1987-88: The Season That Rewrote NBA History 🏀✨📜
In the early ’90s, Michael Jordan and the Bulls became the first team to three-peat since Bill Russell’s Celtics dominated with eight straight titles in the ’60s. But in our world, things are unfolding differently.
If you’ve been following along, Larry Bird’s Celtics just captured back-to-back championships—and now, entering Season 4, they have a chance to do what Jordan eventually would, but five years earlier.
Can this aging Celtics core accomplish the elusive three-peat? Last year, they knocked off a rising Dallas Mavericks team led by Charles Barkley. But can Boston climb the mountain once again, knowing their prime may be running out?
Before we dive into the season, we start—as always—with the NBA Draft. The prize in 1987: David Robinson. After several losing years, the Utah Jazz finally strike gold. They missed out on John Stockton (drafted by Dallas) and Karl Malone (drafted by the Spurs), but now they get their franchise cornerstone.
Robinson won’t debut for a couple more seasons due to his Navy commitment, and the Jazz are headed for another trip to the lottery after finishing 28–54. Still, at least fans finally have something to look forward to.
As for other notables from this class, both Scottie Pippen and Kevin Johnson land with their original teams. Pippen is still dealt on draft day to the Bulls, while KJ eventually makes his way west to the Suns during the season.
Scottie Pippen doesn’t have Michael Jordan in this world—and he won’t have Horace Grant either. Instead, he is drafted by the Washington Bullets, where he’ll forge his own path. Another iconic name from this class, Reggie Miller, won’t be spending his career in Indiana. He’s bound for New Jersey, where the Nets hope he can help elevate their franchise.
Several other notable rookies also find themselves in new homes. Mark Jackson is taken by the Clippers, Ken Norman heads to San Antonio, and Reggie Lewis joins an already loaded Dallas Mavericks squad—an interesting landing spot for a player who brought so much heart and skill in real life.
On to the season: the Boston Celtics (55–27) once again finish atop the Eastern Conference. That makes it three out of four years that the defending champs have claimed the top seed. With a potential three-peat on the line, they remain hungry.
Larry Bird takes home MVP honors for the third time in four years, continuing to lead the charge. But his supporting cast—Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Dennis Johnson—are beginning to show signs of wear. Age is creeping in, and Boston knows its window may be closing soon.
In the #2 spot, the Atlanta Hawks (44–38) win the Central Division for the first time in our alternate timeline. Brad Daugherty has taken a leap forward, solidifying himself as the third option behind Dominique Wilkins and Doc Rivers. They’ve become a legitimate threat.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Nets (44–38) match the Hawks’ record but finish behind in the Atlantic. Buck Williams remains their cornerstone, and impressively, the Nets have yet to miss the playoffs in this reimagined world.
Rounding out the top teams in the East are the Washington Bullets (42–40). Once a top seed just a couple of years ago, they now look to climb back up the ranks after slipping to a 7-seed last season.
Filling out the rest of the Eastern Conference playoff bracket are the Bulls, Bucks, Cavaliers, and Pistons. All four teams are hungry, but in this league, nothing comes easy.
Out West, the Dallas Mavericks (61–21) have improved once again and now boast the best record in the entire league. John Stockton has joined the lineup and already established himself as the second-best player on the team—trailing only Charles Barkley. This team is young, talented, and looks ready to dominate. They’re not just aiming for a return to the Finals—they want the title this time.
The Portland Trail Blazers (55–27) are back as the #2 seed and looking to erase the sting of last year’s sweep at the hands of the Mavericks in the Conference Finals. This time, they believe they have what it takes.
In third place are the Phoenix Suns (49–33), who saw a slight drop-off after trading Larry Nance. But with Kevin Johnson now in the fold, the future looks promising, and the team remains dangerous.
The Los Angeles Lakers (48–34) finish fourth. With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nearing the end of a legendary career, the sense of urgency is palpable—this might be his final shot at glory.
