1988–89 Indiana Pacers season

1988–89 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach
General managerDonnie Walsh
Owner(s)Herbert Simon
ArenaMarket Square Arena
Results
Record28–54 (.341)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Central)
Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWXIN
(Bill Hazen, Clark Kellogg)
RadioWNDE
(Mark Boyle, Bobby "Slick" Leonard)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >

The 1988–89 NBA season was Indiana's 13th season in the NBA and 22nd season as a franchise.[1] Despite finishing with a 38–44 record the previous season, the Pacers had the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected 7' 4" Dutch center Rik Smits out of Marist College.[2][3][4][5][6] Before the season began, center Steve Stipanovich was out with a left knee injury, and would be sidelined for the entire season after undergoing knee surgery.[7][8][9][10]

The Pacers went through four different head coaches this season; head coach Jack Ramsay resigned after an 0–7 start,[11][12][13] then after two games under interim coach Mel Daniels, and 20 games under interim George Irvine, the team hired Dick Versace as their new coach.[14][15] At mid-season, the team traded Wayman Tisdale to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for LaSalle Thompson and Randy Wittman,[16][17][18][19] and dealt Herb Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for German small forward Detlef Schrempf.[20][21][22][23] The Pacers held an 11–35 record at the All-Star break,[24] but played slightly under .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing last place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record.[25]

Chuck Person averaged 21.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star Reggie Miller showed improvement, becoming the team's starting shooting guard, averaging 16.0 points and 1.3 steals per game, Vern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 6.5 assists per game, and Smits provided the team with 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[26]

Following the season, Stipanovich retired after five seasons in the NBA with the Pacers; Stipanovich had gone through two knee operations, and doctors discovered he had a "dead spot" in the bone of his left knee.[27][28][29][30] Also following the season, Scott Skiles was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Orlando Magic.[31][32][33][34][35]

Draft picks

Main article: 1988 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 2 Rik Smits C  Netherlands Marist
3 61 Herbert Crook F  United States Louisville
3 73 Michael Anderson  United States Drexel

Roster

1988–89 Indiana Pacers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 54 Dreiling, Greg 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1962–11–07 Kansas
G 10 Fleming, Vern 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1962–02–04 Georgia
F 22 Frederick, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1964–12–07 Pepperdine
C 55 Gray, Stuart 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1963–05–27 UCLA
G 31 Miller, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–08–24 UCLA
F 45 Person, Chuck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–06–27 Auburn
F 11 Schrempf, Detlef 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1963–01–21 Washington
G 3 Skiles, Scott 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1964–03–05 Michigan State
C 24 Smits, Rik 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–08–23 Marist
G 15 Stephens, Everette 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–10–21 Purdue
C 40 Stipanovich, Steve Injured (IN) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1960–11–17 Missouri
C 41 Thompson, LaSalle 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1961–06–23 Texas
F 14 Wittman, Randy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1959–10–28 Indiana
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 21, 1989

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 63 19 .768 – 37–4 26–15 20–10
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 57 25 .695 6 37–4 20–21 19–11
x-Atlanta Hawks 52 30 .634 11 33–8 19–22 20–10
x-Milwaukee Bucks 49 33 .598 14 31–10 18–23 11–19
x-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 16 30–11 17–24 12–18
Indiana Pacers 28 54 .341 35 20–21 8–33 8–22
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Detroit Pistons 63 19 .768 –
2 y-New York Knicks 52 30 .634 11
3 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 57 25 .695 6
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 52 30 .634 11
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks 49 33 .598 14
6 x-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 16
7 x-Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 17
8 x-Boston Celtics 42 40 .512 21
9 Washington Bullets 40 42 .488 23
10 Indiana Pacers 28 54 .341 35
11 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 37
12 Charlotte Hornets 20 62 .244 43
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

