Michael Jordan’s NBA Playoffs Resume Per Season: 6 NBA Finals, 6 NBA Championships

The NBA playoffs are where legends are made and dreams come true. How a player performs in the playoffs can make or break his legacy. They can forever be known as choke artists in the playoffs who failed to perform in the biggest moments for their team. They can also solidify themselves as one of the greatest players of all time, or in this case, the greatest player of all time. Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, and for 13 years, the performances delivered in the playoffs put him on a trajectory to be considered as such.

Today, we will take a deep dive into the playoff performances that added to Michael Jordan’s legacy. This will include his MVP seasons and especially the seasons where he wrapped up the NBA championship and took home his NBA record six Finals MVP awards. The playoffs are where one NBA legend referred to Michael Jordan as God and where despite his early struggles to win, he became a global sensation and the greatest player in NBA history. The NBA playoffs and Finals are where Michael Jordan refused to go down without the biggest fight of his life, and if he did fail, he came back the next season ready to fight again.

This is Michael Jordan’s playoff performance season by season in his career.

1984-85 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 29.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 8.5 APG, 2.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG

NBA Playoff Result: Lost Second Round (Milwaukee Bucks def. Chicago Bulls 3-1)

The Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan in the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft with the third overall pick. Jordan would go on to play and start all 82 games for Chicago as they finished the season with a 38-44 record that set them up for a first-round matchup with Sidney Moncrief, Marques Johnson, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Jordan was honored for his tremendous rookie season with the Rookie of the Year award averaging 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, and 0.8 BPG. The playoffs would look not different once they began.

The series began in Milwaukee for Game One as a young Jordan looked to impress in his first playoff game. Jordan would actually struggle from the field, shooting just 7-19 for 23 points while adding 10 assists and three steals as Milwaukee took a 1-0 series lead. It would be slightly different for Jordan in Game Two with the same result. He shot 9-17 from the floor this time for 30 points and dished out 12 assists, but Milwaukee took a 2-0 series lead, 122-115. Jordan would lead the Bulls to victory in Game Three with an incredible 35 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals and the momentum shifted at least for one night. However, the Bucks wrapped things up in Game Four with Jordan going for 29 points, but his second-best teammate coming off the bench, Quinton Dailey, had 17 points. With Jordan’s first playoffs in the books, it was only up from here.

1985-86 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 43.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG

NBA Playoff Result: Lost First Round (Boston Celtics def. Chicago Bulls 3-0)

The 1985-86 season was one of adversity and challenges for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. After starting the season 3-0, Michael Jordan landed awkwardly on a finish at the rim and ended up breaking his foot. The season had taken a turn for the worst without Jordan on the court and when he finally did return, the Bulls did everything to protect their franchise player by putting him on a time limit. Little did they know that they were just building up the pressure for an explosion in the NBA playoffs.

The Bulls would finish 30-52 but still end up making the playoffs and earned a matchup with the Boston Celtics, one of the most beloved teams of the 1980s. Jordan was back to full action and he did not disappoint. He recorded 49 points in a Game One loss on the road but saved his best performance for Game Two. In a double overtime instant classic, Jordan dropped an NBA record 63 points in the loss and prompted Larry Bird to drop the classic line, “I think that’s God disguised as Michael Jordan.” The Celtics would go on to sweep the Bulls in three games and eventually take home the NBA championship with Larry Bird winning Finals MVP.

1986-87 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 35.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 2.3 BPG

Playoff Result: Lost First Round (Boston Celtics def. Chicago Bulls 3-0)

Just a few months before the 1986-87 season began, Michael Jordan put the City of Boston on notice that he had arrived. In 1986-87, the rest of the world got the picture as well. Jordan would win his first scoring title with the fifth-best scoring average in NBA history at 37.1 PPG. He recorded two 60-point games, six other 50-point games, and just seven games with less than 25 points. He finished second in the MVP voting to Magic Johnson and would lead the Bulls to the playoffs with a 40-42 record, with his second-best teammate, Charles Oakley, averaging 14.1 PPG.

Once again, the Bulls would have a date with the Boston Celtics in the first round. Jordan and the Bulls stood zero chance of defeating the loaded defending NBA champions who would end up representing the East in the NBA Finals. Jordan led all scorers in Game One with 35 points and in Game Two with 42 points. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Celtics swept the Bulls in three games behind the core of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson.

