1988–89 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Denver Nuggets 1989 44 38 Midwest 3 6 Doug Moe McNichols Sports Arena KTVDKMGH-TVPrime Sports Rocky Mountain(Dan Issel, Irv Brown) KOA West First Round(lost to Suns 0–3) DEN The 1988–89 Denver Nuggets season was the 13th season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 22nd season as a franchise. Denver Nuggets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Nuggets had the 23rd overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected power forward Jerome Lane from the University of Pittsburgh. 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 March 6, 2026 Love Ian The Los Angeles Clippers Gave Up the League's Best... United Press International June 29, 1988 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/06/29/The-Los-Angeles-Clippers-gave-up-the-leagues-best/9390583560000/ March 6, 2026 1988 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1988.html March 6, 2026 During the off-season, the team signed free agents, All-Star guard Walter Davis, Sports People: Davis Joins Nuggets The New York Times July 7, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/07/sports/sports-people-davis-joins-nuggets.html February 12, 2022 Bullets Won't Keep Moses Malone; Suns Lose Davis to Nuggets Los Angeles Times July 7, 1988 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-07-sp-8360-story.html December 20, 2022 Changing of Guard: Davis In; Evans, Dunn on Way Out of Denver Lineup Deseret News July 7, 1988 https://www.deseret.com/1988/7/7/18771059/changing-of-guard-davis-in-evans-dunn-on-way-out-of-denver-lineup December 20, 2022 and Elston Turner. Regular season With the addition of Davis and Turner, the Nuggets got off to an 11–4 start to the regular season, but then lost 16 of their next 25 games, and later on held a 25–23 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 December 6, 2022 At mid-season, the team traded Jay Vincent, and Calvin Natt to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Dave Greenwood, and Darwin Cook. The Denver Nuggets Traded Veteran Forwards Calvin Natt and... United Press International January 26, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/26/The-Denver-Nuggets-traded-veteran-forwards-Calvin-Natt-and/5800601794000/ December 27, 2022 The Denver Nuggets Traded Forwards Calvin Natt... Los Angeles Times January 27, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-27-sp-1635-story.html December 27, 2022 Disgruntled Nuggets Traded for Pair of Spurs Deseret News January 27, 1989 https://www.deseret.com/1989/1/27/18793259/disgruntled-nuggets-traded-for-pair-of-spurs December 27, 2022 Despite losing six of their final eight games of the season, the Nuggets finished in third place in the Midwest Division with a 44–38 record, and earned the sixth seed in the Western Conference; 1988–89 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1989_games.html February 12, 2022 the team also posted a very successful 35–6 home record at the McNichols Sports Arena during the regular season, Bock Hal NBA Road Warriors Have Difficult Task The Prescott Courier April 30, 1989 4B https://books.google.com/books?id=jgocAAAAIBAJ&dq=1989+Denver+Nuggets+home+record+35-6&pg=PA7&article_id=4884,7169887 May 14, 2024 Associated Press Warriors Have Jazz on the Edge The Spokesman-Review May 2, 1989 https://books.google.com/books?id=wVtWAAAAIBAJ&dq=1989+Denver+Nuggets+home+record+35-6&pg=PA8&article_id=924,10485220 May 14, 2024 and qualified for the NBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. Alex English averaged 26.5 points and 4.7 assists per game, while Fat Lever averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game, and Michael Adams provided the team with 18.5 points, 6.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and also led the league with 166 three-point field goals. In addition, Davis played a sixth man role off the bench, and contributed 15.6 points per game, while Danny Schayes provided with 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, Blair Rasmussen contributed 7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, and Wayne Cooper averaged 6.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Bill Hanzlik contributed 4.9 points per game, but only played just 41 games due to a back injury, Around the NBA The Washington Post November 9, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/11/09/around-the-nba/4364603e-7be4-4a03-8cc9-7505d810bf9d/ December 30, 2022 Hanzlik Re-Signs with Nuggets United Press International September 25, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/25/Hanzlik-re-signs-with-Nuggets/1689622699200/ December 30, 2022 and Turner provided with 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. 1988–89 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1989.html February 10, 2022 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas, English was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his final All-Star appearance. McManis Sam Today's All-Star Game May Lack the Usual Magic: Without Johnson and Bird, NBA Showcase Just Won't Be the Same Los Angeles Times February 12, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-12-sp-3000-story.html December 20, 2022 NBA.com Staff 1989 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1989 May 21, 2023 1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1989.html February 12, 2022 Meanwhile, Adams 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 Lever finished tied in seventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. 