1987–88 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the 76ers 39th season in the NBA and 25th season in Philadelphia. This was the first season of the post-Julius Erving era, as the team was now led by Charles Barkley. As a result, the Sixers failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1975, going 36–46. Matt Goukas was fired in the middle of the season after going 20-23 and was replaced by Jim Lynam.

1987–88 Philadelphia 76ers season
Head coach	Matt Guokas (fired) Jim Lynam
General manager	John Nash
Owner(s)	Harold Katz
Arena	The Spectrum
Results
Record	36–46 (.439)
Place	Division: 4th (Atlantic) Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WPHL-TV PRISM
Radio	WIP
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

This was the final season for Andrew Toney, as the former All-Star guard was forced to retire due to foot injuries.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	16	Chris Welp	C	Germany	Washington
2	39	Vincent Askew	G/F	United States	Memphis
2	43	Andrew Kennedy	F	Jamaica  United States	Virginia
3	57	Hansi Gnad		Germany	Alaska-Anchorage
3	62	Eric Higgins		United States	Rutgers
4	85	Brian Rahilly		United States	Tulsa
5	108	Frank Ross		United States	American
6	131	Tracy Foster		United States	Alabama-Birmingham
7	154	Eric Semisch		United States	West Virginia

Roster

1987–88 Philadelphia 76ers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From SG 30 Vincent Askew 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966-02-28 Memphis PF 34 Charles Barkley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1963-02-20 Auburn PG 10 Maurice Cheeks 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1956-09-08 West Texas A&M PF 40 Ben Coleman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1961-11-14 Maryland PG 14 Steve Colter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1962-07-24 New Mexico State C 42 Mike Gminski 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1959-08-03 Duke PG 12 Gerald Henderson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956-01-16 VCU SF 23 Roy Hinson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961-05-02 Rutgers C 31 Mark McNamara 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1959-06-08 California SF 4 Cliff Robinson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1960-03-13 USC PF 45 Bob Thornton 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962-07-10 UC Irvine SG 22 Andrew Toney 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1957-11-23 Louisiana C 44 Chris Welp 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1964-01-02 Washington SG 25 David Wingate 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963-12-15 Georgetown

Head coach Matt Guokas (fired) Jim Lynam Assistant(s) Fred Carter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: March 3, 1988

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	57	25	.695	–	36–5	21–20	19–5
x-Washington Bullets	38	44	.463	19	25–16	13–28	13–11
x-New York Knicks	38	44	.463	19	29–12	9–32	10–14
Philadelphia 76ers	36	46	.439	21	27–14	9–32	12–12
New Jersey Nets	19	63	.232	38	16–25	3–38	6–18

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Boston Celtics	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	3
3	x-Chicago Bulls	50	32	.610	7
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	7
5	x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	15
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	15
7	x-Washington Bullets	38	44	.463	19
8	x-New York Knicks	38	44	.463	19
9	Indiana Pacers	38	44	.463	19
10	Philadelphia 76ers	36	46	.439	21
11	New Jersey Nets	19	63	.232	38