1987-88 Playoffs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQuOvE7iZQ

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 36.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Playoff Result: Lost Second Round (Detroit Pistons def. Chicago Bulls 4-1)

The 1987-88 regular season was perhaps the absolute best that Michael Jordan ever registered. Jordan would win his second straight scoring title with 35.0 PPG and took home the first MVP award of his career. He also led the NBA in steals with 3.2 SPG and took home the only Defensive Player of the Year award of his career. Add in an All-NBA First Team selection and a Slam Dunk championship on top, and it was almost the perfect season for Jordan.

In the NBA playoffs, Jordan and the Bulls were matched up for the first time against Ron Harper, Mark Price, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jordan got the series started off right with a cool 50 points in Game One to capture a 1-0 series lead. The series would end up going the full five games it was allotted with Jordan averaging 45.2 PPG to get out of the first round for the first time. Unfortunately for Jordan, he ran into the most hated Bad Boys Pistons, and they demolished him in five games. Jordan averaged 27.4 PPG, but the Pistons had punished him physically as they ran through the East to the NBA Finals.

1988-89 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 34.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 7.6 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Playoff Result: Lost Eastern Conference Finals (Detroit Pistons def. Chicago Bulls 4-2)

In 1988-89, Michael Jordan had one of the best non-MVP seasons in NBA history. Coach Doug Collins decided to move Jordan to the point guard spot for a large stretch of time, and when he did, Jordan thrived. He ended up yet again winning the scoring title with 32.5 PPG and finishing with 8.0 RPG and 8.0 APG on the season. Jordan and the Bulls would finish with a 47-35 record on the season and advance once again to the NBA playoffs.

In the first round, Jordan would once again come face-to-face with the Cavaliers. Jordan would average 39.8 PPG in the series and send Cleveland packing for the second straight season. In the second round, Jordan would have his first of many playoff battles with the Knicks. Jordan registered three 40-point games in the series to eliminate the Knicks and advance to his first career Conference Finals. Once again, they would run into the Pistons, who were even more brutal in their defense of Jordan. The Pistons would dismiss the Bulls in six games and go on to win the NBA championship.

1989-90 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 36.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Playoff Result: Lost Eastern Conference Finals (Detroit Pistons def. Chicago Bulls 4-3)

The 1989-90 season was the one that began the legend of Michael Jordan as we know it today. Jordan would take home his fourth straight scoring title with 33.6 PPG while under the tutelage of new coach Phil Jackson. The Bulls would have the best season in franchise history up to that point, winning 55 games and cruising toward the NBA playoffs. Michael Jordan would also lead the NBA in steals and earn an All-Defensive Team nod with 2.8 SPG and 0.7 BPG.

In the first round of the playoffs, Jordan would go ahead against the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time since his rookie year. Of course, this was a much different Bucks team, but Jordan got his revenge with 36.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.0 APG, and 2.5 SPG, along with a series victory. In the next round, the Bulls came up against the 76ers, who Jordan would torch in five games. He averaged 43.0 PPG in the five games as well as 7.4 APG and 4.0 SPG. One more time, the Bulls would take on the Pistons in the Conference Finals. This time, the series would go seven games but the outcome remained the same as Detroit advanced to the NBA Finals and won the NBA championship.

1990-91 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 31.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 8.4 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Playoff Result: Won NBA Championship (Chicago Bulls def. Los Angeles Lakers 4-1)

The 1990-91 season was the beginning of Michael Jordan’s reign as the consensus greatest player in the world. In the offseason, he worked harder than he ever had before bulking up in anticipation of having to face the Pistons once more come playoff time. Jordan would take home his second MVP award and average over 31.0 PPG on 53.9% shooting from the field. It was his most dominant offensive season simply due to the fact of what he accomplished after the regular season had commenced.