Regular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Rik Smits C 82 71 2,041 500 70 37 151 956 24.9 6.1 .9 .5 1.8 11.7
Chuck Person SF 80 79 3,012 516 289 83 18 1,728 37.7 6.5 3.6 1.0 .2 21.6
Scott Skiles PG 80 13 1,571 149 390 64 2 546 19.6 1.9 4.9 .8 .0 6.8
Vern Fleming PG 76 69 2,552 310 494 77 12 1,084 33.6 4.1 6.5 1.0 .2 14.3
Reggie Miller SG 74 70 2,536 292 227 93 29 1,181 34.3 3.9 3.1 1.3 .4 16.0
Stuart Gray C 72 0 783 245 29 11 21 188 10.9 3.4 .4 .2 .3 2.6
Greg Dreiling C 53 4 396 92 18 5 11 129 7.5 1.7 .3 .1 .2 2.4
Wayman Tisdale† PF 48 5 1,326 310 75 35 32 768 27.6 6.5 1.6 .7 .7 16.0
Herb Williams† C 46 46 1,567 396 88 31 80 578 34.1 8.6 1.9 .7 1.7 12.6
Anthony Frederick SF 46 0 313 52 20 14 6 152 6.8 1.1 .4 .3 .1 3.3
John Long† SG 44 1 767 66 65 29 1 323 17.4 1.5 1.5 .7 .0 7.3
Everette Stephens PG 35 0 209 23 37 9 4 65 6.0 .7 1.1 .3 .1 1.9
LaSalle Thompson† C 33 29 1,053 326 37 33 39 413 31.9 9.9 1.1 1.0 1.2 12.5
Randy Wittman† SF 33 11 704 54 79 13 2 173 21.3 1.6 2.4 .4 .1 5.2
Detlef Schrempf† PF 32 12 1,005 229 93 29 10 475 31.4 7.2 2.9 .9 .3 14.8
Richard Morton PG 2 0 11 0 1 0 0 6 5.5 .0 .5 .0 .0 3.0
Sedric Toney PG 2 0 9 2 0 0 0 2 4.5 1.0 .0 .0 .0 1.0
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1988-89 Indiana Pacers
  2. ^ 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 11, 2022.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Love, Ian (June 29, 1988). "The Los Angeles Clippers Gave Up the League's Best..." United Press International. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sports People; Pacers, Smits Agree". The New York Times. October 6, 1988. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "1988 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Sports Digest". United Press International. October 30, 1988. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Goldaper, Sam (November 12, 1988). "Knicks Squeak By". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Pacers' Stipanovich Still on Sideline – Bears' Tomczak May Return". Orlando Sentinel. January 2, 1989. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Indiana Pacers Center Steve Stipanovich, Who Has Yet to..." United Press International. January 23, 1989. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "Ramsay Quits as Pacers Coach". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 17, 1988. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "An 0-7 Start Is Too Much for Pacers' Ramsay, He Quits". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 18, 1988. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Ramsay Resigns as Pacers Coach". The Washington Post. November 18, 1988. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Pacers Pick Versace in Third Change". The New York Times. January 6, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  15. ^ McManis, Sam (January 10, 1989). "The NBA; Sam McManis: Dick Versace Brings Many Faces to Pacers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Indiana Pacers Have Traded Forward Wayman Tisdale to..." United Press International. February 19, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  17. ^ "The Indiana Pacers Traded Forward Wayman Tisdale..." Los Angeles Times. February 20, 1989. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  18. ^ "Tisdale Reportedly Traded for Wittman, Thompson". Deseret News. February 20, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  19. ^ Goldaper, Sam (February 21, 1989). "Pacers Deal Tisdale to Kings; Eye Move to Get Vandeweghe". The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  20. ^ "IN BRIEF: Schrempf Traded for Williams". Los Angeles Times. Times Staff and Wire Service Reports. February 21, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  21. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Mavericks Trade Schrempf for Williams". The New York Times. February 22, 1989. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  22. ^ "Mavericks Trade Schrempf to Pacers". Deseret News. February 22, 1989. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  23. ^ Aldridge, David (February 22, 1989). "Notebook". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  25. ^ "1988–89 Indiana Pacers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  26. ^ "1988–89 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  27. ^ "It Looks Like Stipanovich's Career Is Over". Deseret News. September 27, 1989. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  28. ^ "THE SIDELINES: Knee Prompts Stipanovich to Retire". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. September 28, 1989. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  29. ^ "Sports People: PRO BASKETBALL; Stipanovich Retires Because of Bad Knee". The New York Times. September 29, 1989. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  30. ^ "Injury Forces Pacers' Stipanovich to Retire". Chicago Tribune. September 29, 1989. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  31. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  32. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  33. ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 16, 1989). "Green Tabbed No. 1, Mahorn No. 2 in NBA Expansion Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  34. ^ Smith, Sam (June 16, 1989). "Magic Day for Vincent, Not for Mahorn". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  35. ^ "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.

See also