1988–89 Golden State Warriors season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the 43rd season for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association, and their 26th season in the San Francisco Bay Area.^[1] General Manager Don Nelson became the Warriors' new head coach this season.^[2][3][4] The Warriors received the fifth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Mitch Richmond out of Kansas State University.^[5][6][7] During the off-season, the team acquired 7' 7" center Manute Bol from the Washington Bullets.^[8][9][10]

1988–89 Golden State Warriors season
Head coach	Don Nelson
President	Don Nelson
General manager	Don Nelson
Arena	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Results
Record	43–39 (.524)
Place	Division: 4th (Pacific) Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finish	West Conference Semi-finals (lost to Suns 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KPIX-TV KICU-TV (Greg Papa, Jim Barnett)
Radio	KNBR (Greg Papa, Jim Barnett)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >

A ticket for a 1988-89 game between the Warriors and the Jazz.

After a 12–16 start to the regular season, the Warriors went on an 8-game winning streak in January, and held a 25–20 record at the All-Star break.^[11] Despite losing their final six games of the season, the team showed a lot of improvement over the previous season, finishing in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 43–39 record, and earning the seventh seed in the Western Conference.^[12]

Chris Mullin averaged 26.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas,^[13][14][15] while Richmond averaged 22.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.^[16][17][18] In addition, Terry Teagle provided the team with 15.2 points per game, while second-year guard Winston Garland contributed 14.5 points, 6.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game, sixth man Rod Higgins provided with 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game off the bench, and Otis Smith contributed 10.0 points per game also off the bench. On the defensive side, Larry Smith led the team with 8.2 rebounds per game, and Bol led them with 4.3 blocks per game.^[19]

Mullin finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting, and also finished tied in thirteenth place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[20][21] while Bol finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,^[21] and Nelson finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting.^[22][21]

In the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Warriors swept the 2nd-seeded Utah Jazz in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round,^[23][24][25] before losing to the Phoenix Suns in five games in the Western Conference Semi-finals.^[26][27][28] Following the season, Otis Smith was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic expansion team,^[29][30][31] while Larry Smith signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets,^[32][33] and Ralph Sampson was traded to the Sacramento Kings.^[34][35]

For the season, the Warriors slightly changed their primary logo, which remained in use until 1997.^[36]

Draft picks

Main article: 1988 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	5	Mitch Richmond	SG	United States	Kansas State
2	41	Keith Smart	PG	United States	Indiana

Roster

1988–89 Golden State Warriors roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 4 Steve Alford 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1964–11–23 Indiana C 10 Manute Bol 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1962–10–16 Bridgeport F 32 Tellis Frank 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1965–04–25 Western Kentucky G 12 Winston Garland 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1964–12–19 Missouri State F 44 Orlando Graham 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–05–05 Auburn Montgomery F 22 Rod Higgins 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1960–01–31 Fresno State F 30 Ben McDonald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–07–20 UC Irvine F 17 Chris Mullin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1963–07–30 St. John's G 23 Mitch Richmond 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–06–30 Kansas State C 50 Ralph Sampson 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 228 lb (103 kg) 1960–07–07 Virginia F 13 Larry Smith 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1958–01–18 Alcorn State G/F 18 Otis Smith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–01–30 Jacksonville G 30 John Starks 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State G/F 20 Terry Teagle 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1960–04–10 Baylor

Head coach Don Nelson Assistant(s) Mike Schuler Garry St. Jean Donnie Nelson Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	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 v t e
	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

