1987–88 Golden State Warriors season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Golden State Warriors 1988 20 62 Pacific 5 11 George Karl Ed Gregory Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena KPIX-TV KNBR Did not qualify GSW The 1987–88 Golden State Warriors season was the 42nd season for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association, and their 25th season in the San Francisco Bay Area. Golden State Warriors Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Warriors had the 14th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected power forward Tellis Frank out of Western Kentucky 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 April 3, 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 April 3, 2026 1987 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1987.html April 3, 2026 During the off-season, former Milwaukee Bucks coach Don Nelson became the team's new General Manager. Don Nelson Resigned as Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks...  United Press International  May 27, 1987  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/27/Don-Nelson-resigned-as-coach-of-the-Milwaukee-Bucks/6691549086400/ July 4, 2026 Don Nelson, Who Molded the Milwaukee Bucks...  Los Angeles Times  May 28, 1987  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-28-sp-2901-story.html July 4, 2026 For the season, the Warriors slightly updated their home and road uniforms; the team changed the colors of the jersey trim, waistband, and side panels on their shorts from blue to yellow on their white home uniforms, and yellow to white on their blue road uniforms. Golden State Warriors Home Uniform  Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net  https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/dhc2pdwiig9hecxgf4pmk75fy/Golden-State-Warriors-Logo/1988/Home-Uniform August 12, 2026 Golden State Warriors Road Uniform  Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net  https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/b75se8nhwndkoxj455na9he2l/Golden-State-Warriors-Logo/1988/Road-Uniform August 12, 2026 The team's updated home and road uniforms would remain in use until 1989. Regular season The Warriors made two separate trades with the Houston Rockets; before the regular season began in early November, the team traded Purvis Short to the Rockets in exchange for Dave Feitl, United Press International Rockets Acquire Short from Warriors; Lucas Accepts Trail Blazer Offer Sheet Los Angeles Times November 6, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-06-sp-12781-story.html April 3, 2026 Collins Denis Golden State Braces for "Ralphomania" The Washington Post December 19, 1987 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/12/20/golden-state-braces-for-ralphomania/5351863f-f268-4f31-8ee1-18693432f6f7/ April 3, 2026 then in December, traded All-Star center Joe Barry Carroll, and All-Star guard Sleepy Floyd in exchange for All-Star center Ralph Sampson, and Steve Harris. News Services Warriors Acquire Sampson The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/12/13/warriors-acquire-sampson/62b5085f-417f-4609-b118-01910b57c190/ April 3, 2026 Associated Press Sampson Traded in 4-Player Deal The New York Times December 13, 1987 https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/13/sports/sampson-traded-in-4-player-deal.html April 3, 2026 Associated Press Rockets Deal Sampson to Warriors in Return for Carroll and Floyd Los Angeles Times December 13, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-13-sp-28737-story.html April 3, 2026 Before the trade, Floyd averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 9.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 18 games, while Barry Carroll provided with 15.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 14 games. In November, the team signed free agent and rookie point guard Winston Garland, Sacco John  Last Word in Sports  Observer-Reporter  November 27, 1987  B8  https://books.google.com/books?id=3rNdAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA15&dq=1987+Golden+State+Warriors+winston+garland&article_id=7012,8994259&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsjoHTmrmVAxXw3skDHQ1ICo0Q6AF6BAgREAM#v=onepage&q=1987%20Golden%20State%20Warriors%20winston%20garland&f=false July 4, 2026 Associated Press  Transactions  The Gadsden Times  November 27, 1987  D2  https://books.google.com/books?id=qGofAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=1987+Golden+State+Warriors+signed+Winston+Garland&article_id=5229,7661882&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsrrDMudKTAxVNxskDHTxsFfYQ6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q=1987%20Golden%20State%20Warriors%20signed%20Winston%20Garland&f=false April 3, 2026 then in December, traded second-year