1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the 19th season for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association, and their fifth season in Los Angeles, California.^[1] The Clippers won the NBA draft lottery,^[2][3] and selected power forward Danny Manning from the University of Kansas with the first overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, then selected shooting guard Hersey Hawkins out of Bradley University with the sixth overall pick, but then traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for power forward, and top draft pick Charles D. Smith from the University of Pittsburgh, and acquired point guard, and top draft pick Gary Grant out of the University of Michigan from the Seattle SuperSonics.^[4][5][6]

1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach	Gene Shue (fired) Don Casey
General manager	Elgin Baylor
Owner(s)	Donald Sterling
Arena	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Results
Record	21–61 (.256)
Place	Division: 7th (Pacific) Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KTLA Z Channel (Ralph Lawler, Kevin Loughery, Keith Erickson)
Radio	KRLA (Ralph Lawler, Kevin Loughery, Keith Erickson, Pete Arbogast)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >

However, Manning would only play just 26 games due to a right knee injury,^[7][8][9] 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 to the regular season, and was replaced with assistant Don Casey.^[10][11][12] The Clippers held an 11–37 record at the All-Star break,^[13] and finished in last place in the Pacific Division with a 21–61 record.^[14]

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,^[15][16] 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.^[17] 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.^[18] These uniforms only lasted for just one season.

Draft picks

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

1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers roster

Players

Coaches

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

Head coach Gene Shue (fired) Don Casey Assistant(s) Jim Eyen Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Roster notes

• 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.^[19]

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

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

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

• Charles Smith, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Transactions

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

Trades

June 28, 1988	To Los Angeles Clippers Draft rights to Gary Grant	To Seattle SuperSonics Michael Cage
June 28, 1988	To Los Angeles Clippers Draft rights to Charles Smith	To Philadelphia 76ers Draft rights to Hersey Hawkins

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team

Subtractions Player Left New team

Player Transactions Citation:^[20]