1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers season explained

The 1988-89 Los Angeles Clippers season was their 19th season in the NBA, and their 5th season in Los Angeles.^[1] The Clippers won the Draft Lottery,^{[2] [3]} and selected Danny Manning from the University of Kansas with the first overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, then selected Hersey Hawkins out of Bradley University with the sixth overall pick, but then traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Charles D. Smith from the University of Pittsburgh, and acquired rookie guard Gary Grant out of the University of Michigan from the Seattle SuperSonics.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]} However, Manning would only play just 26 games due to a right knee injury,^{[9] [10] [11] [12]} as the Clippers continued to struggle posting a dreadful 19-game losing streak between January and February, and a 13-game losing streak between February and March. Head coach Gene Shue was fired after a 10–28 start, and was replaced with assistant Don Casey.^{[13] [14] [15]} The Clippers held an 11–37 record at the All-Star break,^[16] and finished last place in the Pacific Division with a 21–61 record.^[17]

Second-year forward Ken Norman showed improvement, averaging 18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and finished tied in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting,^[18] while Manning averaged 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and Smith provided the team with 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Benoit Benjamin averaged 16.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, while Quintin Dailey contributed 16.1 points and 1.3 steals per game, Grant provided with 11.9 points, 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and second-year forward Reggie Williams contributed 10.2 points and 1.3 steals per game.^[19] Following the season, Dailey was released to free agency.

For the season, the Clippers changed the jersey number colors on their road uniforms from blue to white.^[20] These uniforms only lasted for just one season.

Draft picks

See main article: article and 1988 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	1		PF		Kansas
1	6		SG		Bradley
2	45		G		Rhode Island
3	51		F		Kentucky

Roster

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.^[21]

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

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

Subtractions

Player Transactions Citation:^[22]

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1989.html 1988-89 Los Angeles Clippers
2. News: Wilbon . Michael . Clippers Get No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft . The Washington Post . May 22, 1988 . September 15, 2023.
3. News: Edes . Gordon . 1988 NBA DRAFT: Clippers Are Working Deal to Get No. 3 . Los Angeles Times . June 28, 1988 . September 15, 2023.
4. News: Goldaper . Sam . N.B.A. Draft; Manning, Then 3-Way Trade Give Hope to Lowly Clippers . The New York Times . June 29, 1988 . February 13, 2022.
5. News: 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 . December 6, 2022.
6. News: Cotton . Anthony . Three-Team Trade Leaves Clippers with Manning, Smith, Gary Grant . The Washington Post . June 29, 1988 . June 20, 2023.
7. News: Love . Ian . The Los Angeles Clippers Gave Up the League's Best... . United Press International . June 29, 1988 . December 6, 2022.
8. Web site: 1988 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 6, 2022.
9. News: 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 . December 27, 2022.
10. News: Manning's Career in Jeopardy After Serious Knee Injury . Deseret News . January 10, 1989 . April 3, 2023.
11. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Manning to Miss Season Because of Knee Injury . The New York Times . January 12, 1989 . February 13, 2022.
12. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Manning's Surgery Discloses No Further Damage to Knee . Los Angeles Times . January 15, 1989 . December 27, 2022.
13. News: News Services . Clippers Fire Shue, Name Casey . The Washington Post . January 19, 1989 . February 25, 2024.
14. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Clippers Fire Shue; Casey Is Interim Coach . Los Angeles Times . January 20, 1989 . December 27, 2022.
15. News: Associated Press . One-Year Contract Signed: Clippers to Stick with Casey . Los Angeles Times . July 12, 1989 . December 27, 2022.
16. Web site: NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989 . Basketball-Reference . January 23, 2023.
17. Web site: 1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. February 13, 2022.
18. Web site: 1988–89 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . December 28, 2022.
19. Web site: 1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. February 13, 2022.
20. Web site: Los Angeles Clippers Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. . February 15, 2022.
21. News: Times Staff and Wire Service Reports . IN BRIEF: White Rejoins Clippers, for 10 Days . Los Angeles Times . February 3, 1989 . November 6, 2023.
22. Web site: 1988–89 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions. Basketball-Reference. February 13, 2022.