MJ Chronicles: 1985-1986 (The Leap)

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Michael Jordan's 1985-1986 sophomore season was one of the most impressive individual seasons in NBA history. After a solid rookie campaign, Jordan took the league by storm in his second year, averaging 37.1 points per game, good for first in the league. He also averaged 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.9 steals per game, showing his all-around dominance on the court.

Jordan's scoring average was the highest by a second-year player in NBA history, and it was the third highest scoring average of all time behind Wilt Chamberlain's 50.4 points per game in 1962 and his own 37.1 points per game in 1986-1987. Jordan's scoring was not just volume-based, as he also shot an impressive 49.5% from the field and 84.5% from the free-throw line.

In addition to his scoring, Jordan also made a significant impact on the defensive end of the court. He led the league in steals per game, and his 2.9 steals per game average is still the highest ever by a guard in a single season. His defensive prowess earned him a spot on the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team, becoming the first player in NBA history to make both teams in his second season.

Jordan's dominance during the 1985-1986 season was not limited to individual accolades, as he also led the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs for the first time in his career. Despite the team being eliminated in the first round by the Boston Celtics, Jordan's performances in the series were nothing short of spectacular. He averaged a staggering 43.7 points per game in the series, including a playoff-record 63 points in Game 2.

When compared to other players, Jordan's sophomore season stands out as one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history. The following table compares his sophomore and rookie season stats to those of other players:

PlayerSeasonPTSREBASTSTL
Michael Jordan1985-198637.15.24.62.9
Michael Jordan1984-198528.26.55.92.4
Wilt Chamberlain1961-196250.425.72.3NA
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1971-197234.816.64.3NA
Oscar Robertson1960-196130.89.59.7NA
LeBron James2005-200631.47.06.61.6

It is clear that Jordan's 1985-1986 sophomore season was one of the most impressive individual seasons in NBA history. His scoring average of 37.1 points per game was the highest by a second-year player in NBA history and his 2.9 steals per game average is still the highest ever by a guard in a single season. Jordan's performances during that season have solidified his place in the pantheon of the greatest basketball players of all time.

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