1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season

1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach
General managerElgin Baylor
Owner(s)Donald Sterling
ArenaLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Results
Record21–61 (.256)
PlaceDivision: 7th (Pacific)
Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTLA
Z Channel
(Ralph Lawler, Kevin Loughery, Keith Erickson)
RadioKRLA
(Ralph Lawler, Kevin Loughery, Keith Erickson, Pete Arbogast)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >

The 1988-89 Los Angeles Clippers season was their 19th season in the NBA, and their 5th season in Los Angeles.[1] The Clippers won the Draft Lottery,[2][3] and selected Danny Manning from the University of Kansas with the first overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, then selected Hersey Hawkins out of Bradley University with the sixth overall pick, but then traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Charles D. Smith from the University of Pittsburgh, and acquired rookie guard Gary Grant out of the University of Michigan from the Seattle SuperSonics.[4][5][6][7][8]

However, Manning would only play just 26 games due to a right knee injury,[9][10][11][12] as the Clippers continued to struggle posting a dreadful 19-game losing streak between January and February, and a 13-game losing streak between February and March. Head coach Gene Shue was fired after a 10–28 start, and was replaced with assistant Don Casey.[13][14][15] The Clippers held an 11–37 record at the All-Star break,[16] and finished last place in the Pacific Division with a 21–61 record.[17]

Second-year forward Ken Norman showed improvement, averaging 18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and finished tied in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting,[18] while Manning averaged 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and Smith provided the team with 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Benoit Benjamin averaged 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, while Quintin Dailey contributed 16.1 points and 1.3 steals per game, Grant provided with 11.9 points, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and second-year forward Reggie Williams contributed 10.2 points and 1.3 steals per game.[19] Following the season, Dailey was released to free agency.

For the season, the Clippers changed the jersey number colors on their road uniforms from blue to white.[20] These uniforms only lasted for just one season.

Draft picks

[edit]
Main article: 1988 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 1 Danny Manning PF  United States Kansas
1 6 Hersey Hawkins SG  United States Bradley
2 45 Tom Garrick G  United States Rhode Island
3 51 Rob Lock F  United States Kentucky

Roster

[edit]
1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F/C 51 Bannister, Ken 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) –– St. Augustine's
C 00 Benjamin, Benoit 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) –– Creighton
G 20 Dailey, Quintin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– San Francisco
G 22 Garrick, Tom 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) –– Rhode Island
G 3 Gondrezick, Grant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) –– Pepperdine
G 23 Grant, Gary 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) –– Michigan
F 44 Lock, Rob 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) –– Kentucky
F/C 25 Manning, Danny Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Kansas
G 10 Nixon, Norm 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– Duquesne
F 33 Norman, Ken 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Illinois
F/C 54 Smith, Charles D. 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Pittsburgh
F 31 White, Eric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) –– Pepperdine
G 42 Williams, Kevin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– St. John's
F 34 Williams, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– Georgetown
C 24 Wolf, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster notes

[edit]
  • This is forward Eric White's second tour of duty with the franchise after playing briefly for the Utah Jazz. He previously played for the team in March and April in 1988.[21]

Regular season

[edit]