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

Regular season

1988–89 game log Total: 43–39 (home: 29–12; road: 14–27)
November: 6–7 (home: 3–3; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 5 Phoenix W 117–104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 1–0 2 November 8 7:30 p.m. PST L.A. Lakers L 102–114 Mullin (26) Bol (9) Bol, Mullin (5) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 1–1 3 November 9 @ Seattle W 113–108 Seattle Center Coliseum 2–1 4 November 11 @ Phoenix L 103–141 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2–2 5 November 12 Portland W 107–100 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 3–2 6 November 14 @ New Jersey W 100–96 Brendan Byrne Arena 4–2 7 November 16 @ Boston L 104–107 Boston Garden 4–3 8 November 18 @ Miami W 123–117 (OT) Miami Arena 5–3 9 November 19 @ Atlanta L 92–111 The Omni 5–4 10 November 23 Seattle L 85–93 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5–5 11 November 26 Houston L 109–119 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 5–6 12 November 27 @ Portland L 94–109 Memorial Coliseum 5–7 13 November 29 7:30 p.m. PST Chicago W 109–99 Mullin (29) Sampson (10) Mullin (8) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 6–7
December: 5–7 (home: 4–1; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 14 December 2 @ Denver L 102–129 McNichols Sports Arena 6–8 15 December 3 @ Seattle L 106–136 Seattle Center Coliseum 6–9 16 December 6 Utah W 114–103 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7–9 17 December 9 @ Phoenix L 105–110 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7–10 18 December 10 Washington W 119–112 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 8–10 19 December 13 @ Dallas L 111–117 Reunion Arena 8–11 20 December 15 @ Houston L 115–124 (2OT) The Summit 8–12 21 December 17 @ San Antonio W 123–113 HemisFair Arena 9–12 22 December 20 L.A. Clippers W 113–111 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10–12 23 December 22 Portland L 109–117 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10–13 24 December 23 @ Portland L 107–111 Memorial Coliseum 10–14 25 December 27 Philadelphia W 119–112 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11–14
January: 11–5 (home: 7–1; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 January 4 Miami W 109–100 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12–14 27 January 5 @ Denver L 129–131 McNichols Sports Arena 12–15 28 January 7 San Antonio L 102–104 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 12–16 29 January 9 Phoenix W 130–124 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13–16 30 January 11 Dallas W 107–106 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 14–16 31 January 13 @ L.A. Clippers W 127–113 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15–16 32 January 14 Utah W 131–105 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 16–16 33 January 16 Seattle W 146–117 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 17–16 34 January 18 New York W 133–119 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 18–16 35 January 20 Houston W 121–114 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 19–16 36 January 21 @ Sacramento W 136–111 ARCO Arena 20–16 37 January 23 @ Cleveland L 109–142 Richfield Coliseum 20–17 38 January 25 4:30 p.m. PST @ Detroit L 104–105 Mullin (28) Bol (11) Mullin (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 20–18 39 January 27 @ Philadelphia L 112–113 The Spectrum 20–19 40 January 28 @ Indiana W 114–112 Market Square Arena 21–19 41 January 30 @ Miami W 105–98 Miami Arena 22–19
February: 9–2 (home: 5–0; road: 4–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 42 February 2 New Jersey W 127–113 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 23–19 43 February 4 L.A. Clippers W 116–107 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 24–19 44 February 8 7:30 p.m. PST @ L.A. Lakers W 121–118 Mullin (28) Mullin (7) Mullin (11) Great Western Forum 17,505 25–19 45 February 9 @ Sacramento L 117–142 ARCO Arena 25–20 All-Star Break 46 February 15 San Antonio W 133–96 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 26–20 47 February 16 @ L.A. Clippers W 143–138 (OT) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 27–20 48 February 18 7:00 p.m. PST Detroit W 121–119 (OT) Mullin (26) Bol (10) Garland (5) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 28–20 49 February 21 @ Phoenix L 121–139 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 28–21 50 February 22 @ San Antonio W 118–107 HemisFair Arena 29–21 51 February 24 @ Dallas W 127–92 Reunion Arena 30–21 52 February 27 Denver W 141–132 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 31–21
March: 9–10 (home: 7–3; road: 2–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 53 March 1 7:30 p.m. PST @ L.A. Lakers L 121–142 Mullin (23) Sampson, O. Smith (6) Garland (4) Great Western Forum 17,505 31–22 54 March 2 Indiana L 127–131 (OT) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 31–23 55 March 4 Sacramento W 155–143 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 32–23 56 March 5 @ Sacramento L 96–110 ARCO Arena 32–24 57 March 7 L.A. Clippers W 138–112 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 33–24 58 March 9 Cleveland W 120–114 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 34–24 59 March 10 @ Utah L 112–126 Salt Palace 34–25 60 March 12 5:00 p.m. PST L.A. Lakers L 115–126 Mullin (27) Mullin (14) Richmond (4) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 34–26 61 March 14 @ Portland L 110–139 Memorial Coliseum 34–27 62 March 15 Dallas W 113–100 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 35–27 63 March 17 Atlanta W 127–118 (OT) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 36–27 64 March 19 Charlotte W 124–117 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 38–27 65 March 21 Portland W 151–127 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 38–27 66 March 23 Phoenix L 124–154 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 38–28 67 March 25 @ Houston L 104–144 The Summit 38–29 68 March 27 @ Milwaukee L 109–121 Bradley Center 38–30 69 March 28 5:30 p.m. PST @ Chicago L 106–115 Mullin (27) L. Smith (13) Garland (9) Chicago Stadium 18,013 38–31 70 March 30 @ Charlotte W 113–104 Charlotte Coliseum 39–31 71 March 31 @ New York W 134–114 Madison Square Garden 40–31
April: 3–8 (home: 3–4; road: 0–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 72 April 2 @ Washington L 103–120 Capital Centre 40–32 73 April 4 Milwaukee L 118–124 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 40–33 74 April 6 Boston W 132–118 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 41–33 75 April 8 7:30 p.m. PDT L.A. Lakers W 122–116 Mullin (33) Mullin, L. Smith (7) Garland (6) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 42–33 76 April 11 Miami W 114–98 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 43–33 77 April 13 @ L.A. Clippers L 126–128 (OT) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 43–34 78 April 15 Sacramento L 110–114 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 43–35 79 April 17 Seattle L 109–116 (OT) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 43–36 80 April 18 @ Seattle L 118–122 Seattle Center Coliseum 43–37 81 April 21 Denver L 121–139 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 43–38 82 April 22 @ Utah L 95–111 Salt Palace 43–39
1988–89 schedule

Playoffs

Main article: 1989 NBA playoffs

1989 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 1–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 27 @ Utah W 123–119 Mullin (41) Smith (11) Garland (8) Salt Palace 12,444 1–0 2 April 29 @ Utah W 99–91 Mullin (22) Higgins, Mullin, Richmond (7) Mullin (7) Salt Palace 12,444 2–0 3 May 2 Utah W 120–106 Mullin (35) Higgins (14) Richmond (11) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 3–0
Western Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 6 @ Phoenix L 103–130 Mullin, Teagle (18) Smith (8) Garland (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 0–1 2 May 9 @ Phoenix W 127–122 Mullin (37) Richmond (13) Mullin (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 1–1 3 May 11 Phoenix L 104–113 Mullin (32) Bol, Higgins (9) Mullin (6) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 1–2 4 May 13 Phoenix L 99–135 Mullin (28) Mullin (7) Garland (4) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 1–3 5 May 16 @ Phoenix L 104–116 Richmond (23) Smith (9) Mullin (6) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471 1–4
1989 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

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

• Chris Mullin, NBA All-Star Game
• Mitch Richmond, NBA Rookie of the Year Award
• Chris Mullin, All-NBA Second Team
• Mitch Richmond, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Transactions