center Chris Washburn to the Atlanta Hawks, Rhoden William C. Sampson in, Washburn Out The New York Times December 16, 1987 https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/16/sports/sampson-in-washburn-out.html April 3, 2026 Associated Press Warriors Trade Washburn to Hawks Los Angeles Times December 16, 1987 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-16-sp-19511-story.html April 3, 2026 acquired second-year guard Otis Smith from the Denver Nuggets, Transactions The Beaver County Times December 23, 1987 C3 https://books.google.com/books?id=p1gvAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA11&dq=1987+Denver+Nuggets+Otis+Smith+Golden+State+Warriors&article_id=6144,4562511&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjy8pOvkrCOAxXyRDABHVeUDxcQ6AF6BAgIEAM#v=onepage&q=1987%20Denver%20Nuggets%20Otis%20Smith%20Golden%20State%20Warriors&f=false April 3, 2026 and signed Dave Hoppen in January. The Warriors struggled losing 18 of their first 21 games of the regular season, which included a seven-game losing streak in November, and later on held a 10–32 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 April 3, 2026 The team posted an eight-game losing streak between February and March; after holding a 16–48 record as of March 20, 1988, George Karl resigned as head coach and was replaced with assistant coach Ed Gregory as an interim coach. The Sudden Resignation of Golden State Coach George Karl...  United Press International  March 24, 1988  https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/03/24/The-sudden-resignation-of-Golden-State-Coach-George-Karl/9935575182800/ July 4, 2026 United Press International  Don Nelson to Coach Warriors  Los Angeles Times  April 5, 1988  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-05-mn-672-story.html July 4, 2026 The Warriors posted another seven-game losing streak between March and April, and finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 20–62 record. 1987–88 Golden State Warriors Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/1988_games.html April 3, 2026 Chris Mullin averaged 20.2 points, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Rod Higgins averaged 15.5 points per game, and Sampson provided the team with 15.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in 29 games after the trade. In addition, Otis Smith provided with 13.1 points and 1.5 steals per game in 57 games, while Terry Teagle contributed 12.6 points per game, but only played just 47 games due to hamstring and hip injuries, United Press International  Clippers Trip Warriors  Lodi News-Sentinel  November 25, 1987  12  https://books.google.com/books?id=Yq8zAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7&dq=1987+Golden+State+Warriors+terry+teagle+injury&article_id=5236,3181465&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiwlvimmbmVAxUlSTABHXo4DO0Q6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=1987%20Golden%20State%20Warriors%20terry%20teagle%20injury&f=false July 4, 2026 United Press International  Sampson Out, Now Teagle; Warriors Jolted Again  Lodi News-Sentinel  March 8, 1988  16  https://books.google.com/books?id=GGYzAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=1988+Golden+State+Warriors+terry+teagle+injury&article_id=4115,1001517&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwipu4iZmLmVAxW9RTABHRVJPdQQ6AF6BAgIEAM#v=onepage&q=1988%20Golden%20State%20Warriors%20terry%20teagle%20injury&f=false July 4, 2026 Garland averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and Harris contributed 10.3 points per game in 44 games. Meanwhile, Frank averaged 8.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, Ben McDonald averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, Feitl provided with 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, Larry Smith contributed 6.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, but only appeared in just 20 games due to a right thigh injury, Transactions  The Register-Guard  October 22, 1987  4C  https://books.google.com/books?id=ruhVAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA15&dq=1988+Golden+State+Warriors+larry+smith+thigh+injury&article_id=4928,5378219&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi8rYmwl7mVAxXim4kEHQf-LJcQ6AF6BAgQEAM#v=onepage&q=1988%20Golden%20State%20Warriors%20larry%20smith%20thigh%20injury&f=false July 4, 2026 Associated Press  Pro Basketball  The Free Lance-Star  March 2, 1988  15  https://books.google.com/books?id=Ug8QAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA8&dq=1988+Golden+State+Warriors+larry+smith+injury&article_id=6938,208696&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPg-6glrmVAxVdrokEHbgyCRoQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=1988%20Golden%20State%20Warriors%20larry%20smith%20injury&f=false July 4, 2026 Hoppen averaged 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and Jerome Whitehead provided with 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. 