Season standings

[edit]
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers 57 25 .695 – 35–6 22–19 25–9
x-Phoenix Suns 55 27 .671 2 35–6 20–21 23–11
x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 10 31–10 16–25 20–14
x-Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 14 29–12 14–27 15–19
x-Portland Trail Blazers 39 43 .476 18 28–13 11–30 17–17
Sacramento Kings 27 55 .329 30 21–20 6–35 12–22
Los Angeles Clippers 21 61 .256 36 17–24 4–37 7–27
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers 57 25 .695 –
2 y-Utah Jazz 51 31 .622 6
3 x-Phoenix Suns 55 27 .671 2
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 10
5 x-Houston Rockets 45 37 .549 12
6 x-Denver Nuggets 44 38 .537 13
7 x-Golden State Warriors 43 39 .524 14
8 x-Portland Trail Blazers 39 43 .476 18
9 Dallas Mavericks 38 44 .463 19
10 Sacramento Kings 27 55 .329 30
11 San Antonio Spurs 21 61 .256 36
12 Los Angeles Clippers 21 61 .256 36
13 Miami Heat 15 67 .183 42
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
1988-89 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 3–1 4–1 4–2 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 4–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Boston 1–3 – 6–0 1–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 5–1 3–3 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4
Charlotte 1–4 0–6 – 1–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–4 2–4 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5
Chicago 2–4 3–1 4–1 – 0–6 2–0 1–1 0–6 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–2 3–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1
Cleveland 2–4 4–1 4–0 6–0 – 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–0 2–2 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Dallas 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 – 3–3 0–2 1–3 1–5 1–1 3–1 0–4 6–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 5–1 2–2 4–2 1–1
Denver 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 – 1–1 3–1 4–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 5–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–3 2–2 3–3 1–1
Detroit 5–1 3–1 4–0 6–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 – 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–4 4–0 0–4 5–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Golden State 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 – 1–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–4 2–3 3–1 2–4 2–2 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 3–1 – 2–0 2–2 1–3 4–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 6–0 2–2 2–4 0–2
Indiana 1–5 3–2 2–2 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 – 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–5 2–2 1–1 – 1–5 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–5 2–3 3–1 1–4 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 3–2 3–1 2–0 5–1 – 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–1 4–2 1–3 1–1
Miami 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–6 1–5 0–2 0–4 2–4 1–1 3–1 0–4 – 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–5 0–2
Milwaukee 0–6 2–2 4–0 0–6 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 – 4–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 1–4 1–5 4–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 – 2–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–5
New York 2–2 3–3 4–2 2–3 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–2 – 2–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Philadelphia 2–2 3–3 3–3 3–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–3 5–1 4–2 – 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2
Phoenix 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 4–2 3–1 1–1 5–1 3–3 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 – 2–3 5–1 3–1 4–1 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–2 1–3 0–2 5–1 0–5 4–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–2 – 3–3 4–0 2–4 0–4 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 1–5 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 – 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–2
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 3–3 0–2 1–3 0–6 0–2 1–3 1–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 – 0–4 1–5 1–1
Seattle 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 4–2 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–4 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 4–2 5–1 4–0 – 3–1 1–1
Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 0–2 2–2 4–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 5–1 1–3 – 2–0
Washington 1–3 4–2 5–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–4 5–1 1–5 2–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 —

Game log

[edit]

Player statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Ken Bannister
Benoit Benjamin
Quintin Dailey
Tom Garrick
Grant Gondrezick
Gary Grant
Greg Kite
Rob Lock
Danny Manning
Norm Nixon
Ken Norman
Dave Popson
Rob Rose
Charles Smith
Barry Sumpter
Ennis Whatley
Eric White
Kevin Williams
Reggie Williams
Joe Wolf

Awards and records

[edit]

Transactions

[edit]

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.

Trades

[edit]
June 28, 1988 To Los Angeles Clippers
 To Seattle SuperSonics
June 28, 1988 To Los Angeles Clippers
 To Philadelphia 76ers

Free agents

[edit]

Player Transactions Citation:[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1988-89 Los Angeles Clippers
  2. ^ Wilbon, Michael (May 22, 1988). "Clippers Get No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Edes, Gordon (June 28, 1988). "1988 NBA DRAFT: Clippers Are Working Deal to Get No. 3". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 29, 1988). "N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Baker, Chris (June 29, 1988). "1988 NBA DRAFT: Clippers Choose Manning, Then Play for Position: They Trade Cage, End Up with Smith and Grant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  6. ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 29, 1988). "Three-Team Trade Leaves Clippers with Manning, Smith, Gary Grant". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Love, Ian (June 29, 1988). "The Los Angeles Clippers Gave Up the League's Best..." United Press International. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "1988 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 5, 1989). "Clippers Lose Manning, Then Game to Bucks: Rookie Suffers Hyperextended Knee During First Quarter of 110-102 Defeat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "Manning's Career in Jeopardy After Serious Knee Injury". Deseret News. January 10, 1989. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Manning to Miss Season Because of Knee Injury". The New York Times. January 12, 1989. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 15, 1989). "Manning's Surgery Discloses No Further Damage to Knee". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "Clippers Fire Shue, Name Casey". The Washington Post. News Services. January 19, 1989. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 20, 1989). "Clippers Fire Shue; Casey Is Interim Coach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  15. ^ "One-Year Contract Signed: Clippers to Stick with Casey". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 12, 1989. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "1988–89 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Clippers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  21. ^ "IN BRIEF: White Rejoins Clippers, for 10 Days". Los Angeles Times. Times Staff and Wire Service Reports. February 3, 1989. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  22. ^ "1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
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