‘86 and ‘87 are pretty predictable, nearly identical to official results, so I’ll just toss them together.

‘86

197 players across the league voted for the best rivals, the best rookie, and the best player of the year. Players could not vote for their own teammates.

Rivals

Center

96 votes – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

72 votes – Akeem Olajuwon

Forward

179 votes – Larry Bird

”I was in pain all the time. It affected everything I did and I bend over or extend myself in any way. I was in trouble.” – Bird on his back injury before the offseason physical therapy

59 votes – Charles Barkley

52 votes – Dominique Wilkins

49 votes – Alex English

Guard

154 votes – Magic Johnson

113 votes – Isiah Thomas

33 votes – Sidney Moncrief

30 votes – Alvin Robertson

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

85 votes – Pat Ewing

45 votes – Xavier Mcdaniel

31 votes – Karl Malone

7 votes – Benoit Benjamin & Spud Webb

5 votes – Manut Bol & Charles Oakley

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

160 votes – Larry Bird

12 votes – Dominique Wilkins (6 from Celtics players)

8 votes – Akeem Olajuwon

7 votes – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

‘87

184 player-voters.

RIVALS

Center

83 votes – Akeem Olajuwon

62 votes – Moses Malone

Forward

126 votes – Larry Bird

84.5 votes – Charles Barkley

78.5 votes – Kevin McHale

41 votes – Dominique Wilkins

Guard

164 votes – Magic Johnson

143 votes – Michael Jordan

21 votes – Isiah Thomas

9 votes – Lafayette Lever

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

116.5 votes – Chuck Person

40.5 votes – Ron Harper

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

136 votes – Magic Johnson

36 votes – Michael Jordan