1987–88 New Jersey Nets season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 New Jersey Nets 1988 19 63 Atlantic 5 11 Dave WohlBob MacKinnonWillis Reed Brendan Byrne Arena WWOR-TVSportsChannel New York WNEW Did not qualify NJN The 1987–88 New Jersey Nets season was the 12th season for the New Jersey Nets in the National Basketball Association. Brooklyn Nets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BRK/ August 8, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Nets received the third overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Dennis Hopson out of Ohio State University. Goldaper Sam Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First The New York Times June 23, 1987 https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/23/sports/guards-dominate-draft-but-robinson-goes-first.html March 31, 2026 Edes Gordon Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards Los Angeles Times June 23, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-23-sp-10130-story.html March 31, 2026 1987 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1987.html March 31, 2026 During the off-season, the team acquired John Bagley and Keith Lee from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade, News Services and Staff Reports  Jazz Trades for Dawkins, Turpin  The Washington Post  October 8, 1987  https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/10/09/jazz-trades-for-dawkins-turpin/0b010a33-fe44-4ad6-b3b7-5496a43008dc/ March 31, 2026 Goldaper Sam  Dawkins Joins Jazz in Trade  The New York Times  October 9, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/09/sports/dawkins-joins-jazz-in-trade.html March 31, 2026 Associated Press  Utah Gets Dawkins and Turpin in a Three-Team Trade  Los Angeles Times  October 9, 1987  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-09-sp-8576-story.html March 31, 2026 acquired rookie power forward Dallas Comegys from the Atlanta Hawks, Comegys Traded to Nets  The New York Times  November 5, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/05/sports/comegys-traded-to-nets.html March 31, 2026 and later on signed free agent Dudley Bradley in December. Goldaper Sam  Washington Stirs Late Rally  The New York Times  December 22, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/22/sports/washington-stirs-late-rally.html March 31, 2026 However, Lee would miss the entire regular season due to a left leg injury. Sports People: Woolridge Out  The New York Times  October 23, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/23/sports/sports-people-woolridge-out.html March 31, 2026 Goldaper Sam  N.B.A. Notebook: Nets' Lee Heading in Right Direction  The New York Times  July 28, 1988  https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/28/sports/nba-notebook-nets-lee-heading-in-right-direction.html March 31, 2026 Regular season Despite the addition of Hopson and Bagley, the Nets struggled losing 15 of their first 17 games of the regular season, which included an 11-game losing streak between November and December. After a 2–13 start to the season, head coach Dave Wohl was fired and replaced with assistant General Manager Bob MacKinnon as an interim coach. Goldaper Sam  Wohl Dismissed as Coach of Nets  The New York Times  December 10, 1987  https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/10/sports/wohl-dismissed-as-coach-of-nets.html March 31, 2026 In January, the team traded Mike Gminski, and Ben Coleman to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Roy Hinson, and Tim McCormick. News Services  Nets, 76ers Exchange Four Players  The Washington Post  January 16, 1988  https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/01/17/nets-76ers-exchange-four-players/9dc36203-d1f4-4657-8e29-75bdf956750a/ March 31, 2026 Raskin David A.  Pro Basketball: Nets Send Gminski, Coleman to 76ers  The New York Times  January 17, 1988  https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/17/sports/pro-basketball-nets-send-gminski-coleman-to-76ers.html March 31, 2026 Associated Press  Nets' Coleman, Gminski Traded to Philadelphia  Los Angeles Times  January 17, 1988  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-17-sp-36809-story.html March 31, 2026 Before the trade, Gminski averaged 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in 34 games, while Coleman provided with 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 27 games. The Nets held a 10–34 record at the All-Star break, NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.cgi?month=2&day=4&year=1988 March 31, 2026 and posted a six-game losing streak in February; at the end of the month, the team hired retired All-Star, and former New York Knicks center Willis Reed as their new coach. Goldaper Sam  N.B.A.: Reed Will Become Nets Coach Today  The New York Times  February 29, 1988  https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/29/sports/nba-reed-will-become-nets-coach-today.html March 31, 2026 The Nets suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak between March and April, and finished in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 19–63 record. 1987–88 New Jersey Nets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1988_games.html March 31, 2026 Buck Williams averaged 18.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Hinson averaged 17.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 48 games after the trade. In addition, Orlando Woolridge provided the team with 16.4 points and 3.7 assists per game, but only played just 19 games due to a right hand injury and drug abuse, Goldaper Sam  Woolridge Admits to Cocaine Problem  The New York Times  February 24, 1988  https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/24/sports/woolridge-admits-to-cocaine-problem.html March 31, 2026 Goldaper Sam  N.B.A. to Check Early Woolridge Alert  The New York Times  February 26, 1988  https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/26/sports/nba-to-check-early-woolridge-alert.html March 31, 2026 while McCormick provided with 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in 47 games, and Bagley contributed 12.0 points, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Meanwhile, Otis Birdsong averaged 10.9 points per game, Hopson contributed 9.6 points per game, second-year guard Pearl Washington provided with 9.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, Bradley contributed 6.7 points per game, and Comegys averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. 