In the first round of the playoffs, Jordan and the Bulls would take on one of their greatest rivals, the Knicks. Jordan and the Bulls breezed through them by the way of a three-game sweep as Jordan averaged 29.7 PPG. After making quick work of the Sixers in the second round, the stage was set for a rematch with Detroit. Jordan and the Bulls demolished them this time in a four-game sweep with Jordan leading the way at 29.8 PPG, 7.0 APG, and 2.3 SPG. In the NBA Finals, Jordan was not about to let the opportunity slip. He was the clear best player on both sides of the ball as he climbed his first NBA championship and Finals MVP award with 31.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 11.4 APG, and 2.8 SPG.

1991-92 Playoffs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hynjpv8y1pA

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 34.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Playoff Result: Won NBA Championship (Chicago Bulls def. Portland Trail Blazers 4-2)

Repeating as NBA champions is no easy task for any team hoping to do so. The Bulls were determined to get it done in the 1991-92 season, and Jordan, along with teammates Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, would make sure it would happen. Jordan would have another MVP season, winning for the third time in his career along with his sixth straight scoring title at 30.1 PPG. The Bulls would win 67 games and finish with the best offense in basketball as well as the fourth-rated defense.

The Bulls would sweep the Miami Heat in the first round, led by Michael Jordan’s 45.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and 3.0 SPG. After being taken to seven games by the Knicks in Round Two and six games by the Cavaliers in the Conference Finals, the Bulls were once again back in the NBA Finals. They would take on the Portland Trail Blazers, where Jordan would silence any critics he may have had. In a heated battle with Clyde Drexler, Jordan reigned supreme and averaged 35.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 1.7 SPG. The Bulls down the Trail Blazers in six games for their second straight NBA title as Jordan took home his second straight Finals MVP award.

1992-93 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 35.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Playoff Result: Won NBA Championship (Chicago Bulls def. Phoenix Suns 4-2)

If repeating as NBA champions is difficult, three-peating is damn near impossible. No team had three-peated since the Boston Celtics of the 1960s, and only a handful of teams had sniffed the opportunity to do so. If there was any team that could get the job done, it was the 1992-93 Bulls, as they ranked second in offensive rating and allowed the second-least amount of points per game. Jordan missed out on an MVP award for the third straight season, but he did capture his seventh straight scoring title as the Bulls won 57 games and another division crown.

The Bulls would crush both of their first and second-round opponents in the Hawks and Cavaliers, as they would not lose a single game over the course of those two series. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they were set for yet another matchup with the New York Knicks. Jordan and the Bulls would fight past the Knicks after falling down 2-0 in the series to win four straight games. In the Finals, Jordan and the Bulls were set to take on MVP Charles Barkley and the Suns. What happened next was incredible as Michael Jordan averaged an NBA Finals record 41.0 PPG and defeated the Suns in six games. Jordan had earned the third straight Finals MVP of his career and the Bulls became the first team to three-peat as NBA champions in nearly three decades.

1994-95 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 31.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Playoff Result: Lost Second Round (Orlando Magic def. Chicago Bulls 4-2)

The 1994-95 Bulls had a much different look than in their three-peat years. Michael Jordan retired after the 1993 season when he pursued a career in baseball after the untimely death of his father, James Jordan. The Bulls struggled for a bit during the season before Jordan miraculously claimed “I’m Back” with 17 games left on the year. Jordan would average 26.9 PPG on 41.1% shooting in those 17 games as the Bulls won 47 games and made their way to the playoffs.

The playoffs would be a different story than we saw from 1991 thru 1993. The Bulls would make easy work of their first-round opponent, the Charlotte Hornets, winning in four games behind Jordan’s 32.3 PPG. In the second round, they would run into one of the best young duos in the game and the Orlando Magic, Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. Jordan was great in the series with 31.0 PPG on 47.7% shooting, but Chicago had zero answers for O’Neal. Shaq dominated the Bulls as the Magic eliminated them in six games and advanced to the NBA Finals.

1995-96 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 30.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Playoff Result: Won NBA Championship (Chicago Bulls def. Seattle SuperSonics 4-2)

The sting from the playoff elimination the previous season lingered all the way up to the start of 1995-96. The feeling didn’t keep the Bulls down as they rolled to begin the season and kept the momentum for the entirety of 82 games. The Bulls would set an NBA record with 72 wins and just 10 losses on the year. After adding rebounding and defensive machine Dennis Rodman to the squad, the Bulls were unstoppable, and the dominance continued to and through the NBA playoffs. Jordan claimed his eighth scoring title and fourth MVP award as a result of the historic run.

