Michael Jordan Is NBA’s MVP

NEW YORK — Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls was named the 1988 National Basketball Assn. Most Valuable Player today, beating out previous winners Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Lakers.

Jordan led the league with 2,868 points, a 35.0 average, 3,311 minutes played and 259 steals. Jordan, who finished second in last year’s MVP voting, received 47 of 80 first-place votes and a total of 665 points from a nationwide panel of media members. Bird, who won the award three times, placed second in the balloting with 527 points. Johnson finished third with 508 points. Each received 16 first-place votes.