belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics. Statistics leaders NBA awards Yearly awards Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers Rookie of the Year: Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers Sixth Man of the Year: Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks Most Improved Player: Dale Ellis, Seattle SuperSonics Coach of the Year: Mike Schuler, Portland Trail Blazers All-NBA First Team: F – Larry Bird, Boston Celtics F – Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics C – Akeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets G – Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls G – Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA Second Team: F – Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks F – Charles Barkley, Philadelphia 76ers C – Moses Malone, Washington Bullets G – Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons G – Fat Lever, Denver Nuggets All-NBA Rookie Team: John "Hot Rod" Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers Brad Daugherty, Cleveland Cavaliers Ron Harper, Cleveland Cavaliers NBA All-Defensive First Team: Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers Akeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs Dennis Johnson, Boston Celtics NBA All-Defensive Second Team: Paul Pressey, Milwaukee Bucks Rodney McCray, Houston Rockets Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz Maurice Cheeks, Philadelphia 76ers Derek Harper, Dallas Mavericks Player of the week The following players were named NBA Player of the Week. Player of the month The following players were named NBA Player of the Month. Rookie of the month The following players were named NBA Rookie of the Month. Coach of the month The following coaches were named NBA Coach of the Month. References 1986–87 in American basketball by league