The Chicago Bulls would also bulldoze the competition in the NBA playoffs. They would sweep the Heat in Round One behind 30.0 PPG from Jordan. He would average 36.0 PPG the following round against the Knicks and eliminate them quite easily in five games. Jordan and the Bulls would sweep the Magic in the Conference Finals, exacting their revenge from a year before. Chicago then matched up with the SuperSonics in the NBA Finals, which proved to be their toughest test. Jordan and the Bulls would still triumph over Seattle in six games for their fourth championship in six seasons. Jordan claimed his fourth Finals MVP with 27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.2 APG.

1996-97 Season

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 31.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Playoff Result: Won NBA Championship (Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz 4-2)

Coming off a historic run to the NBA championship that saw them lose just 13 games between the regular season and playoffs, the Bulls had a huge target on their backs. Most teams would get complacent and most star players would get comfortable accomplishing the things that Jordan and the Bulls already had. Not this team and not this star player. The Bulls would nearly repeat their dominance from the season before winning 69 games and yet again finishing with the best record in the NBA.

The Bulls once again headed for a scintillating run through the playoffs. They defeated the Bullets, Hawks, and Heat on their way to their fifth trip to the NBA Finals. They totaled a record of 11-2 on their way to that Finals berth and found themselves matched up with the Utah Jazz led by Karl Malone and John Stockton. The Jazz put up a fight, but the Bulls were just too powerful as they went on to finish the Jazz off in six games. Jordan was the alpha once again as he claimed his fifth Finals MVP award averaging 32.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 6.0 SPG. He finished with four 30-point games in the series and was already to be anointed the greatest player that ever lived.

1997-98 Season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJvvbqAnXKw

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: 32.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Playoff Result: Won NBA Championship (Chicago Bulls def. Utah Jazz 4-2)

The 1997-98 season for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls was historically known as “The Last Dance.” Bulls management had made it clear that they were headed in a different direction from Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman after the season was over. The Bulls made it a mission to stick it to General Manager Jerry Krause one last time and let him know that he was making an awful mistake. That is exactly what they would do by the time the dust had settled on the 1998 season.

The Bulls found themselves in bigger fights than in the past two championship runs. After going 7-1 over the first two series against the Nets and Hornets, the Bulls faced off against the Pacers in the Conference Finals. The Bulls would barely escape in seven games as they headed to the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz once again. This time, many predicted the Bulls would finally fall, but the GOAT had other plans.

Leading the series 3-2 and in a close Game Six, Jordan would deliver one last signature moment. With time ticking away in the fourth quarter, Jordan and the Bulls trail facing the possibility of a Game Seven. Jordan would hit a game-winning jumper as time nearly expired over Utah’s Bryon Russell and seal his sixth NBA championship. For an NBA record sixth time, Jordan was named Finals MVP and the Bulls had completed the impossible by three-peating as NBA champions for the second time. Jordan would ride off into the sunset after the season ended as we watched him on the basketball court for the final time, or so we thought.

2001-02 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: N/A

Playoff Result: N/A

After three seasons away from the game, Michael Jordan announced his return for the 2001-02 season with the Washington Wizards and former coach Doug Collins. The Wizards were a new franchise and seemingly needed Jordan to aid in the development of their young set of players. He would suffer a severe knee injury during this season as well. Still, he played 60 games and averaged 22.9 PPG at age 38. The Wizards would miss the playoffs, but it was great to see His Airness on the court. He finished the year with five 40-point games and a season-high 51 points against the Hornets.

2002-03 Playoffs

Michael Jordan’s Playoff Stats: N/A

Playoff Result: N/A

At 39 years old, Michael Jordan decided to give it one more go-around with the Wizards for 2002-03. Anything he accomplished at this point was a bonus on top of his already decorated NBA career. Jordan would play all 82 games with 67 starts for Washington this season and average 20.0 PPG on 44.5% shooting. The Wizards would once again miss the playoffs as they were toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference in terms of talent and depth. Jordan would still deliver three vintage 40-game performances with his season-high of 45 points coming against who? You guessed it, the Hornets. Jordan would retire for good after the season concluded, putting the final chapter to rest of the greatest career in NBA history.

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