# 1988–89 Indiana Pacers season

The 1988–89 NBA season was Indiana's 13th season in the NBA and 22nd season as a franchise. Despite finishing with a 38–44 record the previous season, the Pacers had the second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected 7' 4" Dutch center Rik Smits out of Marist College. Before the regular season began, center Steve Stipanovich was out with a left knee injury, and would be sidelined for the entire season after undergoing knee surgery.
The Pacers went through four different head coaches this season; head coach Jack Ramsay resigned after an 0–7 start, then after two games under interim coach Mel Daniels, and 20 games under interim George Irvine, the team hired Dick Versace as their new coach. At mid-season, the team traded Wayman Tisdale to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for LaSalle Thompson and Randy Wittman, and dealt Herb Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for German small forward Detlef Schrempf. The Pacers held an 11–35 record at the All-Star break, but played slightly under .500 for the remainder of the season, finishing in last place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record.
Chuck Person averaged 21.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while second-year star Reggie Miller showed improvement, becoming the team's starting shooting guard, averaging 16.0 points and 1.3 steals per game, Vern Fleming contributed 14.3 points and 6.5 assists per game, and Smits provided the team with 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Following the season, Stipanovich retired after five seasons in the NBA with the Pacers; Stipanovich had gone through two knee operations, and doctors discovered he had a "dead spot" in the bone of his left knee. Also following the season, Scott Skiles was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Orlando Magic.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 2 | Rik Smits | C | Netherlands | Marist |
| 3 | 61 | Herbert Crook | F | United States | Louisville |
| 3 | 73 | Michael Anderson | | United States | Drexel |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Center Steve Stipanovich missed the entire season due to a left knee injury.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Detroit Pistons | 63 | 19 | .768 | – | 37–4 | 26–15 | 20–10 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 | 37–4 | 20–21 | 19–11 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 | 33–8 | 19–22 | 20–10 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 | 31–10 | 18–23 | 11–19 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 | 30–11 | 17–24 | 12–18 |
| Indiana Pacers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 8–22 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Detroit Pistons | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
| 2 | y-New York Knicks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 57 | 25 | .695 | 6 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Chicago Bulls | 47 | 35 | .573 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Boston Celtics | 42 | 40 | .512 | 21 |
| 9 | Washington Bullets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 23 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 37 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 20 | 62 | .244 | 43 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records :
| 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
## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Rik Smits | C | 82 | 71 | 2,041 | 500 | 70 | 37 | 151 | 956 | 24.9 | 6.1 | .9 | .5 | 1.8 | 11.7 |
| Chuck Person | SF | 80 | 79 | 3,012 | 516 | 289 | 83 | 18 | 1,728 | 37.7 | 6.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .2 | 21.6 |
| Scott Skiles | PG | 80 | 13 | 1,571 | 149 | 390 | 64 | 2 | 546 | 19.6 | 1.9 | 4.9 | .8 | .0 | 6.8 |
| Vern Fleming | PG | 76 | 69 | 2,552 | 310 | 494 | 77 | 12 | 1,084 | 33.6 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.0 | .2 | 14.3 |
| Reggie Miller | SG | 74 | 70 | 2,536 | 292 | 227 | 93 | 29 | 1,181 | 34.3 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 1.3 | .4 | 16.0 |
| Stuart Gray | C | 72 | 0 | 783 | 245 | 29 | 11 | 21 | 188 | 10.9 | 3.4 | .4 | .2 | .3 | 2.6 |
| Greg Dreiling | C | 53 | 4 | 396 | 92 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 129 | 7.5 | 1.7 | .3 | .1 | .2 | 2.4 |
| Wayman Tisdale$^†$ | PF | 48 | 5 | 1,326 | 310 | 75 | 35 | 32 | 768 | 27.6 | 6.5 | 1.6 | .7 | .7 | 16.0 |
| Herb Williams$^†$ | C | 46 | 46 | 1,567 | 396 | 88 | 31 | 80 | 578 | 34.1 | 8.6 | 1.9 | .7 | 1.7 | 12.6 |
| Anthony Frederick | SF | 46 | 0 | 313 | 52 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 152 | 6.8 | 1.1 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 3.3 |
| John Long$^†$ | SG | 44 | 1 | 767 | 66 | 65 | 29 | 1 | 323 | 17.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | .7 | .0 | 7.3 |
| Everette Stephens | PG | 35 | 0 | 209 | 23 | 37 | 9 | 4 | 65 | 6.0 | .7 | 1.1 | .3 | .1 | 1.9 |
| LaSalle Thompson$^†$ | C | 33 | 29 | 1,053 | 326 | 37 | 33 | 39 | 413 | 31.9 | 9.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 12.5 |
| Randy Wittman$^†$ | SF | 33 | 11 | 704 | 54 | 79 | 13 | 2 | 173 | 21.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | .4 | .1 | 5.2 |
| Detlef Schrempf$^†$ | PF | 32 | 12 | 1,005 | 229 | 93 | 29 | 10 | 475 | 31.4 | 7.2 | 2.9 | .9 | .3 | 14.8 |
| Richard Morton | PG | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5.5 | .0 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Sedric Toney | PG | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4.5 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

## Awards and records

* Rik Smits, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team