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	2–3	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–0	3–3	6–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	3–3	2–3	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–1
Chicago	3–2	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	5–1	3–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Cleveland	1–5	3–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–5	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	5–1	2–4	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	6–0
Dallas	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	1–1	4–1	4–2	2–0	5–0	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	5–1	5–1	3–2	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	1–1	4–1	4–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–3	4–2	5–1	4–1	2–4	2–0
Detroit	4–2	3–3	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–4	0–2	—	0–5	0–2	3–3	0–6	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–5	2–3	3–2	1–5	1–4	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	5–0	—	2–0	3–2	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	4–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	2–0
Indiana	2–4	0–5	3–3	2–4	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0	0–2	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	6–0	2–3	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	1–1	3–3	2–3	1–1	—	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	0–6	3–2	0–5	1–5	1–4	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–3	2–0	6–0	4–1	1–1	5–1	—	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–1	3–3	4–1	5–0	4–2	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	1–5	4–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	2–0	—	3–2	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	0–5	1–5	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–6	2–0	0–2	2–3	—	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–6
New York	3–3	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	0–6	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	2–3	0–2	4–2	1–4	0–2	4–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	—	0–6	3–2	2–3	2–4	2–3	0–2
Portland	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	1–1	5–1	1–4	2–0	6–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	—	4–1	5–0	3–3	1–4	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	0–2	3–2	2–4	0–2	2–3	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	—	3–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–5	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	5–0	0–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–5	3–3	—	3–2	3–3	0–2
Seattle	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–1	2–3	—	1–4	2–0
Utah	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	0–2	4–1	3–3	1–1	4–1	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–2	4–1	5–1	3–3	4–1	—	2–0
Washington	3–3	1–5	3–3	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–0	0–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–4	6–0	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 36–46 (Home: 27–14; Road: 9–32)
November: 5–6 (home: 3–1; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 6 Indiana W 108–95 The Spectrum 1–0 2 November 7 @ Chicago L 94–104 Chicago Stadium 1–1 3 November 13, 1987 7:30 PM EST Detroit L 94–113 The Spectrum 12,302 1–2 4 November 14 @ Atlanta L 83–104 The Omni 1–3 5 November 18, 1987 7:30 PM EST @ Detroit W 113–109 Pontiac Silverdome 17,445 2–3 6 November 20 Boston W 116–85 The Spectrum 3–3 7 November 21 @ Cleveland L 88–101 Richfield Coliseum 3–4 8 November 24 Cleveland W 108–104 The Spectrum 4–4 9 November 27 @ Golden State L 103–109 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4–5 10 November 28 @ Sacramento L 114–115 (OT) ARCO Arena 4–6 11 November 30 @ Utah W 106–100 Salt Palace Acord Arena 5–6
December : 7–7 (home: 4–3; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 12 December 2 @ L.A. Clippers L 85–88 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 5–7 13 December 4 Seattle W 118–105 The Spectrum 6–7 14 December 8 @ Chicago W 109–96 Chicago Stadium 7–7 15 December 9 Portland W 94–86 The Spectrum 8–7 16 December 12 Denver L 121–131 The Spectrum 8–8 17 December 16 San Antonio W 114–102 The Spectrum 9–8 18 December 17 @ New York W 110–106 Madison Square Garden 10–8 19 December 19 Dallas W 95–90 The Spectrum 11–9 20 December 20 @ Boston L 87–124 Boston Garden 11–9 21 December 22 Boston L 115–118 The Spectrum 11–10 22 December 23 @ New Jersey W 110–106 Brendan Byrne Arena 12–10 23 December 25 Atlanta L 100–106 The Spectrum 12–11 24 December 28 @ Phoenix L 101–117 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12–12 25 December 29, 1987 10:30 PM EST @ L.A. Lakers L 115–131 The Forum 17,505 12–13
January : 7–9 (home: 7–2; road: 0–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 January 1 @ Portland L 114–116 Memorial Coliseum 12–14 27 January 2 @ Seattle L 114–116 Seattle Center Coliseum 12–15 28 January 4 Phoenix W 122–114 The Spectrum 13–15 29 January 6 Utah W 116–93 The Spectrum 14–15 30 January 8 L.A. Clippers W 117–103 The Spectrum 15–15 31 January 9 Cleveland W 126–110 The Spectrum 16–15 32 January 12 @ Milwaukee L 103–106 MECCA Arena 16–16 33 January 13 New Jersey W 104–95 The Spectrum 17–16 34 January 15 New York W 119–104 The Spectrum 18–16 35 January 16 @ New York L 96–110 Madison Square Garden 18–17 36 January 20 Washington L 98–110 The Spectrum 18–18 37 January 24 @ Washington L 99–131 Capital Centre 18–19 38 January 25 @ Washington L 117–118 (OT) Capital Centre 18–20 39 January 27 Chicago L 109–119 (OT) The Spectrum 18–21 40 January 29 Indiana W 94–89 The Spectrum 19–21 41 January 31 @ Boston L 85–100 Boston Garden 19–22
February : 4–10 (home: 4–1; road: 0–9) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 42 February 3 Golden State W 96–84 The Spectrum 20–22 43 February 4 @ Indiana L 95–109 Market Square Arena 20–23 44 February 9 @ Atlanta L 110–112 The Omni 20–24 45 February 11 Milwaukee W 119–113 (OT) The Spectrum 21–24 46 February 14 @ New Jersey L 105–109 Brendan Byrne Arena 21–25 47 February 15, 1988 7:30 PM EST @ Detroit L 95–102 Pontiac Silverdome 21,530 21–26 48 February 17 Cleveland L 107–115 The Spectrum 21–27 49 February 19 New Jersey W 115–100 The Spectrum 22–27 50 February 21 @ Milwaukee L 115–120 (OT) MECCA Arena 22–28 51 February 22 @ Houston L 106–119 The Summit 22–29 52 February 24 @ San Antonio L 121–123 (OT) HemisFair Arena 22–30 53 February 26 @ Denver L 104–120 McNichols Sports Arena 22–31 54 February 27 @ Dallas L 91–100 Reunion Arena 22–32 55 February 29 Chicago W 102–101 The Spectrum 23–32
March : 9–6 (home: 6–2; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 56 March 3 @ Chicago L 93–97 Chicago Stadium 23–33 57 March 4 @ New York L 108–110 (OT) Madison Square Garden 23–34 58 March 6 @ Indiana W 105–100 Market Square Arena 24–34 59 March 7, 1988 7:30 PM EST L.A. Lakers L 104–110 The Spectrum 18,168 24–35 60 March 11 Sacramento W 124–118 The Spectrum 25–35 61 March 13 Washington W 104–96 The Spectrum 26–35 62 March 15 @ Atlanta L 90–104 The Omni 26–36 63 March 16 New York W 115–108 The Spectrum 27–36 64 March 18 Indiana W 129–109 The Spectrum 28–36 65 March 19 @ Washington W 94–89 Capital Centre 29–36 66 March 22 @ New Jersey L 90–102 Brendan Byrne Arena 29–37 67 March 23 Chicago L 102–118 The Spectrum 29–38 68 March 25 @ Boston W 97–93 Boston Garden 30–38 69 March 28 Houston W 108–98 The Spectrum 31–38 70 March 30 Milwaukee W 134–109 The Spectrum 32–38
April : 4–8 (home: 3–5; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 71 April 1 Atlanta L 93–105 The Spectrum 32–39 72 April 5 New York L 119–136 The Spectrum 32–40 73 April 8, 1988 7:30 PM EDT Detroit L 86–96 The Spectrum 15,164 32–41 74 April 10 Boston L 108–117 The Spectrum 32–42 75 April 11 @ Milwaukee W 115–102 MECCA Arena 33–42 76 April 13 Washington W 98–97 (OT) The Spectrum 34–42 77 April 15 Atlanta L 101–103 (OT) The Spectrum 34–43 78 April 16 @ Indiana L 92–126 Market Square Arena 34–44 79 April 19 Milwaukee W 115–102 The Spectrum 35–44 80 April 21 New Jersey W 104–101 The Spectrum 36–44 81 April 23 @ Cleveland L 99–104 Richfield Coliseum 36–45 82 April 24, 1988 7:00 PM EDT @ Detroit L 118–128 Pontiac Silverdome 27,854 36–46
1987–88 schedule

Player statistics

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

Awards and records

• Charles Barkley, All-NBA First Team

Transactions