A closer look at Michael Jordan’s 1988 DPOY award raises questions about its validity. Has LeBron James been chasing a ghost?

It may be the most consequential Defensive Player of the Year award in NBA history.

In 1987-88, Michael Jordan became the first player ever to win the scoring title and the DPOY in the same season. To this day, the feat hasn’t been duplicated.

The DPOY award represented a certain validation for the 25-year-old phenom. Before Jordan was crowned he was crushed. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls 40 years ago this week, Jordan had developed a certain level of notoriety for being too focused on scoring at the expense of winning. Fanning the flames was the fact that Jordan led the NBA in scoring the previous season but was swept in the first round against the Boston Celtics for a second straight year. A scorer, they said, but not a winning player. The Defensive Player of the Year award, voted by the media, effectively quieted those questions.

“It’s one of the goals I set for myself,” Jordan told the AP after winning the award. “I wanted to show people that I am more than just a scorer. I am a complete player.”

The award also delivered generational power, with its profound impact being felt even today when debating the legends of the game. The DPOY gave Jordan something that LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson never had: recognition for being the NBA’s best defender.

But a closer look at Jordan’s 1987-88 season reveals a substantial discrepancy between his home and road statistics, raising questions about the authenticity of his off-the-charts steals and blocks numbers that season — and shining a light on an era that seemed particularly vulnerable to the hidden hand of homer bias.

Considerable evidence — both statistical and corroborating video — suggests that Jordan’s Defensive Player of the Year award may not be as valid as we thought.

‘It just tees me off’

In 1987, Michael Jordan felt he was snubbed after not being recognized as one of the NBA’s top defenders. (NBAE via Getty Images)

With a 6-0 record in the NBA Finals, Jordan finished his career with a résumé as shiny as any human being who has stepped onto the hardwood. He was a relentless, two-way superstar from the guard…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-20 14:04:52

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