The Clippers, Spurs, Nuggets, and Rockets round out the Western Conference playoff picture.
Back to the East, it’s another familiar showdown: Celtics vs. Pistons. These two rivals have met in every postseason since our alternate timeline began. The Celtics were 3–0 coming into this year’s matchup, and in each of the previous series, the Pistons managed just one win.
This time, however, Isiah Thomas and company push Boston further than ever. The series reaches a Game 5 in Boston. But once again, Larry Bird and the Celtics emerge victorious—this time with a hard-earned win in front of their home crowd.
The 2–7 matchup between the Hawks and Cavaliers would also go the distance. But this time, Dominique Wilkins had real help. With All-Stars Doc Rivers and Brad Daugherty by his side, the Hawks finally had the supporting cast needed to get the job done in five games.
We also had a compelling 3–6 battle. It was a rematch from Year One of our timeline, when the then–3-seeded Nets upset the 2-seeded Bucks in the second round. Most of the key players from that 1985 series are still on their respective squads—and the Bucks came in seeking revenge. They got it, winning a tough Game 5 on the road to advance.
Finally, there was the 4–5 matchup: the playoff-debuting Bulls versus the playoff-hardened Washington Bullets, who have made the postseason every year and even reached the Conference Finals once in this world.
Chicago’s young core—Mullin, Oakley, and rookie Scottie Pippen off the bench—got their first taste of playoff basketball and even managed to take a game. But Alvin Robertson and the battle-tested Bullets were too much, closing the series in four.
Out West, the 1–8 series was a clash between the last two Western Conference Champions: the Mavericks and the Rockets. This was Hakeem Olajuwon’s first playoff without Ralph Sampson, and the absence of the “Twin Towers” was glaring. Hakeem managed to steal a game, but the Mavericks—deeper, younger, and more complete—won the series in four.
In the 2–7 matchup, Portland looked to build on last season’s breakout. After finally getting past the first round and reaching the Conference Finals in Year Three, the Blazers were no longer just a talented team—they were a confident one. The 7-seed Nuggets, still searching for their first playoff breakthrough, couldn't keep up. Drexler and the Blazers closed it out in four.
Lakers vs. Clippers: Part 2.
In Year 2 of our timeline, the 2-seed Lakers took down the 7-seed Clippers. Fast forward to this year, and the matchup is much closer — only a single game separated them in the standings. This time, the Clippers get their revenge, pulling off the upset in Game 5 at the Forum.
🔁 First Round Recap:
In real life, the final four teams in the East were the Celtics, Pistons, Bulls, and Hawks. In our world, two of those teams are still standing — the Celtics and Hawks, the East’s top two seeds.
In the West, the 1988 Final Four featured the Lakers, Mavericks, Jazz, and Nuggets. Once again, only one team remains the same: the Mavericks.
Conference Semifinals
The defending back-to-back champion Celtics faced off against the Bullets in a rematch of the 1986 Eastern Conference Finals — a series Boston won 4–2 en route to their first title of our timeline. The result this time? Even more decisive. The Celtics overpower Washington and close the series in five.
Elsewhere in the East, we had a rare 2–6 second-round matchup — and a rematch from last season. In that one, the Bucks narrowly escaped the Hawks in seven.
This time, Game 7 would’ve been in Atlanta, but the Hawks didn’t need it. With a 3–2 series lead heading to Milwaukee, Dominique Wilkins, Brad Daugherty, and Doc Rivers finish the job on the road. The Hawks are heading to the Conference Finals for the first time in our world.
Out West, the Mavericks drop just one game to the Clippers, who were making their first second-round appearance. Dallas showed poise and maturity beyond their years. Stockton and Barkley both average double-doubles, leading the Mavs to another convincing series win.
On the other side of the bracket, we got another rematch — the Blazers vs. the Suns. Last year, Portland pulled off a stunning seven-game upset. This year, the Blazers came in with the higher seed and home-court advantage.
