1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season

NBA professional basketball team season October 2020 March 2026 Los Angeles Clippers 1989 21 61 Pacific 7 12 Gene Shue (fired) Don Casey Elgin Baylor Donald Sterling Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena KTLA Z Channel(Ralph Lawler, Kevin Loughery, Keith Erickson) KRLA(Ralph Lawler, Kevin Loughery, Keith Erickson, Pete Arbogast) Did not qualify LAC The 1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 19th season for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association, and their fifth season in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Clippers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/ August 7, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Clippers won the NBA draft lottery, Wilbon Michael Clippers Get No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft The Washington Post May 22, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/05/22/clippers-get-no-1-pick-in-nba-draft/7fd7c14f-84a0-4de0-93ea-564a14ddab91/ September 15, 2023 Edes Gordon 1988 NBA Draft: Clippers Are Working Deal to Get No. 3 Los Angeles Times June 28, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-28-sp-5047-story.html September 15, 2023 and selected power forward Danny Manning from the University of Kansas with the first overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft; the team also selected shooting guard Hersey Hawkins out of Bradley University with the sixth overall pick. However, the Clippers soon traded Hawkins to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for rookie power forward, and first-round draft pick Charles D. Smith from the University of Pittsburgh; the team also acquired rookie point guard, and first-round draft pick Gary Grant out of the University of Michigan from the Seattle SuperSonics on draft day. 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 13, 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 For the season, the Clippers slightly updated their road uniforms, changing the color of their jersey number from blue to white; these uniforms only lasted for just one season. Los Angeles Clippers Road Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/hjfh8uvqamgmfhsvoxygvvnbk/Los_Angeles_Clippers/1989/Road_Uniform February 15, 2022 Regular season With the addition of Manning, Smith and Grant, the Clippers played around .500 in winning percentage with a 6–6 start to the regular season, but soon struggled losing 11 of their next 13 games. In January, Manning suffered a right knee injury after only just 26 games, and was out for the remainder of the season, Howard-Cooper Scott Clippers Lose Manning, Then Game to Bucks: Rookie Suffers Hyperextended Knee During First Quarter of 110-102 Defeat Los Angeles Times January 5, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-05-sp-368-story.html December 27, 2022 Manning's Career in Jeopardy After Serious Knee Injury Deseret News January 10, 1989 https://www.deseret.com/1989/1/11/18791127/manning-s-career-in-jeopardy-after-serious-knee-injury April 3, 2023 Sports People: Basketball: Manning to Miss Season Because of Knee Injury The New York Times January 12, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/12/sports/sports-people-basketball-manning-to-miss-season-because-of-knee-injury.html February 13, 2022 as the team suffered a dreadful 19-game losing streak between December and February, which included a winless month in January. Head coach Gene Shue was fired after a 10–28 start to the season, and was replaced with assistant coach Don Casey. News Services Clippers Fire Shue, Name Casey The Washington Post January 19, 1989 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/01/20/clippers-fire-shue-name-casey/c81694cb-4306-4c4a-b173-26ac2fbb53f3/ February 25, 2024 Howard-Cooper Scott Clippers Fire Shue; Casey Is Interim Coach Los Angeles Times January 20, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-20-sp-1139-story.html December 27, 2022 Associated Press One-Year Contract Signed: Clippers to Stick with Casey Los Angeles Times July 12, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-12-sp-3658-story.html December 27, 2022 The Clippers held an 11–37 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 and posted a 13-game losing streak between February and March, losing 32 of 33 games between December 30, 1988, and March 7, 1989. The Clippers finished in last place in the Pacific Division with a 21–61 record, 1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1989_games.html February 13, 2022 and missed the NBA playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. Second-year forward Ken Norman showed improvement, averaging 18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while Manning averaged 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and Benoit Benjamin provided the team with 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. In addition, Smith provided with 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Quintin Dailey contributed 16.1 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Grant contributed 11.9 points, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Meanwhile, second-year forward Reggie Williams averaged 10.2 points and 1.3 steals per game, Norm Nixon averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 assists per game in 53 games, rookie point guard, and second-round draft pick Tom Garrick contributed 6.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, and second-year forward Joe Wolf provided with 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. 1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1989.html February 13, 2022 Norman finished tied in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting. Associated Press Johnson Named Most Improved Player Lewiston Tribune May 16, 1989 3B https://books.google.com/books?id=U5ZfAAAAIBAJ&dq=1989+NBA+Most+Improved+player+kevin+johnson&pg=PA11&article_id=4125,91034 May 25, 2025 1988–89 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1989.html December 28, 2022 The Clippers finished 24th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 286,614 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena during the regular season, which was the second-lowest in the league. 1988–89 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1989.html February 16, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Dailey was released to free agency and signed with the Seattle SuperSonics during the next season, Baker Chris  Clipper Skid Cut Down to Sighs: Pro Basketball: Los Angeles' Losing Streak Ends at Seven with a 103-99 Victory Over Seattle  Los Angeles Times  February 28, 1990  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-28-sp-1510-story.html October 13, 2026 and Nixon retired. Draft picks 1988 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 1 Danny Manning PF Kansas 1 6 Hersey Hawkins SG Bradley 2 45 Tom Garrick G Rhode Island 3 51 Rob Lock F Kentucky Roster Los Angeles Clippers 1988–89 #E30022 #FFFFFF #1A2E8B #FFFFFF 51 Ken Bannister F/C 6 9 235 –– St. Augustine's 00 Benoit Benjamin C 7 0 250 –– Creighton 20 Quintin Dailey G 6 3 180 –– San Francisco 22 Tom Garrick G 6 2 185 –– Rhode Island 3 Grant Gondrezick G 6 5 205 –– Pepperdine 23 Gary Grant G 6 3 185 –– Michigan basketball 44 Rob Lock F 6 10 255 –– Kentucky 25 Danny Manning F/C 6 10 230 –– Kansas yes 10 Norm Nixon G 6 2 170 –– Duquesne 33 Ken Norman F 6 8 215 –– Illinois 54 Charles D. Smith F/C 6 10 230 –– Pittsburgh 31 Eric White basketball F 6 8 200 –– Pepperdine 42 Kevin Williams basketball G 6 2 180 –– St. John's 34 Reggie Williams basketball, born 1964 F 6 7 190 –– Georgetown 24 Joe Wolf C 6 11 230 –– North Carolina Gene Shue (fired) Don Casey Jim Eyen 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. Times Staff and Wire Service Reports IN BRIEF: White Rejoins Clippers, for 10 Days Los Angeles Times February 3, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-03-sp-2232-story.html November 6, 2023 Regular season Season standings LAC LAC z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log Player statistics Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPGPPG Bannister, Ken Ken Bannister Benjamin, Benoit Benoit Benjamin Dailey, Quintin Quintin Dailey Garrick, Tom Tom Garrick Gondrezick, Grant Grant Gondrezick Grant, Gary Gary Grant Kite, Greg Greg Kite Lock, Rob Rob Lock Manning, Danny Danny Manning Nixon, Norm Norm Nixon Norman, Ken Ken Norman Popson, Dave Dave Popson Rose, Rob Rob Rose Smith, Charles Charles Smith Sumpter, Barry Barry Sumpter Whatley, Ennis Ennis Whatley White, Eric Eric White Williams, Kevin Kevin Williams Williams, Reggie Reggie Williams Wolf, Joe 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 52% Additions Player Signed Former team Subtractions Player Left New team Player Transactions Citation:1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1989_transactions.html February 13, 2022 References Category:Los Angeles Clippers seasons Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Clippers