1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks season explained

The 1988–89 NBA season was the Bucks' 21st season in the NBA.^[1] It was the first season for the Bucks playing in the Bradley Center, after the team moved there from the Milwaukee Arena, otherwise known as "The Mecca". During the off-season, the team acquired Fred Roberts from the expansion Miami Heat.^{[2] [3] [4]} The Bucks struggled with a 3–4 start to the season, but later on posted a six-game winning streak in January, and held a 30–15 record at the All-Star break.^[5] The team finished fourth in the Central Division with a 49–33 record.^[6]

Terry Cummings averaged 22.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game,^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]} while sixth man Ricky Pierce averaged 17.6 points per game off the bench, and Jack Sikma provided the team with 13.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Larry Krystkowiak averaged 12.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while Paul Pressey provided with 12.1 points, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game, Sidney Moncrief also contributed 12.1 points per game, and Jay Humphries averaged 11.6 points, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game.^[12]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bucks lost Game 1 to the 4th-seeded Atlanta Hawks on the road, 100–92,^{[13] [14] [15]} but managed to beat them in five games.^{[16] [17] [18] [19]} It marked the last time the Bucks would advance to the second round until 2000–01. In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Bucks were swept by the eventual champions Detroit Pistons in four straight games.^{[20] [21] [22] [23]} The Pistons would reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, and defeat the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games, winning their first ever championship.^{[24] [25] [26] [27] [28]}

Following the season, Cummings was traded to the San Antonio Spurs,^{[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]} and Moncrief retired after ten seasons with the Bucks due to continuing knee problems.^{[34] [35] [36] [37]} Shortly after the season began, team owner Herb Kohl was elected to the first of four terms representing the United States Senate in Wisconsin.^{[38] [39] [40] [41]}

Draft picks

See main article: 1988 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	13		SF/SG		Iowa State
2	39		C		Miami (FL)
3	63				Auburn

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	4–1	4–2	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	4–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Boston	1–3	—	6–0	1–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	5–1	3–3	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4
Charlotte	1–4	0–6	—	1–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–4	2–4	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–5
Chicago	2–4	3–1	4–1	—	0–6	2–0	1–1	0–6	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	6–0	2–2	3–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1
Cleveland	2–4	4–1	4–0	6–0	—	2–0	2–0	3–3	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–0	2–2	3–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2
Dallas	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	—	3–3	0–2	1–3	1–5	1–1	3–1	0–4	6–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	5–1	2–2	4–2	1–1
Denver	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–3	—	1–1	3–1	4–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	5–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	3–3	2–2	3–3	1–1
Detroit	5–1	3–1	4–0	6–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–4	4–0	0–4	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–0
Golden State	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	—	1–3	1–1	5–1	2–3	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–4	2–3	3–1	2–4	2–2	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	3–1	—	2–0	2–2	1–3	4–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	6–0	2–2	2–4	0–2
Indiana	1–5	3–2	2–2	2–4	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–4	1–1	0–2	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–5	2–2	1–1	—	1–5	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5	1–5	2–3	3–1	1–4	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	3–2	3–1	2–0	5–1	—	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3	5–0	5–1	3–1	4–2	1–3	1–1
Miami	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–6	1–5	0–2	0–4	2–4	1–1	3–1	0–4	—	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–4	0–4	1–5	0–2
Milwaukee	0–6	2–2	4–0	0–6	3–3	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	—	4–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	1–4	1–5	4–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	—	2–4	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–5
New York	2–2	3–3	4–2	2–3	2–2	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–2	—	2–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Philadelphia	2–2	3–3	3–3	3–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	0–5	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–3	5–1	4–2	—	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2
Phoenix	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	4–2	3–1	1–1	5–1	3–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	—	2–3	5–1	3–1	4–1	2–2	2–0
Portland	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–2	1–3	0–2	5–1	0–5	4–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–2	—	3–3	4–0	2–4	0–4	1–1
Sacramento	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	3–2	2–2	1–1	3–2	1–5	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–5	3–3	—	2–2	1–5	1–3	0–2
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–5	3–3	0–2	1–3	0–6	0–2	1–3	1–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	2–2	—	0–4	1–5	1–1
Seattle	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	4–2	2–2	1–1	4–1	2–4	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	4–2	5–1	4–0	—	3–1	1–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	0–2	2–2	4–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	5–1	1–3	—	2–0
Washington	1–3	4–2	5–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–5	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–4	5–1	1–5	2–4	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	—

