1988–89 Indiana Pacers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Indiana Pacers 1989 28 54 Central 6 10 Jack Ramsay (resigned) Mel Daniels (interim) George Irvine (interim) Dick Versace Donnie Walsh Herbert Simon Market Square Arena Did not qualify IND WXIN(Bill Hazen, Clark Kellogg) WNDE(Mark Boyle, Bobby "Slick" Leonard) The 1988–89 Indiana Pacers season was the 13th season for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, and their 22nd season as a franchise. Indiana Pacers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/ August 7, 2026 Season summary Off-season Despite finishing with a 38–44 record the previous season, the Pacers received the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected 7' 4" Dutch center Rik Smits out of Marist College. Goldaper Sam N.B.A. Draft: Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers The New York Times June 29, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/29/sports/nba-draft-manning-then-3-way-trade-give-hope-to-lowly-clippers.html February 11, 2022 Baker Chris 1988 NBA Draft: Clippers Choose Manning, Then Play for Position: They Trade Cage, End Up with Smith and Grant Los Angeles Times June 29, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-29-sp-4949-story.html December 6, 2022 1988 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1988.html December 6, 2022 Before the regular season began, center Steve Stipanovich was out due a left knee injury, and would be sidelined for the entire season after undergoing knee surgery. Sports Digest United Press International October 30, 1988 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/30/Sports-Digest/6012594187200/ January 9, 2024 Pacers' Stipanovich Still on Sideline; Bears' Tomczak May Return Orlando Sentinel January 2, 1989 https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/01/02/pacers-stipanovich-still-on-sideline-bears-tomczak-may-return/ January 9, 2024 Indiana Pacers Center Steve Stipanovich, Who Has Yet to... United Press International January 23, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/23/Indiana-Pacers-center-Steve-Stipanovich-who-has-yet-to/8157601534800/ January 9, 2024 Regular season Despite the addition of Smits, the Pacers struggled losing their first nine games of the regular season, posted another nine-game losing streak between December and January, and later on held an 11–35 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=9&year=1989 January 23, 2023 The Pacers went through four different head coaches this season; head coach Jack Ramsay resigned after an 0–7 start to the season, Associated Press Ramsay Quits as Pacers Coach Los Angeles Times November 17, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-17-mn-517-story.html September 15, 2023 Associated Press An 0-7 Start Is Too Much for Pacers' Ramsay, He Quits Los Angeles Times November 18, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-18-sp-537-story.html September 15, 2023 Ramsay Resigns as Pacers Coach The Washington Post November 18, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/11/18/ramsay-resigns-as-pacers-coach/1ca3dafa-3fd2-443e-8604-d3f54b4cbac9/ September 15, 2023 then after two games under interim coach Mel Daniels, and 20 games under interim coach George Irvine, the team hired Dick Versace as their new head coach. Sports People: Basketball: Pacers Pick Versace in Third Change The New York Times January 6, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/06/sports/sports-people-basketball-pacers-pick-versace-in-third-change.html December 30, 2022 McManis Sam The NBA; Sam McManis: Dick Versace Brings Many Faces to Pacers Los Angeles Times January 10, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-10-sp-193-story.html December 25, 2022 At mid-season, the team traded Wayman Tisdale to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for LaSalle Thompson and Randy Wittman, The Indiana Pacers Traded Forward Wayman Tisdale... Los Angeles Times February 20, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-20-sp-80-story.html June 22, 2023 Tisdale Reportedly Traded for Wittman, Thompson Deseret News February 20, 1989 https://www.deseret.com/1989/2/20/18795875/tisdale-reportedly-traded-for-wittman-thompson December 25, 2022 Goldaper Sam Pacers Deal Tisdale to Kings; Eye Move to Get Vandeweghe The New York Times February 21, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/21/sports/pacers-deal-tisdale-to-kings-eye-move-to-get-vandeweghe.html February 12, 2022 and traded Herb Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for German small forward Detlef Schrempf. Times Staff and Wire Service Reports In Brief: Schrempf Traded for Williams Los Angeles Times February 21, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-21-sp-314-story.html December 25, 2022 Sports People: Basketball: Mavericks Trade Schrempf for Williams The New York Times February 22, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/22/sports/sports-people-basketball-mavericks-trade-schrempf-for-williams.html February 12, 2022 Aldridge David Notebook The Washington Post February 22, 1989 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/02/22/notebook/48ae81d4-bf92-4401-bcea-c03078740cf2/ June 20, 2023 Before the trades, Tisdale averaged 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 48 games, while Williams provided with 12.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in 46 games. The Pacers suffered a 12-game losing streak between January and February, but played around .500 in winning percentage by posting an 8–8 in March, and won six of their final nine games of the season, finishing in last place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record. 1988–89 Indiana Pacers Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/1989_games.html February 11, 2022 Chuck Person averaged 21.