Could the Suns get the upset this time? Another seven-game thriller ended with the Blazers taking Game 7 in Portland. They’re heading to their second straight Western Conference Finals.
🔁 Semifinals Recap:
In real life, the Final Four was Celtics, Pistons, Lakers, and Mavericks.
In our world? Only Boston and Dallas move on in both worlds.
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics vs. Hawks
Could the rising Hawks stop the defending champs from reaching their fourth straight Finals — and fifth overall in our timeline?
This was the first playoff meeting between the two, and it didn’t disappoint. Wilkins vs. Bird delivered exactly what fans hoped for. Every time Boston took control of the series, Atlanta responded.
It all came down to Game 7 in Boston. And that’s when MVP Larry Bird put on a masterclass in front of a raucous home crowd. The Celtics move on to their fifth Finals appearance — having only lost once in the previous four.
Out West: Mavericks vs. Blazers II
Part I of this rivalry ended in a sweep. This time? The Blazers, led by their trio of All-Stars — Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, and Clyde Drexler — came in determined to rewrite the script. They weren't going to let history repeat itself.
Just like in the East, this series went the distance. Seven games. No blowouts. No easy wins.
But in Game 7, it was Charles Barkley who rose to the moment. He knew exactly what was on the line. A return trip to the Finals — with homecourt advantage, no matter who came out of the East.
Barkley dominates the decider: 34 points, 22 rebounds, and a will to win that couldn’t be matched. The Mavericks are heading back to the Finals.
🔁 Real-Life Comparison:
In reality, 1988 was the year the Pistons finally broke through and reached the Finals to face the Lakers.
But in our world? The Pistons have still never reached the Conference Finals, and the Lakers went out in Round One.
The Finals: Part II — Barkley’s Mavericks vs. Bird’s Celtics
It’s a rematch.
It’s the reigning MVP vs. the rising superstar.
It’s Larry Bird vs. Charles Barkley.
The Celtics are trying to make history — aiming for a three-peat, something not done since Bill Russell’s Celtics in the ‘60s. And they’re trying to do it five years before Michael Jordan would manage it in real life.
On the other side, Barkley is chasing his first ring. In this alternate timeline, he's already accomplished more in just four seasons than in his entire real-life career. This is his second Finals appearance — he had only one in reality.
Last year, Dallas won a pivotal Game 5 at home to push the series back to Boston, where the Celtics closed it out in six. This year, the final two games would be in Dallas. The Celtics struck first, winning Game 1 on the road.
But the Mavericks responded. Tied at 1–1, the series shifted to Boston, where the Celtics rode the energy of their crowd to take Game 3 and a 2–1 series lead.
Barkley and Stockton answered in Game 4, playing with poise and force. Dallas took the win—a rare road victory in Boston. With the series tied 2–2, Game 5 in Boston took on major significance. The Celtics didn’t miss their moment.
Bird and McHale both stepped up in front of the home crowd, and for the second straight year, Boston had a 3–2 lead. But this time, they were heading to Dallas.
With their season on the line, Barkley delivered 12 points in the fourth quarter of Game 6, while Stockton controlled the pace. Dallas held off the Celtics and forced a Game 7.
Both teams had just come off grueling seven-game series in the Conference Finals—who would have the fresher legs? It turned out to be the younger Mavericks, led by two rising superstars in just their fourth season.
Barkley put up a massive performance with 33 points and 19 rebounds, including 13 points in the fourth quarter. Both Mark Aguirre and Stockton recorded double-doubles.
With Boston up by two in the final seconds, Derek Harper drilled a three-pointer to give the Mavericks a one-point lead with 15 seconds remaining. The Celtics had one last chance, but Dennis Johnson was doubled and turned the ball over. Final score: 125–122.
The Dallas Mavericks had done it—they re-wrote history by winning their first title. Stockton and Barkley were first-time champions, something they never accomplished in real life.
Can the Mavericks repeat? Or will someone else rise up and stop them?
Stay tuned for Season 5. It’s sure to amaze.
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