1988–89 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1989.html May 25, 2025 The Nuggets finished 16th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 527,337 at the McNichols Sports Arena during the regular season. 1988–89 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1989.html February 16, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Nuggets faced off against the 3rd–seeded Phoenix Suns, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward Tom Chambers, Sixth Man of the Year, Eddie Johnson, and second-year star, and Most Improved Player of the Year, Kevin Johnson. However, due to injuries to Lever (thigh bruise), Adams (hamstring), and Schayes (sprained ankle), Denver Missing Two Starters United Press International May 1, 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/01/Denver-missing-two-starters/1046609998400/ December 27, 2022 Suns 132, Nuggets 114 The Register-Guard May 1, 1989 3B https://books.google.com/books?id=l61jAAAAIBAJ&dq=1989+Denver+Nuggets+Lever+Adams+Schayes+thigh+hamstring+ankle&pg=PA8&article_id=6638,71221 November 4, 2024 Associated Press Nuggets Limp Into Denver Boca Raton News May 2, 1989 4D https://books.google.com/books?id=cOgyAAAAIBAJ&dq=1989+Denver+Nuggets+fat+lever+michael+adams+danny+schayes+thigh+bruise+hamstring+sprained+ankle&pg=PA19&article_id=6741,462574 May 5, 2024 the Nuggets lost the first two games to the Suns on the road at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, before losing Game 3 at home, 130–121 at the McNichols Sports Arena, thus losing the series in a three-game sweep. Associated Press NBA Playoffs Roundup: Knicks Complete Sweep with Overtime Win Los Angeles Times May 3, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-03-sp-2350-story.html December 6, 2022 Associated Press Pistons, Knicks, Suns Complete Playoff Sweeps; Bucks Take 2-1 Lead Over Hawks Deseret News May 3, 1989 https://www.deseret.com/1989/5/3/18805415/pistons-knicks-suns-complete-playoff-sweeps-br-bucks-take-2-1-lead-over-hawks December 6, 2022 1989 NBA Western Conference First Round: Nuggets vs. Suns Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-western-conference-first-round-nuggets-vs-suns.html March 20, 2023 Aftermath Following the season, Cooper signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers, Associated Press The Sidelines: Wayne Cooper Signs with Blazers Los Angeles Times July 24, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-24-sp-267-story.html December 20, 2022 Sports People: Basketball: Blazers Sign Cooper The New York Times July 25, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/25/sports/sports-people-basketball-blazers-sign-cooper.html December 20, 2022 Cooper Signs with Trail Blazers Deseret News July 25, 1989 https://www.deseret.com/1989/7/25/18816933/cooper-signs-with-trail-blazers April 3, 2023 and Turner, Greenwood and Cook were all released to free agency. Draft picks 1988 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 23 Jerome Lane PF/SF Pittsburgh 2 43 Todd Mitchell F Purdue 2 47 Vernon Maxwell SG Florida 3 66 Dwight Boyd Memphis Roster Denver Nuggets 1988–89 #2C3292 #EFE328 #DC143C #FFFFFF 14 Michael Adams basketball G 5 10 162 1963–01–19 Boston College 1 Darwin Cook G 6 3 184 1958–08–06 Portland 42 Wayne Cooper basketball C 6 10 220 1956–11–16 New Orleans 6 Walter Davis basketball F/G 6 6 193 1954–09–09 North Carolina 43 Wayne Engelstad F 6 8 245 1965–12–06 Irvine 2 Alex English F 6 7 190 1954–01–05 South Carolina 22 Dave Greenwood David Greenwood F 6 9 222 1957–05–27 UCLA 24 Bill Hanzlik F 6 7 185 1957–12–06 Notre Dame 15 Eddie Hughes basketball G 5 10 165 1960–05–26 Colorado State 35 Jerome Lane F 6 6 230 1966–12–04 Pittsburgh 12 Fat Lever G 6 3 170 1960–08–18 Arizona State 41 Blair Rasmussen C 7 0 250 1962–11–13 Oregon 34 Danny Schayes C 6 11 235 1959–05–10 Syracuse Doug Moe Allan Bristow Doug Moe Jr. Regular season Season standings DEN DEN z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log January 2011 Playoffs Denver Nuggets 1989 yes #0000CD #FFD700 Denver Nuggets First round no yes yes #FFD700 #0000CD 0 1 0 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 28 | @ Phoenix | L 103–104 | Walter Davis (34) | Fat Lever (12) | Fat Lever (17) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,471 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 30 | @ Phoenix | L 114–132 | Alex English (36) | Michael Adams (12) | English, Cook (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum14,471 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 2 | Phoenix | L 121–130 | Walter Davis (26) | Elston Turner (7) | Bill Hanzlik (6) | McNichols Sports Arena12,660 | 0–3 |- DEN 1989 yes Player statistics Season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Playoffs Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Awards and records January 2011 Transactions January 2011 References See also 1988-89 NBA season Category:Denver Nuggets seasons Category:1988 in sports in Colorado Category:1989 in sports in Colorado Denver