Game log

|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 1 || November 4, 1988 || @ Indiana| W 117–103|Terry Cummings (26)|Jack Sikma (10)|Jay Humphries (5)| Market Square Arena| 1–0|-style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || November 5, 1988 || Atlanta| L 94–107|Terry Cummings (19)|Jack Sikma (10)|Ricky Pierce (5)| Bradley Center
18,649| 1–1|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 3 || November 9, 1988 || Philadelphia| W 114–103|Terry Cummings (31)|Larry Krystkowiak, Paul Pressey (7)|Jay Humphries (6)| Bradley Center
14,192| 2–1|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 4 || November 12, 1988 || Boston| W 108–100|||| Bradley Center
18,673| 3–1|-style="background:#fcc;"| 21 || December 17, 1988 || Chicago| L 93–112|||| Bradley Center
18,649| 1–1|-style="background:#bbffbb;"| 24 || December 23, 1988 || Dallas| W 113–101|||| Bradley Center
18,633| 14–10

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 27| @ Atlanta| L 92–100| Jay Humphries (20)| Terry Cummings (8)| Sidney Moncrief (6)| Omni Coliseum
14,541| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 29| @ Atlanta| W 108–98| Terry Cummings (22)| Terry Cummings (8)| Jack Sikma (7)| Omni Coliseum
15,742| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| May 2| Atlanta| W 117–113 (OT)| Ricky Pierce (35)| Terry Cummings (14)| Jay Humphries (10)| Bradley Center
18,469| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 5| Atlanta| L 106–113 (OT)| Jack Sikma (24)| Larry Krystkowiak (10)| Jay Humphries (15)| Bradley Center
18,633| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 7| @ Atlanta| W 96–92| Ricky Pierce (25)| Jack Sikma (9)| Jay Humphries (5)| Omni Coliseum
16,220| 3–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 10| @ Detroit| L 80–85| Ricky Pierce (25)| Sidney Moncrief (6)| Jay Humphries (6)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| May 12| @ Detroit| L 92–112| Krystkowiak, Pierce (22)| Larry Krystkowiak (13)| Rickey Green (6)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 14| Detroit| L 90–110| Ricky Pierce (22)| Randy Breuer (8)| Jay Humphries (5)| Bradley Center
18,633| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 15| Detroit| L 94–96| Fred Roberts (33)| Randy Breuer (9)| Jay Humphries (14)| Bradley Center
18,633| 0–4|-

Player statistics

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Terry Cummings	80	78	35.3	46.7	46.7	78.7	8.1	2.5	1.3	0.9	22.9
Ricky Pierce	75	4	27.7	51.8	22.2	85.9	2.6	2.1	1.0	0.3	17.6
Jack Sikma	80	80	32.3	43.1	38.0	90.5	7.8	3.6	1.1	0.8	13.4
Larry Krystkowiak	80	77	30.9	47.3	33.3	82.3	7.6	1.3	1.2	0.1	12.7
Paul Pressey	67	62	32.4	47.4	21.8	77.6	3.9	6.6	1.8	0.7	12.1
Sidney Moncrief	62	50	25.7	49.1	34.2	86.5	2.8	3.0	1.0	0.2	12.1
Jay Humphries	73	50	30.4	48.3	26.6	81.6	2.6	5.5	1.9	0.1	11.6
Jeff Grayer	11	2	18.2	43.8	0.0	85.0	3.2	2.0	0.9	0.1	7.4
Fred Roberts	71	3	17.6	48.6	21.4	80.6	2.9	0.9	0.5	0.3	5.9
Rickey Green	30	0	16.7	54.5	33.3	89.5	1.5	3.5	0.7	0.1	5.4
Randy Breuer	48	4	10.7	48.0	0.0	54.9	2.8	0.5	0.2	0.8	4.2
Mark Davis	31	0	8.1	49.5	11.1	81.3	1.2	0.5	0.4	0.2	4.0
Tony Brown	29	0	9.4	49.3	28.6	78.3	1.0	0.7	0.4	0.1	3.2
Paul Mokeski	74	0	9.3	36.0	26.9	78.4	2.5	0.5	0.4	0.3	2.2
Tito Horford	25	0	4.5	32.6	0.0	63.2	0.9	0.1	0.0	0.3	1.7
Andre Turner	4	0	3.3	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	0.0	0.5	0.0	1.5
Mike Dunleavy	2	0	2.5	50.0	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.5