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists 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, plus leading the Pacers with 98 three-point field goals, and Schrempf provided the team with 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 32 games after the trade. In addition, Vern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 6.5 assists per game, while Thompson provided with 12.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game in 33 games, and Smits averaged 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Meanwhile, Scott Skiles contributed 6.8 points and 4.9 assists per game, and Wittman provided with 5.2 points and 2.4 assists per game in 33 games. 1988–89 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/1989.html February 12, 2022 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, Miller participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout. All-Star Lineups Ocala Star-Banner February 11, 1989 5D https://books.google.com/books?id=ncBPAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA20&dq=1989+NBA+Long+Distance+Shootout+Jon+Sundvold&article_id=6669,2513784&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijoqjIofSPAxWULtAFHfXkOMc4ChDoAXoECAYQAw#v=onepage&q=1989%20NBA%20Long%20Distance%20Shootout%20Jon%20Sundvold&f=false September 25, 2025 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html September 25, 2025 The Pacers finished 22nd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 335,298 at the Market Square Arena during the regular season, which was the fourth-lowest in the league. 1988–89 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1989.html February 15, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Stipanovich retired after only 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. It Looks Like Stipanovich's Career Is Over Deseret News September 27, 1989 https://www.deseret.com/1989/9/27/18825698/it-looks-like-stipanovich-s-career-is-over January 9, 2024 Times Wire Services The Sidelines: Knee Prompts Stipanovich to Retire Los Angeles Times September 28, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-28-sp-574-story.html January 9, 2024 Sports People: Pro Basketball: Stipanovich Retires Because of Bad Knee The New York Times September 29, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/29/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-stipanovich-retires-because-of-bad-knee.html January 9, 2024 Meanwhile, Skiles was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic expansion team. Brown Clifton Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft The New York Times June 16, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/16/sports/knicks-green-is-taken-first-in-nba-s-expansion-draft.html December 6, 2022 Howard-Cooper Scott NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers Los Angeles Times June 16, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-16-sp-1959-story.html December 6, 2022 1989 NBA Expansion Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1989_expansion.html February 13, 2022 Draft picks 1988 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 2 Rik Smits C Marist 3 61 Herbert Crook F Louisville 3 73 Michael Anderson Drexel Roster Indiana Pacers 1988–89 #2C3294 #FFFFFF #fcc624 #2C3294 54 Greg Dreiling C 7 1 250 1962–11–07 Kansas 10 Vern Fleming G 6 5 185 1962–02–04 Georgia 22 Anthony Frederick F 6 7 205 1964–12–07 Pepperdine 55 Stuart Gray basketball C 7 0 235 1963–05–27 UCLA 31 Reggie Miller G 6 7 185 1965–08–24 UCLA 45 Chuck Person F 6 8 220 1964–06–27 Auburn 11 Detlef Schrempf F 6 9 214 1963–01–21 Washington 3 Scott Skiles G 6 1 180 1964–03–05 Michigan State 24 Rik Smits C 7 4 250 1966–08–23 Marist 15 Everette Stephens G 6 2 175 1966–10–21 Purdue 40 Steve Stipanovich C 6 11 245 1960–11–17 Missouri yes IN 41 LaSalle Thompson C 6 10 245 1961–06–23 Texas 14 Randy Wittman F 6 6 210 1959–10–28 Indiana Jack Ramsay (resigned) Mel Daniels (interim) George Irvine (interim) Dick Versace Mel Daniels George Irvine Dave Twardzik https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/1989.html February 21, 1989 Roster notes Center Steve Stipanovich was on the injured reserve list due to a left knee injury, and missed the entire regular season. Regular season Season standings IND IND z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log January 2011 Player statistics Regular season Player POS Position GP Games played GS Games starter MP Minutes played REB Rebounds AST Assists STL Steals BLK Blocks PTS Points MPG Minutes per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per gameRik SmitsC82 71 2,041 500 70 37 151 956 24.9 6.1 .9 .5 1.8 11.7Chuck PersonSF 80 79 3,012 516 289 83 18 1,728 37.7 6.5 3.6 1.0 .2 21.6Scott SkilesPG 80 13 1,571 149 390 64 2 546 19.6 1.9 4.9 .8 .0 6.8Vern FlemingPG 76 69 2,552 310 494 77 12 1,084 33.6 4.1 6.5 1.0 .2 14.3Reggie MillerSG 74 70 2,536 292 227 93 29 1,181 34.3 3.9 3.1 1.3 .4 16.0Stuart Gray basketballC 72 0 783 245 29 11 21 188 10.9 3.4 .4 .2 .3 2.6Greg DreilingC 53 4 396 92 18 5 11 129 7.5 1.7 .3 .1 .2 2.4Wayman Tisdale†PF 48 5 1,326 310 75 35 32 768 27.6 6.5 1.6 .7 .7 16.0Herb Williams†C 46 46 1,567 396 88 31 80 578 34.1 8.6 1.9 .7 1.7 12.6Anthony FrederickSF 46 0 313 52 20 14 6 152 6.8 1.1 .4 .3 .1 3.3John Long basketball player†SG 44 1 767 66 65 29 1 323 17.4 1.5 1.5 .7 .0 7.3Everette StephensPG 35 0 209 23 37 9 4 65 6.0 .7 1.1 .3 .1 1.9LaSalle Thompson†C 33 29 1,053 326 37 33 39 413 31.9 9.9 1.1 1.0 1.2 12.5Randy Wittman†SF 33 11 704 54 79 13 2 173 21.3 1.6 2.4 .4 .1 5.2Detlef Schrempf†PF 32 12 1,005 229 93 29 10 475 31.4 7.2 2.9 .9 .3 14.8Richard Morton basketballPG 2 0 11 0 1 0 0 6 5.5 .0 .5 .0 .0 3.0Sedric ToneyPG 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 Rik Smits, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team Transactions January 2011 References See also 1988-89 NBA season Category:Indiana Pacers seasons Indiana Indiana Indiana