1987–88 Golden State Warriors Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/1988.html April 3, 2026 Garland finished tied in second place in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Mark Jackson of the New York Knicks. Goldaper Sam Jackson Is Top Rookie The New York Times May 11, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/11/sports/jackson-is-top-rookie.html April 3, 2026 1987–88 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1988.html April 3, 2026 The Warriors finished 19th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 440,294 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena during the regular season, which was the fifth-lowest in the league. 1987–88 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1988.html April 3, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Feitl was traded to the Washington Bullets, Sports People: Bol Traded for Feitl The New York Times June 9, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/09/sports/sports-people-bol-traded-for-feitl.html April 3, 2026 Wilbon Michael Bullets Send Bol to Golden State for Center Feitl The Washington Post June 9, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/09/bullets-send-bol-to-golden-state-for-center-feitl/f80e178b-d86d-4219-a081-c3568cba26da/ April 3, 2026 while Hoppen was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets 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 April 3, 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 April 3, 2026 1988 NBA Expansion Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1988_expansion.html April 3, 2026 and Harris was released to free agency. Draft picks 1987 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 14 Tellis Frank PF Western Kentucky 3 58 Darryl Johnson PG Michigan State 4 83 Benny Bolton North Carolina State 5 105 Terry Williams Southern Methodist 6 127 Sarunas Marciulionis SG 7 152 Ronnie Leggette West Virginia State Roster Golden State Warriors #2C3294 #FFFFFF #FFFF00 #000000 5 Dave Feitl C 6 11 235 UTEP 32 Tellis Frank F 6 10 225 Western Kentucky 12 Winston Garland G 6 2 170 Missouri State 11 Steve Harris basketball G 6 5 195 Tulsa 22 Rod Higgins F 6 7 200 Fresno State 52 Dave Hoppen C 6 11 235 Nebraska 30 Ben McDonald basketball F 6 8 210 UC Irvine 17 Chris Mullin basketball F/G 6 6 200 St. John's 50 Ralph Sampson C/F 7 4 228 Virginia 13 Larry Smith basketball, born 1958 F 6 8 215 Alcorn State 18 Otis Smith basketball G/F 6 5 210 Jacksonville 20 Terry Teagle G/F 6 5 195 Baylor 4 Mark Wade G 5 11 160 UNLV 4 Tony White basketball G 6 2 170 Tennessee 33 Jerome Whitehead C 6 10 220 Marquette Ed Gregory Herman Kull Regular season Season standings GSW GSW z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Golden State Warriors #0000FF #FFD700 1988 Total: 20–62 (Home: 16–25; Road: 4–37) Golden State Warriors November yes #FFD700 #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | November 14, 19877:30 pm PST | L.A. Lakers | L 110–118 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena15,025 | 1–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | November 20, 19874:30 pm PST | @ Detroit | L 108–131 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome20,362 | 1–8 Golden State Warriors December #FFD700 #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | December 17, 19877:30 pm PST | L.A. Lakers | L 106–113 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena15,025 | 3–16 Golden State Warriors January #FFD700 #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | January 12, 19887:30 pm PST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 113–117 | | | | The Forum17,505 | 5–24 Golden State Warriors February #FFD700 #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 50 | February 24, 19887:30 pm PST | Detroit | L 93–107 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena14,340 | 14–36 Golden State Warriors March #FFD700 #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 55 | March 4, 19887:30 pm PST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 107–120 | | | | The Forum17,505 | 14–41 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 64 | March 20, 19887:30 pm PST | L.A. Lakers | L 106–113 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena15,025 | 16–48 Golden State Warriors April #FFD700 #0000FF 0 0 0 0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 82 | April 24, 198812:30 pm PDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 100–136 | | | | The Forum17,505 | 20–62 GSW 1988 Player statistics References None See also 1987-88 NBA season Category:Golden State Warriors seasons Golden Golden Golden State Category:1980s in Oakland, California