Player Stats Citation:^[42]

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Ricky Pierce	9	0	32.4	54.6	75.0	87.2	2.8	2.8	1.2	0.2	22.3
Fred Roberts	9	5	38.3	49.0	0.0	85.0	4.3	2.2	0.6	0.4	14.7
Jay Humphries	9	9	35.9	49.5	16.7	88.2	3.0	7.8	0.9	0.0	14.6
Terry Cummings	5	4	24.8	36.2	0.0	87.5	6.6	1.4	0.6	0.0	12.8
Jack Sikma	9	9	33.4	39.4	28.6	82.1	5.6	3.3	0.9	0.4	11.7
	8	8	29.9	42.6	0.0	87.1	5.6	1.5	0.3	0.1	10.6
Sidney Moncrief	9	9	20.4	39.6	28.6	93.8	2.9	1.4	0.6	0.2	6.1
Paul Mokeski	5	0	12.2	57.1	100.0	75.0	3.4	0.6	0.0	0.0	4.6
Randy Breuer	9	1	18.0	53.1	0.0	38.5	4.4	0.6	0.2	0.7	4.3
Rickey Green	8	0	13.8	41.4	50.0	100.0	1.6	2.3	0.6	0.0	3.6
Tony Brown	6	0	11.5	36.4	0.0	75.0	1.2	1.0	0.3	0.0	1.8

Awards and records

• Terry Cummings, All-NBA Third Team

Transactions

Trades

June 23, 1988	To Milwaukee Bucks---- Fred Roberts	To Miami Heat---- 1989 2nd round pick (Scott Haffner)
October 4, 1988	To Milwaukee Bucks---- 1990 2nd round pick (Steve Henson)	To Seattle SuperSonics---- Jerry Reynolds

Free agents

Player	Signed	Former team
Mark Davis	May 19, 1988	La Crosse Catbirds
Jim Les	October 19, 1988	Chicago Express
Rickey Green	March 1, 1989	Charlotte Hornets

Subtractions
Player	Date signed	New team
John Stroeder	Expansion Draft June 23, 1988	Miami Heat
Jim Les	October 20, 1988	Utah Jazz

Player Transactions Citation:^[43]

