Bogues (9) MECCA Arena 11,052 37–43 81 April 21, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT Detroit L 87–99 M. Malone (23) M. Malone (11) Walker (7) Capital Centre 11,713 37–44 82 April 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT Atlanta W 106–96 J. Malone, M. Malone (24) Jones, M. Malone (7) J. Malone (7) Capital Centre 15,638 38–44
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 2–3 (home: 2–0; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 28, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Detroit L 87–96 J. Malone (33) M. Malone (13) Williams (9) Pontiac Silverdome 17,356 0–1 2 April 30, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT @ Detroit L 101–102 J. Malone (31) M. Malone (14) J. Malone (4) Pontiac Silverdome 18,293 0–2 3 May 2, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT Detroit W 114–106 (OT) J. Malone (35) M. Malone (9) Colter (6) Capital Centre 9,673 1–2 4 May 4, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT Detroit W 106–103 J. Malone (25) M. Malone (8) Walker (5) Capital Centre 10,513 2–2 5 May 8, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT @ Detroit L 78–99 KIng (18) M. Malone (12) M. Malone, Walker, Williams (3) Pontiac Silverdome 18,403 2–3
1988 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

See also

• 1987-88 NBA season