1987–88 New Jersey Nets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1988.html March 31, 2026 Williams finished tied in 14th place in Most Valuable Player voting. 1987–88 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1988.html March 31, 2026 The Nets finished 15th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 476,054 at the Brendan Byrne Arena during the regular season. 1987–88 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1988.html March 31, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Woolridge signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, Edes Gordon Lakers to Announce Signing Today of Free Agent Orlando Woolridge Los Angeles Times August 10, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-10-sp-290-story.html March 31, 2026 Sports People: Lakers Sign Woolridge The New York Times August 11, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/11/sports/sports-people-lakers-sign-woolridge.html March 31, 2026 Thomas Pete Lakers Boost Bench by Signing 6-9 Woolridge Los Angeles Times August 11, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-11-sp-368-story.html March 31, 2026 while McCormick was traded to the Houston Rockets, Goldaper Sam Nets Acquire Rockets' Carroll The New York Times November 3, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/03/sports/nets-acquire-rockets-carroll.html March 31, 2026 Associated Press Rockets Send Joe Barry Carroll to the Nets in a Six-Player Trade Los Angeles Times November 3, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-03-sp-855-story.html March 31, 2026 Nets Obtain Carroll from Rockets in 6-Player Deal Los Angeles Times November 3, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-03-sp-697-story.html March 31, 2026 and Washington was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Miami Heat expansion team. Goldaper Sam Miami Chooses "Who?" First The New York Times June 24, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/24/sports/miami-chooses-who-first.html March 31, 2026 Edes Gordon Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland Los Angeles Times June 24, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-24-sp-5993-story.html March 31, 2026 1988 NBA Expansion Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1988_expansion.html March 31, 2026 Meanwhile, Comegys was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Nets Get Walter Berry The New York Times August 30, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/30/sports/nets-get-walter-berry.html March 31, 2026 Associated Press Spurs Trade Berry to Nets for Comegys Los Angeles Times August 30, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-30-sp-1459-story.html March 31, 2026 and Birdsong and Bradley were both released to free agency. Draft picks 1987 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 3 Dennis Hopson SF/SG United States Ohio State 3 48 Jamie Waller United States Virginia Union 4 72 Andrew Moten United States Florida 5 94 James Blackmon Sr. United States Kentucky 6 118 Perry Bromwell United States Pennsylvania 7 140 Frank Booker United States Bowling Green State Roster New Jersey Nets 1987–88 #003DA6 #FFFFFF #EC0044 #FFFFFF 5 John Bagley basketball G 6 0 185 Boston College 1960-04-23 10 Otis Birdsong G 6 3 190 Houston 1955-12-09 22 Dudley Bradley G 6 6 195 North Carolina 1957-03-19 45 Dallas Comegys F 6 9 205 DePaul 1964-08-17 50 Chris Engler C 6 11 245 Wyoming 1959-03-01 21 Roy Hinson F 6 9 210 Rutgers 1961-05-02 23 Dennis Hopson G/F 6 5 200 Ohio State 1965-04-22 24 Keith Lee basketball F 6 10 215 1962-12-28 Memphis yes IN 40 Tim McCormick C 6 11 240 Michigan 1962-03-10 12 Kevin McKenna basketball G 6 5 195 Creighton 1959-01-08 31 Mike O'Koren F 6 7 207 North Carolina 1958-02-07 14 Duane Washington G 6 4 195 Middle Tennessee 1964-08-31 1 Dwayne Washington Dwayne Washington (basketball) G 6 2 190 Syracuse 1964-01-06 52 Buck Williams F 6 8 215 Maryland 1960-03-08 0 Orlando Woolridge F 6 9 215 Notre Dame 1959-12-16 Willis Reed Garry St. Jean Bob Wenzel https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/1988.html Roster notes Power forward Keith Lee was on the injured reserve list due to a left leg injury, and missed the entire regular season. Regular season Season standings NJN NJN z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season New Jersey Nets #003DA6 #FFFFFF 1988 Total: 19–63 (Home: 16–25; Road: 3–38) New Jersey Nets November yes #EC0044 #FFFFFF 0 0 0 0 New Jersey Nets December #EC0044 #FFFFFF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | December 1, 19877:30 PM EST | Detroit | L 115–124 (OT) | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena8,232 | 9–32 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | December 8, 19877:30 PM EST | L.A. Lakers | L 81–98 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena18,008 | 2–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | December 26, 19877:30 PM EST | @ Detroit | L 75–110 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome23,330 | 4–20 New Jersey Nets January #EC0044 #FFFFFF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 30, 19887:30 PM EST | Detroit | W 116–104 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena11,894 | 9–32 New Jersey Nets February #EC0044 #FFFFFF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 53 | February 26, 19887:30 PM EST | @ Detroit | L 109–137 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome25,334 | 12–41 New Jersey Nets March #EC0044 #FFFFFF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 62 | March 14, 198810:30 PM EST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 105–115 | | | | The Forum17,505 | 16–46 New Jersey Nets April #EC0044 #FFFFFF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 73 | April 5, 19887:30 PM EDT | Detroit | L 95–107 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena11,586 | 18–55 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 79 | April 16, 19887:30 PM EDT | @ Detroit | L 96–114 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome22,767 | 18–61 NJN 1988 Awards and records Buck Williams, NBA All-Defensive Second Team References See also 1987–88 NBA season New Jersey Nets season Category:New Jersey Nets seasons New Jersey Nets New Jersey Nets Category:20th century in East Rutherford, New Jersey Category:Meadowlands Sports Complex