See also

• 1988-89 NBA season

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1989.html 1988-89 Milwaukee Bucks
2. News: Goldaper . Sam . Miami Chooses 'Who?' First . The New York Times . June 24, 1988 . December 28, 2022.
3. News: Edes . Gordon . Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland . Los Angeles Times . June 24, 1988 . December 28, 2022.
4. News: Associated Press . Roberts Hopes He'll Be with Bucks Long Enough to Get Bags Unpacked . Deseret News . October 14, 1988 . December 20, 2022.
5. Web site: NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989 . Basketball-Reference . December 6, 2022.
6. Web site: 1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. February 10, 2022.
7. News: Goldaper . Sam . BASKETBALL; Jackson and Ewing Are Chosen as All-Stars . The New York Times . February 1, 1989 . May 21, 2023.
8. News: 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 . December 20, 2022.
9. News: NBA All-Star Weekend Stars Will Have to Shine Without Bird, Magic Spotlights . Sun Sentinel . February 12, 1989 . May 21, 2023.
10. News: NBA.com Staff . 1989 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 21, 2023.
11. Web site: 1989 NBA All-Star Game: West 143, East 134 . Basketball-Reference . February 10, 2022.
12. Web site: 1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. February 12, 2022.
13. News: Associated Press . Bucks Control Pace, But Hawks Pull It Out . The New York Times . April 28, 1989 . April 3, 2023.
14. News: Inside . The New York Times . April 28, 1989 . December 20, 2022.
15. News: Moffit . David . Atlanta 100, Milwaukee 92 . United Press International . April 28, 1989 . December 20, 2022.
16. News: Moffit . David . Milwaukee 96, Atlanta 92 . United Press International . May 7, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
17. News: Associated Press . Bucks Defeat Hawks and Clinch Series . The New York Times . May 8, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
18. News: Hafner . Dan . NBA Playoffs: Bucks Defeat Hawks, Take on Pistons Next . Los Angeles Times . May 8, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
19. Web site: 1989 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Bucks vs. Hawks . Basketball-Reference . March 20, 2023.
20. News: DiGiovanni . Joe . Pistons 96, Bucks 94 . United Press International . May 15, 1989 . December 5, 2022.
21. News: Brown . Clifton . Pistons Edge Bucks to Complete a Sweep . The New York Times . May 16, 1989 . December 5, 2022.
22. News: Associated Press . NBA PLAYOFFS: Pistons Sweep Bucks Out of the Way . Los Angeles Times . May 16, 1989 . December 5, 2022.
23. Web site: 1989 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Bucks vs. Pistons . Basketball-Reference . March 20, 2023.
24. News: Barnes . Mike . Pistons Win NBA Title . United Press International . June 13, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
25. News: Goldaper . Sam . Pistons Earn First Title by Sweeping Lakers . The New York Times . June 14, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
26. News: McManis . Sam . Pistons End a Reign, Cap a Career: Detroit Sweeps Lakers, 105-97 . Los Angeles Times . June 14, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
27. News: Smith . Sam . Pistons Sweep to NBA Title . Chicago Tribune . June 14, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
28. Web site: 1989 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Pistons . Basketball-Reference . March 20, 2023.
29. News: DiGiovanni . Joe . Bucks Trade Cummings to Spurs for Robertson, Anderson . United Press International . May 28, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
30. News: Associated Press . Cummings Is Traded for 2 Spurs Starters . The New York Times . May 29, 1989 . February 10, 2022.
31. News: Spurs Get Cummings for Robertson, Anderson . Los Angeles Times . May 29, 1989 . December 6, 2022.
32. News: Bucks Trade Cummings to San Antonio for Robertson, Anderson . The Washington Post . May 29, 1989 . January 27, 2023.
33. News: Bucks-Spurs Deal Shocks Cummings . Deseret News . May 29, 1989 . June 22, 2023.
34. News: THE SIDELINES - Bucks' Moncrief Retiring . Los Angeles Times . October 13, 1989 . December 20, 2022.
35. News: Contributed Content . Moncrief Expected to Retire from NBA . Chicago Tribune . October 13, 1989 . February 18, 2024.
36. News: Yates . Tommy . Ex-Bucks Star Sidney Moncrief Retires . United Press International . October 13, 1989 . March 9, 2022.
37. News: Sidney Moncrief Retires . Deseret News . October 14, 1989 . December 20, 2022.
38. News: Dewar . Helen . 3 Open Senate Seats Critical to G.O.P. . The Washington Post . September 4, 1988 . March 20, 2023.
39. News: Associated Press . Team Owner Wins Wisconsin Primary . Los Angeles Times . September 14, 1988 . March 20, 2023.
40. News: Rosenbaum . David E. . The Race for Congress; Choice in Wisconsin: Rich Is (A) Evil, or (B) Good . The New York Times . October 31, 1988 . March 20, 2023.
41. News: Democrat Herbert Kohl, Owner of the Milwaukee... . Los Angeles Times . November 9, 1988 . March 20, 2023.
42. Web site: 1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. February 12, 2022.
43. Web site: 1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks Transactions. Basketball-Reference. February 10, 2022.